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Indigenous Peoples

Call for Applications - 2025 UNGIYF

Deadline: 1 May 2025, midnight, Rome Time (CEST)  

Dates & Location: We look forward to confirming the dates and location of UNGIYF 2025 as soon as possible. Please stay tuned.   

The Call for Applications is now open!  Indigenous Youth from the seven socio-cultural regions are invited to apply.  

We encourage Indigenous Youth who are working for the future of Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and climate change resilience to join us for the III Session of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum (UNGIYF).  Discover more about the UNGIYF. 

Co-hosted by the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC) and FAO, the UNGIYF is the only high-level forum in the UN dedicated to Indigenous Youth. It is a biennial forum, taking place every 2 years, and builds on the momentum of the positive changes that Indigenous Youth are advancing globally. The last forum resulted in the 2023 Indigenous Youth Rome Declaration on Safeguarding Seven Generations in times of Food, Social and Ecological Crisis.

UNGIYF 2025 will advance the policy recommendations in the 2023 Indigenous Youth Rome Declaration as well as connect the work of Indigenous Youth leaders who are collaborating around global milestones. This powerful gathering will shape the future of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, biodiversity conservation, climate action and land restoration from the perspectives of Indigenous Youth.  

The UNGIYF Selection Committee will review the applications based on the applicant's practical work on Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems, considering geographical and gender balance. 

FAO has limited funds and will sponsor only the best applications. Therefore, FAO strongly encourages Indigenous Youth to identify sponsorship to attend the UNGIYF, Indigenous Youth are welcome to attend the forum with their own funds/sponsorship.    

Please complete your application in the online form before 1 May 2025, midnight, Rome time (CEST).  

 

Information about the application and selection process 

Who can apply?  

  • Between 18 – 30 years-old.  
  • Applicants from all seven socio-cultural regions are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

How to apply? 

  • Fill out the application form and submit it before 1 May 2025, midnight Rome Time (CEST). .  
  • Respond to the questions with direct, action-oriented examples with practical information about your work for Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and climate change.  
  • Please respect the word limit for each response. 

 

How will the selection process & funding work?   

  • Each application will be examined by the UNGIYF selection committee which gathers the Indigenous Youth Planning Task Force for the forum and members of the FAO Indigenous Peoples Unit. 
  • The selection committee will select the best Indigenous Youth applicants for FAO to sponsor their attendance to the forum.  
  • The selection committee will ensure gender and regional balance across the seven socio-cultural regions. 
  • The selection committee will be evaluating applications based on the relevance, clarity, and direct connection to the themes of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum: Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and climate change. 
  • FAO will have limited funds to sponsor the travel of Indigenous Youth to attend the Forum and will aim to sponsor the best applications. 
  • FAO strongly encourages Indigenous Youth to identify sponsorship to attend the UNGIYF, Indigenous Youth are welcome to attend the forum with their own funds/sponsorship. 
  • The selection committee will select the best applicants based on the information provided and notify them by May 2025. 

 

If you are selected, what does it mean? 

  • FAO will pay for your travel and expenses to attend the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum (UNGIYF)  
  • Indigenous Youth attending the Forum will be expected to present their experiences and consider and incorporate the priorities of Indigenous Youth from their regions and globally who were not able to attend the Forum. 

 

For more information on the UNGIYF, visit: https://www.fao.org/indigenous-peoples/secretariats/ungiyf/en  

If you need extra information or help with the application, please contact: [email protected]