Building the Next Generation of Food Systems Leadership Program

Selected participants will be invited to participate in a 5-day, in-person, leadership building workshop. The mission is to facilitate connections among promising early-career innovators, practitioners, scientists, and activists from low- and middle-income countries. Together, they will connect policy advocacy with grassroots action to collectively shape a positive future of food.

• 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.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

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.

Cost Covered

• 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.

Why join?

• This dynamic program focuses on holistic solutions for transforming food systems, aligning with the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Report of the Secretary-General, call to Action and the Stakeholder Contribution Report, which address the shortage of skilled personnel and youth’s advocacy and capacity development needs. Be part of a movement that breaks institutional silos, driving real change in food systems.

Who Are They Looking for?

• 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.

Expected Outcomes

• Enhance your ability to drive systems change in partnership with the UN Food Systems Summit National Convenors. Develop plans or initiatives for food systems transformation, with potential grants in the second phase to scale up impactful programs.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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).

For more information, visit UN Food Systems Coordination Hub.