2024 engagements

During 2024, the Youth Assembly hosted an online consultation in collaboration with the UNCCD Youth Caucus, a capacity-building session with the UNCCD Secretariat and a dynamic consultation during the 2024 WFF flagship event. This process was led by WFF Youth Policy Board members from the Near East and North Africa region, building momentum to COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

At UNCCD COP16, the WFF Youth Assembly engaged in several events, including hosting a session on innovations in sustainable agriculture at the Children and Youth Resilience Hub, a side event titled “Youth Leadership in restoration of degraded agricultural land to enhance food security”, and a gathering of Youth leaders in Near East and North Africa to address land degradation and climate challenges. The event was attended by leaders from the region including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa, HRH Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan.

The key outcome of the WFF Youth Assembly at COP16 was a Youth Statement on Agrifood Systems, which was drafted on the basis of youth consultations prior to COP16 and on-the-ground inputs from various youth networks present.

Key youth priorities expressed in this statement were:

• including youth in decision-making and policy framework design;
• investing in youth-led science and innovation; and
• mobilizing resources for youth-driven solutions.

Tentative 2025–2026 engagements

In 2025, Youth Assembly engagements will map out youth stakeholders working at the intersection of agrifood systems and DLDD and invite them to join the Youth Assembly. In partnership with the UNCCD Youth Caucus, the consultative process will begin with a needs assessment and a global survey to assess priority areas to address during 2025. This will include building on the outcome of the Youth Statement on Agrifood Systems.

A consultation process will be developed that accounts for both regional and global youth priorities, ensuring the meaningful involvement of farmers, Indigenous Peoples and marginalized groups. Looking ahead to COP17 in 2026, the Youth Assembly seeks to develop recommendations that can be used as an effective advocacy tool for youth across various negotiation items.