Open Call for Applications

The WFF Youth Action and Policy track aims to connect and empower young people with different backgrounds across the globe to discuss their local priorities and challenges and identify innovative and actionable solutions for a better food future.

One of the major components of the Youth Action and Policy track is the Youth Policy Board (YPB), who governs the Youth Assembly, draft youth policy positions on food and agriculture topics and coordinate regional activities, providing strategic direction for upcoming key events and the Youth Assembly throughout the year and during the WFF annual flagship event. The objective of the Youth Assembly is to open the dialogue on regional and thematic areas for policy inputs, draft opinions, and co-organize/brainstorm activities of the WFF Youth Action track.

The Youth Policy Board is now opening a call for applications for interested individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 years to join the new cohort.

Apply now!

The 2023 flagship event witnessed young leaders’ passion and commitment towards building a sustainable food future. The 2023 Youth Assembly saw increased participation, inclusivity, and openness of young leaders in discussing various policy priorities. This led to the identification of some key common themes across regional and thematic sessions, including education, capacity building, multistakeholder and multi-sectoral collaborations, meaningful partnerships with youths from the local to the international level, and inclusion of all stakeholders in the process of agrifood systems transformation - including young people, women, farmers, Indigenous Peoples and marginalized communities. The 2023 Youth Assembly also highlighted the need for an agrifood systems approach in every policy process and the inclusion of climate action as a key component of agrifood systems transformation.

“At WFF, I have spearheaded various policy-centric initiatives aimed at increasing community-driven action around agrifood systems transformation, ranging from food loss and waste to sustainable development from the agricultural or food security context. Additionally, I have co-created the North America Regional Assembly, focused on domestic school nutrition policy, and the SDG 2 Global Thematic Assembly focused on progress review of zero hunger. Through this work, I'm proud to create opportunities for young people to meaningfully engage in cross-sectoral intergenerational discourse, as well as advocate for innovative food and climate policy recommendations, notably the growing need for grassroots mobilization and inclusive community representation to drive equitable agrifood systems transformation!’’ Shreyaa Venkat- Youth Policy Board member and founder and CEO of the nonprofit NEST4US.

Are you looking for a way to get your voice heard regarding food and agriculture issues while taking your career to the next level? Then, this volunteer leadership opportunity with the WFF is for you! By joining the cohort, the WFF YPB members will:

• Co-lead the WFF Youth Assembly, which discusses various policy priorities and develops policy recommendations surrounding agrifood systems issues;
• Join a powerful network of agrifood systems changemakers, including fellow YPB members, the WFF secretariat, partner organizations and constituencies, and FAO Regional and Liaison offices;
• Receive limited travel and accommodation support to attend the WFF annual flagship event held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy;
• Receive capacity building and training opportunities, and the opportunity to engage in various WFF projects and initiatives;
• Gain visibility through speaking opportunities at various policy-related global, regional and local events;
• Leverage the network and resources of the WFF secretariat to empower youth for agrifood systems transformation;
• Gain visibility through WFF social media channels and network of partners.

Join the WFF Youth Policy Board by applying by 30 January 2024.