Home Call for Applications UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Program 2024 for Early Career Professionals

UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Program 2024 for Early Career Professionals

by OFA

Application Deadline: 15 January 2024

Apply for a new and inspiring program for early career professionals to accelerate food systems solutions in the Global South.

Program highlights

Selected participants will be invited to participate in a 5-day, in-person, leadership building workshop.

Learn: Engage in a 5-day co-creative workshop, bridging the gap between data, knowledge, and implementation. Explore modules such as negotiations, policy advocacy, strategic communication, and evidence-based decision-making.

Get Inspired: Immerse yourself in presentations by seasoned practitioners, scientists, young global food champions, and influencers shaping the future of food systems.

Act: Co-create a community of practice, sharpen your leadership skills, and develop transformative initiatives for low- and middle-income countries to transform their food systems. 

Program content

Enhance your expertise in:

Governance systems: Negotiations and design of multi-stakeholder processes for food systems governance.

Policy advocacy: Mastering leadership skills for policy advocacy, bridging the gap from global to local and vice versa. Learn how to effectively target policy processes at local, regional, and global levels.

Communication and storytelling for impact: Crafting impactful communication and storytelling strategies, raising awareness, and securing funds for your initiatives.

Science and evidence-based decision-making: Building proposals and forging partnerships based on scientific evidence.

Eligibility

  • Through a competitive selection process, the program targets early career professionals from all disciplinary backgrounds interested in leading food systems solutions in three regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. If you’re already engaged in food systems activities as a researcher, civil society member, or in other capacities, this program is for you!
  • Proficiency in English is desirable. Interpretation services will be arranged based on individual needs and availability.
  • Age between 18-35 years old (no older than 35 by December 2023)
  • Nationals from low and middle-income countries (according to the World Bank classification)

Time Commitment

  • Upon selection, the awardee must commit an entire week (Monday to Friday) to the in-person seminar and travel.
  • Post-workshop, while maintaining flexibility, participants are encouraged to initiate and coordinate activities and projects aligned with the learning outcomes of the event. Active engagement in the regional network is expected, fostering collaboration, and contributing to implementing national pathways on food systems. 

Founding Opportunities

  • For candidates who are selected for sponsorship, the Hub will prioritise as many countries as possible with the aim to support at least one candidate per country. Sponsorship will include full coverage of travel, accommodations and meals during the training. 
  • Self-funded participants are responsible for covering their travel, accommodation, and additional expenses. There is no workshop participation fee.
  • All participants, whether sponsored or self-funded, will receive an invitation letter and, if necessary, a visa support letter to assist with the required travel documentation. Upon the completion of the workshop, all participants will receive a certificate of attendance. 

Timeline

  • Until 15 January 2024: Submit your application for the program.
  • End of January: Participants selected for a scholarship are informed.
  • First week of February: Participants have one week to respond to an invitation letter informing them if they accept the invitation and remain available to attend the program.
  • End of February: Participants will receive program information, the agenda of the workshop, etc.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Program

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