Youth Engagement
Youth engagement is a core principle of FAO, with a particular focus on mainstreaming youth in FAO’s programmatic work areas, FAO’s projects and activities, such as striving towards achieving food security and agrifood systems or development of plans towards including youth in decision-making processes and procedures. In its Strategic Framework 2022–2031, youth is one of three cross-cutting themes FAO has identified, along with gender and inclusion, to promote their more systematic mainstreaming and operationalization across all of FAO’s work.
FAO recognizes that Youth are already at the frontline of building more sustainable agrifood systems. As key contributors, they support the sector through their knowledge, skills, and leadership, while advancing, innovation, adopting new technologies, and contributing to sustainable outcomes. This is further supported by FAO’s Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems report, which highlights both the central role of young people in agrifood systems and the need to expand opportunities, reduce barriers, and strengthen enabling conditions for meaningful youth participation.
FAO firmly believes in the systematic engagement of the world’s youth and recognizes their immense potential in transforming global agrifood systems and helping accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The FAO Youth Committee, launched in 2019 to increase youth engagement and foster their innovative spark, has been actively networking among young and youthful FAO staff and reaching out to major youth groups from around the world with the launch of a groundbreaking platform, the World Food Forum (WFF). The WFF becomes the foremost global hub for youth engagement in agrifood systems.
Building on this, the Rural Youth Action Plan (RYAP) is FAO’s five-year Action Plan with the goal of contributing to the realization of the SDGs by equally empowering rural young women and men. It informs FAO support to countries in developing more youth-inclusive policies, strategies, investments, and programs to enhance the overall well-being of young women and men.
The recent establishment of the FAO Office of Youth and Women is another important initiative aimed at strengthening FAO’s capacity to better serve its Members by advocating for youth and women. It ensures that youth and women act as internal and external conduits, supporting women and youth career enrichment by gathering innovative ideas and approaches from youth and women within the FAO mandate.
The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG) is championing, strengthening, and facilitating youth-centered initiatives and partnerships in Switzerland focused on youth action, empowerment, and implementation, with the aim of amplifying the World Food Forum (WFF) mission to “empower youth for a better food future.”
LOG is driving youth action through strategic partnerships, inter-agency collaborations across International Geneva, including UN specialized agencies, other international organizations, as well as with academic institutions and local youth networks. In doing so, LOG champions and amplifies FAO initiatives that advance youth action in agrifood systems, including the WFF Flagship Event and WFF Thematic Programmes, which mobilize and inspire young people to take action in Switzerland and beyond.
Youth engagement activities in Geneva
Championing youth engagement comes in many different shapes and forms, but it is aimed at empowering youth to take action and to make an impact on a larger magnitude towards achieving food security. FAO LOG promotes FAO works and initiatives, such as the WFF Thematic Programmes or the Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems Report, all stemming substantial ways to implement youth action into technical programmes. Furthermore, LOG works centered around youth engagement is focused on raising awareness and boosting opportunities for youths to have a platform to showcase the pivotal role youth have in achieving sustainable agrifood systems, ending world hunger, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Here are some of the recent Youth Engagement activities of FAO in Geneva:
Advancing AI solutions in agrifood systems through youth leadership
Science to Society: Youth, Digital Platforms and Trusted Communication for Climate and Food Security
Bee together for People and the Planet: Geneva celebrates World Bee Day 2026
Meet the FAO Right to Food Expert: Youth Action Advancing the Right to Food
Cultivating Youth Action for Agrifood Systems: Launch of the Youth Chapter in Switzerland
Women empowerment leading the change in agrifood systems for a better tomorrow
The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG), in collaboration with the FAO Office of Youth and Women (OYW), through the World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative, is organizing the FAO in Geneva Youth Dialogue Series to strengthen youth engagement in agrifood systems and support FAO’s mandate of achieving global food security.
Building on LOG’s engagement with Geneva-based actors, the series aims to strengthen dialogue on youth empowerment and position young people as key contributors to more sustainable, resilient and food-secure agrifood systems.
The series provides a structured platform for young leaders, Member States, international organizations, civil society, academia and FAO technical divisions and decentralized offices to exchange practical experiences, identify shared priorities, and explore areas for collaboration.
Organized with relevant partners across the International Geneva, including UN agencies, academic institutions, and local youth initiatives, the series will highlight youth-led solutions and address barriers affecting young people, particularly rural youth and young women, in areas such as employment, food security, resilience, and participation in agrifood systems.
