03 - Tasks

The WFF YSG will work closely with the WFF Coordinator on the following tasks:

• Participate actively in youth dialogues or events organized by the WFF Youth Action track to provide scientific and technical evidence to the discussions held by and with global youth;
• Revise and amend, if necessary, any document, statement or alike, produced within the context of WFF events (including selected partner events), online consultations, webinars, youth engagement processes or statements;
• Engage specifically with the WFF Innovation and Education track, including the related sub-tracks and working groups generated within the above, in various scientific expert roles;
• Coordinate and establish an annual WFF Young Scientists report on specific issues of special concern to youth, related to agrifood systems transformation;
• Provide guidance and proposals for key messages and thematic areas to be highlighted in WFF marketing and communications;
• Attend regularly scheduled YSG meetings;
• Actively participate in the WFF flagship event held in October of each year;
• Represent the WFF YSG at conferences, technical meetings, panel discussions, among others;
• Engage in any other matter of the WFF requiring scientific evidence.

04 - Eligibility criteria

• Age 35 or younger;
• Master graduates or above, including post-graduate or PhD students, or postdoctoral researchers as well as PhD graduates working in other sectors;
• Endorsed by academic or work supervisor, senior department faculty member, scientist or similar (recommendation letter or application endorsement letter is required);
• Experienced or familiar with inter/trans-disciplinary research in fields related to the global agrifood systems, and enthusiastic about joining a young, multidisciplinary team;
• Excellent command of any of the FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish), and at least conversational English;
• Present a recognized record of academic excellence;
• Provide evidence of extra-curricular engagements such as volunteering or professional experiences as well as international experiences;
• Self-driven and able to work at their own pace and match deadlines;
• Demonstrate a commitment to serve society at large.

The following will be considered as bonus criteria:

• Experience as a principal investigator, group leader or early tenure track researcher;
• Team leading experience;
• Experience in science communication towards non-scientific audiences.

05 - Application Process

Applicants should provide the signed Commitment Form along with the following information required for the application:

• Short note matching the candidate’s area(s) of expertise with one or more of the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Life, Better Environment, Better Nutrition;
• Statement of motivation (maximum 2 pages) indicating the added value the candidate will bring to the WFF YSG specifically – including with regard to team leading, inter and transdisciplinary research, group representation, etc. - as well as the expectations and motivation to join the group;
• Endorsement/recommendation letter by academic or work supervisor, senior department faculty member, scientist or similar.
• Record of professional experience and academic qualifications, including:
  • Short description of research experience, including participation in research projects, awards or grants received, etc.;
  • Experience and knowledge acquired by training or work experience on one or more thematic areas related to agrifood systems transformation, including additional information regarding qualifications and areas of specialization;
  • Competencies, such as the ability to work cooperatively in a team and respect differences between people; ability to develop creative and practical solutions; ability to take initiative for delivering high-quality work; ability to communicate to different target audiences;
  • Major work or research/innovation initiatives carried out or contributions made;
  • List of scientific publications and products;
  • List of presentations at conferences and seminars;
  • Soft skills;
  • Additional volunteer and professional experiences;
  • International experiences.
• Short video (2 min maximum) connecting the candidate’s expertise to one of the Betters, as well as briefly elaborating on how they would contribute to the YSG.

Apply by sending the Commitment Form and required information to [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 15 March 2023 for the 2023-2025 term. Only complete applications of eligible candidates will be considered.

06 - Indicative timeline

Applications for the YSG will be open from 15 February until 15 March 2023. They will then be reviewed by the selection committee in two steps.

Selection results for the second YSG cohort will be communicated to the candidates on 28 April. The new cohort will be officially announced in May 2023.