Deadline: January 15, 2024
Applications for the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Program 2024 are now open. Apply for a new and inspiring program for early career professionals to accelerate food systems solutions in the Global South.
Selected participants will be invited to participate in a 5-day, in-person, leadership building workshop. The mission is to facilitate connections among promising early-career innovators, practitioners, scientists, and activists from low- and middle-income countries. Together, they will connect policy advocacy with grassroots action to collectively shape a positive future of food.
- Learn: Engage in a 5-day co-creative workshop, bridging the gap between data, knowledge, and implementation. Explore modules such as negotiations, policy advocacy, strategic communication, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Get Inspired: Immerse yourself in presentations by seasoned practitioners, scientists, young global food champions, and influencers shaping the future of food systems.
- Act: Co-create a community of practice, sharpen your leadership skills, and develop transformative initiatives for low- and middle-income countries to transform their food systems.
Program Content
Enhance your expertise in:
- Governance systems: Negotiations and design of multi-stakeholder processes for food systems governance.
- Policy advocacy: Mastering leadership skills for policy advocacy, bridging the gap from global to local and vice versa. Learn how to effectively target policy processes at local, regional, and global levels.
- Communication and storytelling for impact: Crafting impactful communication and storytelling strategies, raising awareness, and securing funds for your initiatives.
- Science and evidence-based decision-making: Building proposals and forging partnerships based on scientific evidence.
Funding
- For candidates who are selected for sponsorship, the Hub will prioritise as many countries as possible with the aim to support at least one candidate per country. Sponsorship will include full coverage of travel, accommodations and meals during the training.
- Self-funded participants are responsible for covering their travel, accommodation, and additional expenses. There is no workshop participation fee.
- All participants, whether sponsored or self-funded, will receive an invitation letter and, if necessary, a visa support letter to assist with the required travel documentation. Upon the completion of the workshop, all participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Eligibility
- The program targets early career professionals from all disciplinary backgrounds interested in leading food systems solutions in three regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. If you’re already engaged in food systems activities as a researcher, civil society member, or in other capacities, this program is for you!
- Applicants should be aged between 18-35 years old (no older than 35 by December 2023);
- Nationals from low and middle-income countries (according to the World Bank classification);
- Proficiency in English is desirable. Interpretation services will be arranged based on individual needs and availability.
Selection Criteria
The selection will occur in one phase. Each application will be evaluated by a selection committee, convened by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, FAO Regional Offices and other regional partners.
Candidates will be assessed based on the following:
- Current work: priority will be given to applicants for national administrations and other public agencies related to food systems transformation.
- Academic and/or professional excellence – in the field of food and agriculture and inter-disciplinary background
- Policy advocacy/communication skills and leadership experience
- Quality of the presented motivation and project after the end of the course
- Experience in policy processes or grassroots initiatives at the local, regional, or global levels
- Personal engagement: quality of the motivation statement engagement to serve society and support a sustainable
- Track record of engagement in advocacy networks, Youth Associations, or similar organizations working to transform food systems
- Understanding of UNFSS Summit, National Pathways etc.
The selection committee will consider gender, geographical and multi-disciplinary backgrounds.
Application
Apply before 24:00 CEST on January 15, 2024.
For more information, visit UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Program.
