FAO World Food Forum Youth Policy Board

The World Food Forum, a platform FAO launched in 2021, is recruiting for its Youth Policy Board, a group of 40 young changemakers who lead the WFF Youth Assembly and its youth policy work on food and agriculture. Over a one-year term, members run regional or thematic youth consultations and turn what they hear into recommendations for intergovernmental meetings, including the run-up to the 2028 FAO Regional Conferences. It is open to university students and graduates aged 18 to 35 who are nationals of an FAO member country, and it takes about 25 hours a month.

What you get:

• A one-year seat on the 40-member board that leads the WFF Youth Assembly, with the option to reapply for a second year
• Direct work with FAO technical experts, FAO Regional Offices and the Youth Assembly's partner organisations
• The chance to represent the board in intergovernmental processes and conferences, where applicable

What you'll do:

• Lead youth consultations, surveys and multistakeholder sessions in your region or on your theme
• Regional members prepare the youth consultative process for the 2028 FAO Regional Conferences, working with FAO Regional Offices
• Thematic members lead one theme; the application lists twelve, including biodiversity, climate change, fisheries, nutrition, One Health and water management
• Turn what you gather into recommendations, position papers and outcome documents for intergovernmental processes and conferences
• Give about 25 hours a month, 20 on your main area and 5 on a supporting one, and join a one-hour weekly meeting held between 09:00 and 18:00 Rome time
• Write up the term's results in an outcome document

Key dates:

• Applications close 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET (Rome time)
• Shortlisted candidates are then asked for a CV, a recommendation letter and a two-minute video
• Final selection announced by April 2027
• One-year term, 2027 to 2028

More information:

• Full eligibility, duties and selection rules are in the Youth Policy Board Terms of Reference 2027-2028 (PDF), linked from the programme page
• Selection runs in four rounds: a Secretariat screen, a shortlist by youth organisation representatives (and, where feasible, National Youth Chapter policy focal points), an assessment by the outgoing board, then interviews
• The six-page form asks for a LinkedIn profile link, up to three references and short essays, including a motivation statement of up to 300 words
• AI tools should be limited to language and grammar support; FAO will not consider answers substantially generated by AI, and the form asks how you used it
• Questions go to youth-assembly@fao.org

• Aged 18 to 35 as of 30 April 2027
• National of an FAO Member State
• Graduated from high school and enrolled in, or finished, a bachelor's degree at the time of application
• C1 level spoken and written English; another FAO official language is an advantage
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge or strong engagement in agrifood systems, policy advocacy and youth empowerment
• Able to give about 25 hours a month and attend a one-hour weekly meeting between 09:00 and 18:00 Rome time (CET/CEST)
• Able to work in an international, multicultural team
• Not employed by FAO, and not an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, sibling or their spouses) of an FAO employee
• Not a current or former member of the WFF Young Scientists Group, and not a current or former Youth Policy Board member (the application form itself bars only a third term)