FAO convenes with young parliamentarians to advocate for youth in agrifood system transformation

22 September 2022 – FAO headquarters, with support from the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, organized a virtual discussion with young parliamentarians to explore how young men and women can advocate for agrifood system transformation in their communities and countries.

In the opening remarks, ESP Deputy Director, Lauren Phillips stressed the importance of agriculture as a path to greater and more decent employment for youth particularly in Africa and Asia, and the need to engage youth in critical discussions around climate change and food.

The active participation of youth is fundamental to making national and local agrifood systems more equitable, sustainable, productive and resilient – and also more responsive to their own needs. Despite the myriad challenges facing agrifood systems, many young entrepreneurs, activists and leaders have proven that innovative solutions and nature positive actions are possible.

Distinguished parliamentarians joining the discussions included Amira Saber from Egypt, Changrui Wang from Suriname, Utaara Mooto from Namibia and Zeynep Yildiz from Turkey. Each shared powerful examples of how young people are shaping policies and programmes to make agrifood systems more equitable and environmentally sustainable.

“I have met dozens of promising and talented Egyptian youth working on different fronts, from entrepreneurial aspects to civil society. They do create a healthy and sustained track for food systems,” emphasized Saber, calling for greater partnership with young people as development actors, instead of passive recipients.

The webinar also featured insightful remarks by Pramisha Thapaliya, SDG 2 Focal Point for the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY), and Elizabeth Mwende, from YOUNGO, the Official Children and Youth Constituency to the UNFCCC, serving to frame the discussion and highlight key messages to carry forward in global dialogues including the upcoming COP27 taking place in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.

Click here to view the webinar recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11LZRYr5cxTnAtkohVNqAC4MlPiNqdmEq/view?usp=sharing