Request for Applications: Youth Fellowship Competition

By fostering innovation, building capacity, and amplifying youth voices, this initiative seeks to bridge the gap between youth and policymakers while leveraging the power of social media to create broader engagement and advocacy.

Objectives

• Promote youth-led innovation by highlighting best practices and creative approaches to youth engagement in food systems policy.
• Enhance youth contributions to agriculture and food system policies by providing training, mentorship, and resources.
• Amplify youth voices in regional and continental policy spaces through physical and digital platforms.
• Equip youth with tools to effectively influence food system policies and engage diverse audiences.
• Facilitate mentorship opportunities by connecting young leaders with experienced policy actors in agriculture and food systems.

Benefits

• Outstanding fellows will receive:
  • A certificate of recognition.
  • Opportunities for regional and global networking and exposure in agrifood systems space.
  • FANRPAN Policy Championship role to advocate for policies at national, regional and global levels
• Capacity Building and Mentorship Selected fellows will participate in a structured mentorship program, where they will:
  • Receive training on policy processes, advocacy, strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Be paired with experienced policy actors for guidance and support.
  • Gain access to resources to refine and implement their initiatives.
• Policy Engagement and Advocacy Fellows will have the opportunity to:
  • Present their initiatives at national and regional policy forums and conferences.
  • Engage with policymakers and development partners to advocate for youth-inclusive policies.
  • Utilize social media platforms to amplify their voices and mobilize support.
  • Membership and participation to a vibrant community of practice of youth in agriculture

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to youth who:
  • Are between the ages of 18 and 35.
  • Reside in Eastern or Southern Africa.
  • Are actively engaged in agriculture, food systems, or policy advocacy.
  • Have an initiative or experience related to youth participation in food systems.
  • Are committed to knowledge sharing and advocacy

Selection Criteria

• A panel of experts will evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria:
  • Innovation and creativity: The uniqueness of the approach to engaging youth in food systems policy.
  • Impact and scalability: Demonstrated influence on policy processes and potential for regional application.
  • Feasibility and sustainability: The practicality of the initiative and its ability to be sustained over time.
  • Advocacy strategy: Effective use of digital and physical platforms to promote engagement and influence.

Application Requirements

• Applications must include:
  • A completed application form.
  • A written proposal (maximum 2,000 words) outlining their initiative.
  • Supporting documents or evidence (optional but encouraged).
  • References (optional but encouraged)

For more information, visit FANRPAN.