Deadline: 13-Jul-2026
Applications are now open for the second cohort of the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme, a global initiative led by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The programme supports young leaders working on food systems transformation, sustainable development, climate action, policy engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, research and community action.
Eligible applicants must be 18 to 35 years old, proficient in English, and nationals of low- or middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, or Latin America and the Caribbean. Selected participants will join a leadership journey through 2028, gaining systems thinking skills, mentorship, peer learning, global networks and exposure to international food systems processes.
Programme Overview
The UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme is a global initiative designed to support emerging young leaders working to transform food systems.
The programme is led by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The second cohort builds on the success of the first cohort by expanding a global network of young changemakers committed to building sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems.
Main Objective
The main objective of the programme is to equip young leaders with the skills, networks and systems approaches needed to drive food systems transformation.
The programme aims to:
- Strengthen youth leadership in food systems
- Support sustainable development
- Promote climate action
- Build systems thinking capacity
- Encourage policy engagement
- Support research and advocacy
- Strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation
- Promote community-led action
- Build cross-sector collaboration
- Advance inclusive and resilient food systems
Key Focus Areas
The programme supports young leaders working across food systems and related development fields.
Key focus areas include:
- Food systems transformation
- Sustainable development
- Climate action
- Youth leadership
- Systems thinking
- Policy engagement
- Research
- Advocacy
- Entrepreneurship
- Community action
- Collaboration
- Inclusive food systems
- Resilient food systems
- Sustainable agriculture
- Food security
- Cross-sector partnerships
What Is Food Systems Transformation?
Food systems transformation refers to changing the way food is produced, processed, distributed, consumed and governed.
It includes efforts to make food systems more:
- Sustainable
- Inclusive
- Climate-resilient
- Equitable
- Nutritious
- Locally relevant
- Economically viable
- Environmentally responsible
The programme supports young people who are already contributing to these changes through policy, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy, research or community action.
What the Programme Offers
The Youth Leadership Programme provides participants with learning, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Participants will gain:
- Systems thinking skills
- Leadership development support
- Access to a global peer network
- Opportunities for peer learning
- Mentorship from experts and partners
- Collaboration with UN partners
- Practical tools to strengthen impact
- Exposure to global food systems processes
- Opportunities to engage in partnerships
- Support to expand influence within communities, institutions and countries
Leadership Journey
The programme is designed as a leadership journey rather than a one-time training opportunity.
Participants will be supported to grow as leaders while applying new skills to real-world food systems challenges.
The journey includes:
- Learning from peers
- Engaging with experts
- Building practical leadership skills
- Strengthening systems approaches
- Developing collaborations
- Connecting local action with global processes
- Contributing to food systems change through 2028
Building on the First Cohort
The second cohort builds on the achievements of the first cohort.
Participants in the first cohort contributed to:
- Food systems initiatives in their countries
- Policy discussions
- Research and advocacy efforts
- Cross-regional collaboration
- Cross-sector partnerships
- Community-level food systems action
The new cohort will expand this growing global network of emerging leaders.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must meet the programme’s core eligibility requirements.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- Be proficient in English
- Be nationals of low- or middle-income countries
- Demonstrate experience in food systems, sustainable development, climate action or related fields
- Have experience leading or contributing to initiatives in their community, organisation, institution or sector
- Be committed to participating fully in programme activities through 2028
Geographic Eligibility
The programme is open to nationals of low- or middle-income countries.
Applications are particularly encouraged from young people in:
- Africa
- Asia and the Pacific
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Applicants should clearly show how their background, work and leadership connect to food systems transformation in their country or region.
Priority Applicants
The programme particularly encourages applications from young leaders working in diverse roles across food systems.
Priority applicants may include:
- Young farmers
- Entrepreneurs
- Policy advocates
- Researchers
- Science communicators
- Indigenous community representatives
- Local community representatives
- Civil society leaders
- Youth leaders working on climate action
- Young people involved in sustainable development initiatives
Relevant Experience
Applicants should demonstrate experience in one or more relevant areas.
Relevant experience may include:
- Food systems projects
- Sustainable agriculture
- Food security initiatives
- Climate action
- Community development
- Policy advocacy
- Research
- Science communication
- Entrepreneurship
- Youth leadership
- Civil society engagement
- Indigenous or local community action
Applicants do not need to come from only one sector. The programme welcomes participants from policy, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy and community action.
Why This Programme Matters
Young people are central to the future of food systems.
They are already leading solutions in farming, research, entrepreneurship, advocacy, policy and local action.
The UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme matters because it helps young leaders strengthen their skills, expand their networks and connect their local work with global food systems processes.
By supporting youth leadership through 2028, the programme contributes to long-term efforts to build food systems that are sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
Expected Benefits for Participants
Selected participants may benefit from:
- Stronger leadership confidence
- Improved systems thinking skills
- Better understanding of food systems transformation
- Access to a global network of peers
- Mentorship from experts
- Collaboration with UN partners
- Practical tools for impact
- Greater visibility for their work
- Opportunities to contribute to policy and advocacy discussions
- Stronger ability to influence change in communities and institutions
Expected Programme Outcomes
The programme is expected to support young leaders who can contribute to food systems change at local, national, regional and global levels.
Expected outcomes may include:
- Stronger youth leadership in food systems
- Improved collaboration across regions and sectors
- Expanded youth participation in policy and advocacy
- Stronger community-based food systems initiatives
- Increased knowledge sharing among young leaders
- More inclusive approaches to food systems transformation
- Greater youth engagement in climate and sustainability action
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear application that demonstrates eligibility, leadership experience, food systems relevance and commitment to the programme.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are between 18 and 35 years old, proficient in English and nationals of a low- or middle-income country.
They should also confirm that they can participate fully in programme activities through 2028.
Step 2: Define Your Food Systems Work
Applicants should clearly explain their experience in food systems, sustainable development, climate action or a related field.
This may include work in farming, research, entrepreneurship, policy, advocacy, education, community organising or civil society leadership.
Step 3: Show Leadership Experience
Applicants should describe how they have led or contributed to an initiative in their community, organisation, institution or sector.
Strong examples may include projects, campaigns, research, enterprises, training activities, partnerships or advocacy efforts.
Step 4: Explain Your Motivation
Applicants should explain why they want to join the Youth Leadership Programme.
The motivation should connect personal leadership goals with wider food systems transformation.
Step 5: Demonstrate Systems Thinking Potential
Applicants should show that they understand food systems as interconnected.
A strong application may explain how food systems link to climate, livelihoods, nutrition, equity, policy, markets, culture and community wellbeing.
Step 6: Highlight Impact and Future Goals
Applicants should explain how participation will strengthen their work.
They should describe how they plan to use the programme’s learning, networks and mentorship to create impact.
Step 7: Emphasise Collaboration
The programme values peer learning and cross-sector collaboration.
Applicants should show openness to working with people from different countries, disciplines and sectors.
Step 8: Submit a Complete Application
Applicants should ensure that all required information is accurate, complete and submitted according to the programme instructions.
Incomplete or unclear applications may weaken the candidate’s chances.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Submitting a generic leadership statement
- Failing to show clear connection to food systems
- Not demonstrating experience in sustainable development, climate action or related fields
- Providing weak examples of leadership or community action
- Ignoring the commitment required through 2028
- Not explaining how the programme will strengthen future impact
- Overlooking the importance of systems thinking
- Failing to show collaboration or peer learning interest
- Providing vague or unsupported claims
- Submitting incomplete application information
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly explain your role in food systems transformation
- Use specific examples of leadership and impact
- Show commitment to sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems
- Connect your work to climate action or sustainable development where relevant
- Demonstrate willingness to collaborate across sectors and regions
- Explain how you will use the programme experience after selection
- Highlight community, institutional or national relevance
- Show clear motivation and long-term commitment
- Be concise, structured and authentic
FAQ
1. What is the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme?
The UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme is a global initiative that supports young leaders working to transform food systems through leadership development, systems thinking, mentorship, peer learning and collaboration.
2. Who leads the programme?
The programme is led by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
3. Who can apply?
Applicants must be 18 to 35 years old, proficient in English, and nationals of low- or middle-income countries. They should have relevant experience in food systems, sustainable development, climate action or related fields.
4. Which regions are particularly encouraged to apply?
Applications are particularly encouraged from young people in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
5. What kind of applicants are encouraged?
The programme encourages applications from young farmers, entrepreneurs, policy advocates, researchers, science communicators, Indigenous and local community representatives, civil society leaders and other youth changemakers.
6. What will participants gain?
Participants will gain leadership skills, systems thinking tools, mentorship, peer learning opportunities, global networks, practical impact tools and exposure to global food systems processes.
7. How long must participants commit?
Applicants must be committed to participating fully in programme activities through 2028.
Conclusion
The UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme offers young leaders a global platform to strengthen their skills, networks and influence in food systems transformation.
The second cohort will support emerging leaders from low- and middle-income countries who are working across policy, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy, research and community action.
Applicants should prepare strong applications that show clear food systems experience, leadership potential, commitment through 2028 and a vision for building sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems.
For more information, visit Food and Agriculture Organization.
