FAO launched YALA FAST to empower young leaders in food systems transformation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with regional partners, today launched the first cohort of the Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood Awareness and Systems Transformation (YALA FAST) programme in Rabat, Morocco. This is under the FAO’s Regional Leadership Development Academy (RLA). Held from 30 June to 3 July 2025, this first-of-its-kind initiative aims to cultivate the young leaders in agrifood systems of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

With over 60 percent of the NENA population under the age of 25 and food insecurity on the rise, the YALA FAST addresses an urgent need to transform fragile agrifood systems through empowered youth leadership. The four-day immersive programme brings together 54 dynamic young leaders from across the NENA member countries, each representing government, civil society and the private sector.

Transforming systems and empowering youth

YALA FAST is more than a training, it is a leadership journey. Designed to be participatory, inclusive and solution-oriented, the programme equips youth with the skills, networks and tools they need to catalyze systemic change. Through interactive sessions, real-world case studies, hackathons, leadership labs, and field visits, participants will co-create practical solutions to address the multifaceted challenges facing food systems today.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Redouane Arrach, Secretary General of the Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, emphasized:

“Today’s youth are not just future leaders, they are present-day agents of change. YALA FAST offers a platform to harness their energy and innovation for a better, more efficient, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.”

The challenges we face, climate change, food insecurity and economic fragility, demand a new generation of leaders who are equipped to act. YALA FAST is our commitment to that future,” said Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.

A rich tapestry of learning and collaboration

The programme features case studies, innovation labs, foresight thinking, role plays, tech demonstrations, and field visits. Participants will explore systemic challenges and prototype solutions around sustainability, inclusion, innovation, and resilience in agrifood systems.

The YALA FAST agenda spans four action-packed days:

• Day 1: Set the stage with global and regional food systems context and explored youth perspectives through intergenerational panels and role plays.
• Day 2: Focused on innovation and technology, with sessions on AI in agrifood systems and a visit to a local AgriTech farm.
• Day 3: Delved into multi-sector partnerships, financing mechanisms, and foresight thinking to equip youth for strategic collaboration.
• Day 4: Concluded with a mini hackathon where participants pitched innovative solutions to real agrifood challenges, followed by a certificate ceremony and symbolic leadership planting activity.

Notable speakers included Dr. Xiahong Yang, Director-General of AIIB, Dr. Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor and Dean of the Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy at China Agricultural University, Dr. Latifa Elbouabdellaoui, Director-General of the Islamic Cooperation on Development of Trade, and Ambassador Namira Negma, Director-General of African Migration Observatory.

Looking Ahead

YALA FAST is not a one-off event, it is the beginning of a long-term leadership development ecosystem. By investing in local changemakers, FAO and its partners aim to create a ripple effect that will transform not only food systems but also the social and economic structures underpinning them.

“These young leaders will return to their countries empowered to rethink, redesign, and redevelop their local agrifood systems,” said Ahmad Mukhtar, Senior Economist at FAO and one of the programme’s co-designers. “Their leadership will shape the region’s food future.”