Deadline to apply: ONGOING

Background

The World Food Forum (WFF) is pleased to invite Members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners of the Forum to nominate Youth Representatives and Observers to the WFF Youth Assembly consultation cycle 2024. The WFF Youth Assembly provides a dedicated, inclusive and self-organized space for youth in agrifood systems advocacy and policy debate.

The Youth Assembly will start its meetings in March 2024 with thematic and regional virtual sessions that will run throughout 2024, cumulating in the main hybrid session to be held at the WFF flagship event from 14 to 18 October 2024 in Rome, Italy. A detailed agenda will be made available to delegations on the website of the Youth Assembly shortly. The 2024 WFF cycle is organized under the overall theme “Good food for all, today and tomorrow”. 

The WFF, launched in 2021 as an independent network of partners hosted by FAO, serves as the premier global platform to actively shape agrifood systems for a better food future, accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through global youth action, science and innovation and investment, the WFF forges new paths of action and multi-sector partnerships for agrifood impact at the local, regional and global levels to achieve a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and hunger-free food future for all.

In this overall context, WFF Global Youth Action acts as a catalytic movement and driver of youth engagement in food governance, and serves as a knowledge center and innovation lab, fostering and inspiring youth-led solutions, with the Youth Assembly as the central and inclusive youth platform for policy debate in fields related to food and agriculture. In addition, it also engages and empowers youth through innovation awards, as well as educational and cultural activities, exhibitions and events on an ongoing basis. 

Criteria and Composition

Nominations for Youth Representatives and Observers should be under the age of 36 and can include:

• members of a youth organization and/or network related to food, agriculture, development, climate and any other relevant field;
• stakeholder group members; (i.e. young farmers, fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, etc.);
• young members of a ministry, cabinet or any other national institution;
• students in the various fields of agrifood systems; and/or
• past and current youth delegates to the United Nations and/or international conferences.

Main Role

Youth Representatives and Observers are kindly requested to:

1. actively co-create the virtual Youth Assembly* sessions throughout the year (starting in March) and engage in discussions in the lead up to the 2024 flagship event in October;
2. prepare a statement in relation to the WFF 2024 theme and country/organization priorities, to be presented at the flagship event in October. Statements can be presented either orally or in written form, in one of the official UN languages. Statements are also posted online (2023 statements and 2022 statements for reference).

Other Engagement Opportunities

Before the WFF Flagship Event:

• engage other youth groups and constituencies in the Youth Assembly;
• discuss and develop policy recommendations important to the organization, country and/or region of the Representative/Observer.

At the WFF Flagship Event (14-18 October 2024):

• attend the events hosted during the WFF flagship event, including the Youth Assembly;
• organize and/or participate in bilateral meetings;
• meet and network with youth and agrifood systems stakeholders from different backgrounds to exchange perspectives, gain new insights and forge new partnerships.

After the WFF Flagship Event:

• support and participate in the development of WFF National Chapters to drive local action in line with discussions held during the Youth Assembly;
• communicate about the WFF flagship event and initiatives/activities (please find example articles by UNA Canada on the 2023 flagship event and the Irish delegation on the 2022 flagship event);
• report on the results from the Forum to relevant stakeholders.

Nominations

• FAO Members and partners of the Forum are kindly requested to send their nominations for Youth Representatives and Observers to the WFF Youth Assembly consultation cycle 2024 to [email protected]
• Nominations should be accompanied by the following information:
  • full name,
  • professional and/or academic background and current institutional affiliation,
  • email address.
• Indicate the lead representative/observer acting as the responsible liaison for receiving communication materials to relay to the rest of the group.
• Specify if nominees will be participating in-person at the 2024 flagship event in October.
  Please be informed that the WFF Secretariat is unable to provide any financial support for travel and accommodation. Accreditation/invitation letters will be issued to facilitate visa requests, and Italian authorities will be informed accordingly.
• Deadline to receive nominations for the full WFF Youth Assembly cycle 2024 is ongoing.

* The Youth Assembly and its thematic discussions are organized by the WFF Youth Policy Board, together with its partners, who will be responsible for the final drafting of the outcomes of the Assembly. Representatives and Observers are to contribute to the discussions based on national and partner perspectives, which do not necessarily represent the views of Members. Preparatory materials will be provided (including reading materials and agenda) and a briefing call will be set up at the beginning of the Assembly cycle in March and throughout the year when new elements are introduced.