Youth
Policy
Board
The Youth Policy Board (YPB) is an independent body of young leaders that provides strategic direction to the World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly. Its members are nominated and selected by their peers, ensuring broad representation across regions, disciplines and backgrounds.
Together, the YPB defines policy priorities, advises the WFF Youth Initiative, and ensures that youth perspectives are meaningfully integrated into global agrifood systems transformation.
In 2026, the fifth YPB cohort brings together 40 changemakers from around the world, each contributing expertise and experience in regional and thematic areas to strengthen youth participation in decision-making spaces.
The YPB’s mandate includes:
- Guiding the Youth Assembly and its processes;
- Organizing and leading consultations to capture youth perspectives;
- Drafting policy papers, recommendations and calls to action;
- Representing youth at international policy forums and conferences;
- Engaging stakeholders to advance inclusivity and collaboration.
Regional work
Across all six FAO regions, YPB members advance the Global Youth Action Plan 2025-2026, focusing on two actionable items in each region through 2026. They hold consultations and design surveys to inform statements, outcome documents and advocacy strategies in close collaboration with FAO Regional Offices. In addition, the YPB members contribute to the development of the 2026 Youth Priorities document and actionable recommendations.
Thematic Work
Each member contributes expertise in one of the ten thematic areas: biodiversity, bioeconomy, climate change, desertification, land degradation and drought, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, livestock, nutrition, water management and young women's empowerment. They lead youth consultations, design surveys and collect case studies of youth-led initiatives to identify gaps and opportunities for stronger youth participation in agrifood systems governance. These insights are translated into statements, policy recommendations, outcome documents and calls to action, which are then integrated into advocacy strategies that amplify youth priorities and feed into global policy forums.
YPB members design and lead dynamic sessions that create spaces for young people to exchange ideas and propose solutions to agrifood systems challenges. The YPB also bridges community-level youth action with regional and global policy processes, ensuring youth voices are recognized as essential partners in shaping a sustainable, inclusive and resilient food future.
The WFF Youth Initiative is excited to welcome the 2026-27 cohort of young leaders, who will drive meaningful change in agrifood systems.
Click on the cards for more details about the members of the Board
Listen to the Members of the YPB
Youth Policy Board: Solutions in Action – Part 1
In this episode, Youth Policy Board members Andile Mnguni, Joko Tri Rubiyanto, Mikayla Hyland-Wood, Mohammed A. Mahjoub and Nada Zammel discuss the Global Youth Action Plan 2025-2026, discussing regional priorities and their vision for transforming agrifood systems.
Youth Policy Board: Solutions in Action – Part 2
In this episode, Youth Policy Board members Marilena Bachmeier and George Platt, along with David Giles from the WFF Youth Team, discuss the Global Youth Action Plan 2025–2026, focusing on regional priorities and their vision for transforming agrifood systems.
News
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