Government of Ireland joins World Food Forum to sponsor 100 young leaders from Around the World

The World Food Forum (WFF) is proud to announce our collaboration with the Government of Ireland to ensure diversity and inclusion for youth attendees at the 2023 WFF flagship event. Together, with generous funding provided by Ireland, we will sponsor over 100 young leaders from almost 40 countries from the Global South, and across a wide range of agrifood systems stakeholders – from young scientists to policy advocates, farmers, entrepreneurs, activists and Indigenous leaders.

In order to ensure a full spectrum of youth leaders, we are sponsoring the core groups of youth leaders who support the WFF: the Youth Policy Board, the Young Scientists Group, leaders of WFF’s National Chapters and finalists of this year’s WFF innovation competitions. We are also supporting those whose work will power the sessions of the 2023 WFF flagship event including cultural performers, moderators, session facilitators and more.

As the WFF is a network of partners, we collaborate with a wide range of organizations and youth groups. To ensure a global and diverse Forum, we have enabled the following core partners to nominate focal points to represent them at this year’s flagship event:

• the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN),
  
• the International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences (IAAS),
  
• the International Forestry Students' Association (IFSA),
  
• the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY),
  
• the Middle East and Near Africa (MENA) Youth Network,
  
• the United Nations Global Indigenous Youth Forum,
  
• the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP),
  
• YOUNGO (the official children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)),
  
• young farmers organizations (the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), the World Farmers’ Organization (WFO) and the World Rural Forum (WRF)),
  
• the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD),
  
• the Youth Committee of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
  
• the youth stakeholder group of the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, and
  
• several youth-oriented projects supported by specialized agencies of the United Nations.

Only by empowering youth from all parts of the world, in particular those who have the least resources and are most vulnerable, and by giving them a voice and a space for action, will we truly be able to transform our agrifood systems and create a better food future for all. Thank you to the Government of Ireland for leading with concrete action and funding, and setting an example of how countries can support and empower the youth who will inherit the mounting challenges we face today.