Forest and Farm Champions: Rural Youth Shaping Tomorrow's Forests and Farms

This side event (YL03), taking place on 17 October from 14:00 to 15:00 (CEST) as part of the World Food Forum 2024 flagship event, will aim to amplify the voices of rural youth and spotlight their significant contributions in environmental conservation and restoration while working together with local farmers to enhance food security, integrating sustainable forestry and agricultural production practices and forest conservation. 

The event will be organized in close collaboration among three teams: Forest Monitoring and Data Platforms supported by the Forestry and Livelihoods and Forest Farm Facility teams in the Forestry Division at FAO. Moreover, the event will partner with forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs) from Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana.

 

Speakers

 

Grace Kimaru, from Nyeri, Kenya, is the founder of Foster Green Community Based Organization. She promotes environmental conservation through tree growing, climate literacy via community capacity building, and advocates for climate-resilient cities. Using social media, she raises awareness on environmental stewardship and drives meaningful climate action in her community.

 

Olgah Hellens is an environmentalist with five years' experience in leading and executing community-based projects.  She founded iConserve, an initiative dedicated to empowering youths and communities on sustainable use of natural resources within Lake Victoria basin and its surrounding catchment areas. Her work primarily centers on forest monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

 

Ryan Henry Korsah holds a Bachelor of Arts and in Communication, Specialized in Public Relations. Ryan currently serves a Communication Technician and Youth Focal Point at the Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers (GhaFFap). Ryan is instrumental in enhancing the GhaFFaP visibility and supporting FFPOs in local Communities and coordinating the youth participation as the GhaFFaP Youth focal point at the secretariat.

 

Abel Kamfwa holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Diploma in Advanced Agriculture. Currently, he is pursuing a MSc. in Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Abel serves as a Programs Officer at the Zambia National Forest Commodities Association (ZNFCA), where he has been actively involved in implementing the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) project across five districts in Zambia.

 

Julian Fox has 20+ years of forest monitoring experience, including managing projects, research, and teaching. He spent 7 years working in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea and Zambia. As Team Leader at FAO, he oversees global forest monitoring, data platforms (Open Foris), and a significant portfolio of country support activities in 45 countries.

 

Thomas Hofer is a Swiss National with a background in Geography and biology. He joined FAO HQ in 1998 where until 2017 he was responsible for FAO’s program on watershed management, sustainable mountain development and forest hydrology. From 2012 to 2017 he also coordinated the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. From 2017 to 2021 he was based in Bangkok as Senior Forestry Officer. Since September 2021 he is back in HQ in charge of the Forest Biodiversity and the Forestry and Livelihoods Team.

 

Panelists 

 

Clophas Zibusiso Ncube, has a Master of Science in Agribusiness and 14+ years of experience in agriculture and rural development. His work focuses on empowering disadvantaged rural youth and women. As National Project Coordinator for Green Jobs for Rural Youth Employment in Zimbabwe, he advocates for rural youth empowerment in the food system and financial literacy.

Abdulai Amadu Bangura, has a Master of Science in Rural Development and 13+ years of experience. His work focuses on sustainable agriculture, youth employment, women’s empowerment, and climate resilience. As National Project Coordinator for Green Jobs for Rural Youth Employment in Sierra Leone, he coordinates youth initiatives and promotes climate-smart agriculture and green entrepreneurship.

 

Organizers

 

Eva Ntara, born and raised in Nakuru, Kenya, is passionate about protecting natural resources. With over four years of experience at FAO, she specializes in high-carbon ecosystems, such as peatlands and mangroves. Currently, she is facilitating the Forest Carbon Champion Programme under the AIM4Forest project, mentoring young people involved in forest monitoring.

 

José Diaz has over 15 years of working experience in rural development, community-based and smallholder forestry, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. He is currently the Forestry Officer for Producer Organizations at the FAO’s Forestry Division. Before joining FAO, José served as the Head of the Climate Change Department at the Guatemalan’s National Forestry Institute, and as the Regional Coordinator of the Alliance for Resilient Coffee for Central America at the Hanns Neuman Stiftung.

 

Vanessa Vertiz is a seasoned professional from Peru with 18 years of experience, including 13 years in the United Nations system and FAO, specializing in Communication for Development, knowledge management, capacity development, and outreach. Currently serving as a key member of the National Forest Monitoring Team, she has played an instrumental role in coordinating knowledge management and outreach efforts for forest monitoring projects aimed at climate action, including SEPAL and AIM4Forests.

Webcast