The World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly in Africa serves as a strategic, youth-led platform dedicated to identifying, prioritizing and addressing the unique challenges within the continent’s agrifood systems. Our mission is to empower young people as key stakeholders in agrifood systems transformation, ensuring their perspectives inform regional policymaking processes.

For the 2026–2027 biennium, the Assembly is pursuing a logical progression that bridges regional advocacy with in-depth analytical work. This process begins with a comprehensive consultative phase, including subregional dialogues in English and French to formulate the Regional Youth Statement and Information Note for the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC34). Following the conference, this foundational advocacy will transition into a strategic phase of policy mapping and case study synthesis. This evolution ensures that youth priorities are not only heard but also supported by rigorous analysis to facilitate their practical integration into institutional frameworks.

Our efforts remain strictly aligned with the regional priorities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Africa, focusing on sustainable agrifood production systems, efficient and equitable food and nutrition systems, climate action and sustainable natural resource management; building resilience and ending poverty.

Timeline

Previous engagements

• 2021: Launching the Youth Action Compendium
  In 2021, the Youth Assembly launched the Youth Action Compendium, highlighting youth demands in agrifood systems with a focus on the FAO's Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life.

• 2022: Laying the foundation
  In 2022, the Africa region initiated the development of its Youth Action Regional Compendium, analyzing over 30 youth-led documents and holding virtual consultations and surveys. Key policy priority areas for the region included climate-smart agriculture, resilience and inclusivity for smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth.

• 2023: Identifying challenges and calls to action
  By 2023, regional consultations highlighted critical challenges and actionable solutions, emphasizing policy reform, education, financial support and land rights as key priorities.

• 2024: Narrowing the focus
  In 2024, efforts concentrated on empowering smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth through digital technologies and climate-smart agriculture. This work set the stage for the Global Youth Action Plan (GYAP) 2025-2026.

• 2025: Implementing the GYAP
  In the GYAP, the Africa region identified two major action items that focused on enhancing skills in digital technologies and advocating for inclusive policies. In 2025, the focus turned to manifesting these items though a series of dialogues, surveys and trainers of trainers programs.