The World Food Forum is inviting applications for the 2026–2027 Youth Policy Board cohort. The Youth Policy Board sits within the Youth Assembly governance structure and ensures that young leaders have a real, structured voice in decisions that shape global agrifood systems. Members collaborate with FAO teams and partners to design, coordinate, and deliver youth led policy initiatives that advance sustainability, inclusion, and food security.
Below is a fully reworked guide to help you determine your eligibility, prepare a strong application, and understand the role and its commitments.
World Food Forum Youth Policy Board 2026–2027 Quick Summary
Item |
Details |
|---|---|
Opportunity |
World Food Forum Youth Policy Board 2026–2027 |
Host |
World Food Forum, supported by FAO |
Role focus |
Youth governance, policy design, coordination of regional and thematic workstreams |
Time commitment |
About 25 hours per month, with weekly meetings |
Eligibility age |
19 to 35 years old on 30 April 2027 |
Education |
High school completion plus enrollment in or completion of a bachelor degree |
Language requirement |
English at C1 level. Additional UN languages are an asset |
Application deadline |
23 November 2025 at 23:59 CET |
Selection announcement |
By 30 April 2026 |
Official website |
What the Youth Policy Board Does
The Youth Policy Board is the governing body of the World Food Forum Youth Assembly. YPB members set strategic priorities for youth engagement, steer policy dialogues, and coordinate regional and thematic work so that ideas from diverse communities translate into concrete policy initiatives. The Board collaborates directly with FAO technical teams and global partners, bringing youth insights into agendas that address climate resilience, healthy diets, fair markets, rural livelihoods, digital innovation, and equitable participation.
Key contributions include:
- Designing and moderating youth policy dialogues that feed into FAO and partner processes.
- Coordinating regional hubs and thematic tracks and ensuring inclusive participation.
- Developing guidance notes, concept papers, and advocacy briefs for agrifood policy audiences.
- Building coalitions with youth networks, civil society, academia, and local leaders.
- Elevating the lived experience of young food system actors through evidence informed policy work.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all requirements below:
- Age: 19 to 35 years old as of 30 April 2027.
- Education: Completion of high school and enrollment in or completion of a bachelor degree program.
- Language: English proficiency at C1 level for both written and spoken communication. Competence in another UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish is a strong advantage.
- Commitment: Approximately 25 hours per month. Expect weekly meetings. Around 20 hours for your assigned core area such as a region or a theme and 5 hours for cross cutting responsibilities.
- Motivation and experience: Demonstrated interest or experience in agrifood systems, youth empowerment, or policy advocacy.
Eligibility restrictions:
- Not open to FAO employees and immediate family members of FAO staff.
- Not open to current or former WFF Young Scientists.
- Not open to candidates seeking a third consecutive Youth Policy Board term.
What You Will Do If Selected
- Lead and facilitate: Plan and run youth policy dialogues and consultations. Support peer learning, curate speakers, and synthesize outcomes into policy messages.
- Coordinate networks: Organize regional or thematic workstreams, harmonize calendars, and maintain clear communication with partners.
- Produce knowledge outputs: Draft briefs, toolkits, and summaries that move youth proposals into actionable recommendations.
- Strengthen inclusion: Promote participation by youth from underrepresented geographies and communities, and foster multilingual access where possible.
- Represent youth voices: Present in events, webinars, and stakeholder meetings. Champion evidence, practical solutions, and equity.
- Monitor and report: Track progress against milestones and contribute to impact reporting for the Youth Assembly.
Time Commitment and Work Style
The appointment is designed for students, early career professionals, and young practitioners who can dedicate steady time every month. Expect:
- Weekly calls for coordination and planning.
- Flexible task blocks that you can schedule across time zones.
- Periodic peaks ahead of major WFF or FAO events.
- Collaborative drafting and review cycles for policy outputs.
Effective members are organized, responsive, and comfortable working in distributed teams with clear documentation and version control.
Application Details and Timeline
- Deadline: 23 November 2025 at 23:59 CET.
- How to apply: Complete the online form on the World Food Forum website. Prepare concise responses that reflect your motivation, relevant experience, and understanding of agrifood systems and youth policy.
- Selection announcement: By 30 April 2026.
Tip for your application:
- Align your examples with measurable outcomes. For instance, cite a policy engagement you supported, a community initiative you helped coordinate, or a research to policy brief you contributed to.
- Demonstrate cross cultural awareness and experience working with diverse stakeholders.
Responsible Use of AI in Applications
The World Food Forum recognizes that candidates may use AI tools. Your submission must remain human authored, fact checked, and personally reviewed.
- Disclose any use of AI support in your application where requested.
- Verify accuracy and originality. Do not paste unedited machine generated text.
- Ensure the final narrative reflects your authentic voice and experience.
This approach supports transparency and ethical innovation in youth recruitment.
Data Protection and Consent
FAO safeguards personal data collected through the application process. Information is used exclusively for administration and analysis of Youth Assembly activities and may be shared internally within FAO’s Global Youth Action Initiative. Photos or recordings from YPB activities may be used for communications with appropriate consent.
For full details, review FAO’s Data Protection and Privacy Notice:
Submitting an application constitutes consent to these data processing terms.
How to Stand Out
- Show policy literacy. Reference relevant policy forums or instruments that matter to your region or theme, such as national food strategies, school meals programs, climate adaptation plans, or nutrition guidelines.
- Illustrate leadership. Briefly explain when you convened diverse actors and achieved alignment.
- Clarify your added value. Languages, data skills, communications experience, or community networks are all useful assets.
- Be realistic about time. Indicate how you will accommodate the 25 hours per month commitment.
How to Apply
- Visit the World Food Forum website and locate the Youth Policy Board call.
- Read the Terms of Reference in full before drafting your application.
- Complete the online form with accurate personal details and contact information.
- Provide clear, evidence based responses that address motivation, experience, and fit.
- Submit before the deadline and keep a copy of your responses for your records.
Official website: https://www.world-food-forum.org
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to be a current student to apply
No. You must have completed high school and either be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor degree. Professionals and practitioners are welcome.
2. Is the time commitment flexible across time zones
Yes. Meetings occur regularly, and much of the work can be scheduled flexibly. Plan for about 25 hours per month.
3. Can I apply if I previously served on the Youth Policy Board
You may apply unless you are seeking a third consecutive term, which is not permitted.
4. Which languages are required
English at C1 level is required. Proficiency in another UN language strengthens your profile, especially for regional coordination.
5. Is this a paid position
The call centers on governance and policy engagement. Any financial terms would be communicated directly by WFF in the official call and related documentation.
6. May I use AI tools to draft my responses
You may use AI support responsibly, but you must disclose use where requested, verify facts, and ensure the final submission is your own work.
7. When will I know the outcome
Final selections will be announced by 30 April 2026. Monitor your email and the World Food Forum site for updates.
Conclusion
The World Food Forum Youth Policy Board offers a structured, high impact platform for young leaders to help steer agrifood policy agendas. If you are ready to commit time, collaborate across cultures, and translate youth priorities into actionable policy ideas, this cohort can amplify your contribution to a fairer, more resilient food future. Read the Terms of Reference in full, prepare a focused application, and submit before the deadline.
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