Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood awareness and Systems Transformations (YALAFAST) Cohort 2
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), 05/10/2026 - 09/10/2026
CONTEXT
Young people are central to the future of agrifood systems globally, particularly in regions where rural livelihoods continue to depend heavily on agriculture and food systems. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), agrifood systems employ around 44 percent of working youth worldwide and remain one of the main entry points into the labour market for young people. Yet many youth, especially rural youth and young women, continue to face barriers in accessing education, finance, technology, land and decent employment opportunities. Climate change, food insecurity, conflict and economic uncertainty are placing additional pressure on rural communities and limiting opportunities for young people to build sustainable livelihoods in their own communities. At the same time, youth represent one of the greatest opportunities for transforming agrifood systems. Young people are increasingly connected through digital technologies, open to innovation and entrepreneurship, and well positioned to contribute new ideas and locally driven solutions to agrifood systems challenges. FAO emphasizes that youth should not only be viewed as beneficiaries of development interventions, but as active partners and drivers of change in building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Investing in youth leadership, skills and innovation is therefore essential not only for improving youth livelihoods, but also for strengthening food security and accelerating agrifood systems transformation globally.
Recognizing the critical role of youth in shaping the future of agrifood systems, FAO has placed youth at the center of its Strategic Framework 2022–31 and continues to support governments, institutions and youth-led initiatives through leadership programmes, skills development, innovation platforms and policy support. The strong impact and positive outcomes of the first Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood Awareness and Systems Transformation (YALAFAST) cohort in 2025 demonstrated both the demand for and value of a dedicated youth leadership platform for agrifood systems transformation. Building on this momentum, and with this year’s programme taking place in the United Arab Emirates as the global convening space for the Global Food Security Summit, YALAFAST will expand into an international cohort bringing together emerging youth leaders from across regions, cultures and professional backgrounds. The programme aims to create a dynamic global platform for collaboration, peer learning and innovation, enabling young leaders to exchange experiences, build cross-regional networks and contribute bold, locally grounded and globally relevant solutions for more inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems worldwide.
The Second Cohort
Date & Venue: 5-9 October 2026, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Participants: Around 60 young leaders selected globally from government, private sector and academia/civil society.
Objectives
- Building a comprehensive understanding of global youth leaders in agrifood systems at global, regional, national, community and individual levels.
- Mapping risks, challenges, levers of change and leadership opportunities at different levels.
- Co-designing inclusive approaches for youth leadership action in sustainable agrifood ecosystems, lives and livelihoods.
- Integrating technology, innovation, digitalization and AI in agrifood ecosystems.
- Learning from doing, collaboration and developing leadership action plans.
The programme will be designed in a bottom-up, inclusive and participative manner. The five-day in person programme will be an immersive experience for young leaders. The following methods will be used to make it an engaging, interesting and inspiring experience:
- Case studies of entrepreneurial leadership in agrifood ecosystems
- Role plays to understanding diverse perspectives and interests in the ecosystem
- Group discussions on contemporary challenges and solutions to form a common understanding
- Simulations to be aware of the seriousness of the challenges
- Presentation of tech solutions in agrifood systems
- Ideating, prototyping, marketing and financing in agripreneurship
- Field trip to understand the ground reality, challenges and solutions
The young leaders will be enabled and empowered to lead together in turning their fragmented, fractured and outdated local agrifood systems into vibrant, sustainable and fit-for-purpose agrifood ecosystems.
Application deadline: 10 July 2026 11:59pm