FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa

Cultivating Solutions: Youth-Led Policy Pathways for Agrifood Systems

Thursday 23rd of October 2:00 PM Cairo Time

23/10/2025

The Agrifood sector in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, faces significant challenges exacerbated by climate and environmental pressures. Harnessing the potential of youth involvement is critical to addressing these complex issues, as young people bring vital lived experience and exposure to untapped innovation potential. This webinar aims to actively engage youth in policy dialogue to explore and develop alternative, innovative policy solutions that are relevant from the local to the international level.  

The vision is to establish a micro policy lab environment where young participants can rigorously examine existing sectoral challenges. This structured engagement is designed to foster active participation and ultimately translate youth insights into concrete, actionable policy recommendations. 

The resulting policy recommendations will emphasize youth voices as central drivers of the agrifood sector's transformation within the framework of Sustainable Development pillars (Environmental, Economic, and Social)  

Objectives  

1- raise awareness of current challenges in the agrifood sector in NENA. 

2- engage youth policy dialogue and come out with innovative alternative policy solutions. 

3- voice their aspiration in sustainable agrifood sector for 2030.  

Expected outcomes 

1- engage up to 80 youth from MENA region active in agrifood sector 

2- tailor recommendations for policy solutions. 

3- foster innovation and networking.  

Agenda:  

Agenda 

Duration 

Topic 

Speaker 

Welcome and intro 

5 minutes 

Goal and objective and expected outcomes 

Karim Amin  

Section 1 

10 minutes 

(Environmental) Youth challenges and Policy means of implementation  

 

Notes: climate driver to challenges in socio-economic and youth are key. 

Riham Helmi - EnviroX 

Section 2 

10 minutes 

(Economic) Agriprenures challenges and opportunities 

Rima Hijazi - Berytech 

Section 3 

10 minutes 

(Social) Just access to resources and right to food 

Younies Jaafra - Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) 

Breakout room 

20 minutes 

3 breakout room 

 

(prepare questions that triggers critical thinking and solution oriented) 

EnviroX team (note takers)  
 

Discussion 

2-3 minutes each (6 to 9 minutes) 

Outputs of the breakout rooms 

 

Closing and wrapping up 

2 minutes  

Dealing with results, thanks and future engagement if found.