FAO and Enactus: Special Agri-Food Competition

Background:

FAO’s Regional Innovation Flagship (RIF) implemented under the Regional Initiative for Small-Scale Family Farming is striving to leverage innovative technologies and approaches to transform food systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA). The goal is to achieve food security and healthy diets for all while safeguarding the natural environment. Young people are at the center of this effort. As critical enablers driving innovation and entrepreneurship, young men and women have a key role to play in fostering sustainability, equity and efficiency in food production, processing and consumption.

The RIF works with youth at different stages of the entrepreneurial cycle (formation, validation and growth) to support youth innovation while creating decent employment opportunities in agri-food value chains and ag-tech.

As the world’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus has a proven track record working with university students across the world to develop entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. The Enactus programme has inspired and empowered youth to address the world’s most pressing development challenges, including food security, poverty and environmental sustainability.

Building on their respective programmes, FAO and Enactus are seeking to work together in the NENA region to enable a wider network of university students to benefit from the Enactus platform while catalyzing food system transformation through youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

Objective:

The zoominar aims to announce the results of the activities of FAO and Enactus: special Agri-food competition and announce winning teams and top teams get to showcase their projects and get feedback and guidance from participating judges on how they can improve their projects further.

Agenda:

● Welcome and Opening of the Zoominar by JeanMarc Faurès, Regional Programme Leader, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa.

● Opening remarks from Enactus by Elgar Beumer, Enactus Global Representative.

● Words from Judges

● Announcing the competition winners by Dalia Abulftouh, Economist, FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa.

● Winning Teams Presentations

● General Comments and Feedback to Students on their Projects by the Judges & Audience.