WFF Youth Initiative at the Preparatory Youth Conference for UNFSS+4

The World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) took part in the Preparatory Youth Conference for the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), held from 15 – 16 May 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Organized by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (the Hub), the event brought together more than 100 youth delegates from over 60 countries. The conference aimed to gather youth perspectives ahead of the global Stocktake and shape the draft Youth Declaration that will inform discussions at the UNFSS+4 in Ethiopia in July.

WFF Youth Initiative delegates including Youth Policy Board members and National Youth Chapter leads actively contributed to the draft Youth Declaration. Members and alumni of the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) of the Hub also actively participated.

During this pivotal moment, the WFF Youth Initiative strengthened collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and also established new partnerships with key institutions across the region. The team delivered a detailed presentation to colleagues at the Regional Office, introducing the mission and the programmes of the WFF Youth Initiative and highlighted the impact and potential of the WFF National Youth Chapters to drive meaningful engagement and action at the local level.

The WFF Youth Initiative also engaged directly with youth leaders from across the region. These exchanges strengthened cross-border collaboration and created space for shared learning and collective action. National Youth Chapter representatives presented recent initiatives, shared success stories and outlined plans for upcoming milestones, including International Youth Day and the 2025 WFF flagship event.

These conversations and participation at the conference reflected the growing leadership of youth in the region and reinforced the WFF Youth Initiative’s commitment to empowering young people to lead agrifood systems transformation from the ground up.