Deadline: 30Th November, 2026
The Youth Policy Board (YPB) is an independent body of young leaders that provides strategic direction to the World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly. Its members are nominated and selected by their peers, ensuring broad representation across regions, disciplines and backgrounds.
In 2026, the fifth YPB cohort brings together 40 changemakers from around the world, each contributing expertise and experience in regional and thematic areas to strengthen youth participation in decision-making spaces.
The YPB’s mandate includes:
- Guiding the Youth Assembly and its processes;
- Organizing and leading consultations to capture youth perspectives;
- Drafting policy papers, recommendations and calls to action;
- Representing youth at international policy forums and conferences;
- Engaging stakeholders to advance inclusivity and collaboration.
Structure and duties
For the 2027–2028 term, YPB members will carry out the following responsibilities at the regional level:
- Lead and facilitate regional consultative youth processes and engagements to gather young people’s vision for the future of agrifood systems;
- Prepare the regional consultative youth process towards the 2028 FAO Regional Conferences and, where applicable, engage with regional technical commissions and bodies, in coordination with the Youth Assembly Secretariat and FAO Regional Offices;
- Convene and liaise ahead of youth consultation sessions with diverse stakeholders, including FAO Regional Offices, members of the WFF Young Scientists Group (YSG) and members of WFF National Youth Chapters;
- Synthesize regional youth voices and perspectives into regional youth recommendations to be presented at intergovernmental processes and
conferences; - Represent the YPB in relevant intergovernmental processes and conferences to advocate for the incorporation of structured youth policy inputs, where applicable; and
- Summarize outcomes and progress during the term in an outcome document.
Eligibility
To be considered for the YPB, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have graduated from high school and either have completed or be enrolled in a bachelors degree programme at the time of application;
- Be between 18 and 35 years as of 30 April 2027;
- Be national of an FAO Member State;
- Demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English at C1 level (fluency in other
- FAO official languages is an advantage);
- Be available to participate in at least one weekly YPB meeting (duration of 1 hour) between 09:00 –18:00 CEST/ CET
- Have demonstrated experience, knowledge or strong engagement in agrifood systems, policy advocacy and youth empowerment;
Be able to dedicate approximately 25 hours per month to the role:
- 20 hours will be dedicated to their core area of responsibility (regional/thematic);
- 5 hours will be dedicated to the supporting area;.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in an international, multicultural environment and possess strong intercultural communication skills;.
- Not be immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings or their respective spouses) of FAO employees;
- Not be employed by FAO;
- Not be current or former members of the WFFs YSG or YPB; and
Preference is given to applicants with:
- Experience within youth constituencies or organizations;
- Experience in supporting consultative youth processes;
- Backgrounds as underrepresented stakeholders, including farmers, Indigenous
- Peoples and women; and
- Understanding of international governance frameworks related to agrifood systems.
For more information and application.
