Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme selection process.

The Youth Leadership Programme (YLP), led by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (the Hub) and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is seeking the next generation of young leaders committed to transforming food systems through systems leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

Applications submitted after the deadline (13 July 2026) will not be considered.

Participation in the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme does not constitute employment, consultancy or any other contractual relationship with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, FAO or the United Nations system.
Instructions:

Please access this application form only through the official SurveyMonkey link provided. You may save and edit your responses before submitting, provided that you return to the form using the same link and the same browser/device. Once you click “Submit,” your application will be considered final and may no longer be edited.

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* 1. I confirm that I have read the call for expressions of interest and agree that the information provided in this form may be used for the purpose of reviewing my application.

Section 1 - Contact information

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* 2. Name:

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* 4. Date of Birth

Date

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* 5. Will you be over 35 years old by 31 December 2026?

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* 6. Please upload a copy of your passport

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* 7. Gender

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* 8. If you selected “Prefer to self-describe”, please specify

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* 9. Are you a national of, or currently based in, a developing country, especially in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, or Latin America and the Caribbean?

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* 10. Region

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* 11. If you selected other, please specify

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* 12. How do you meet the criterion for region?

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* 13. Nationality

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* 14. Country of residence

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* 15. What languages do you speak? Please indicate your level of proficiency.

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* 16. Current organization or affiliation

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* 17. Current position or role

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* 18. Which category best describes your current profile?

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* 19. If you selected "other", please specify

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* 20. Highest level of education completed

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* 21. If you selected "other", please specify

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* 22. Area of study, technical expertise, or professional specialization

Section 2 - Experience and leadership impact

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* 23. Please briefly describe your current work or engagement in food systems transformation.

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* 24. What is an idea, belief, or perspective that you hold about food systems that more people should pay attention to?

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* 25. Please describe one concrete initiative, project, policy process, advocacy effort, research activity, enterprise, or community action through which you have contributed to food systems transformation.

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* 26. What was your specific role in this initiative or process?

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* 27. What was the main result, contribution or lesson from this experience?

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* 28. Have you engaged with any national, regional, or global policy process related to food systems transformation?

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* 29. If yes, please briefly describe the policy process and your role.

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* 30. Are you familiar with your country’s national pathway for food systems transformation or with another relevant national food systems strategy?

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* 31. If relevant, please describe how your work connects to your country’s national pathway or other national food systems priorities.

Section 3 - Motivation and fit for Phase 2

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* 32. Why do you believe you are the best candidate to be selected for the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme? Please describe the milestones that have shaped your journey and prepared you for this opportunity.

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* 33. Phase 2 will focus on systems thinking, foresight, science-policy-society engagement, strategic communication, peer learning, and youth-led action. Which of these areas are most relevant to your work, and why?

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* 34. How would you use the learning, networks and opportunities from the Programme to contribute to food systems transformation in your country or region?

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* 35. Please describe one food systems challenge in your country or region where your youth leadership made a meaningful contribution. Be specific.

Section 4 – Networks, inclusion and availability

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* 36. Are you currently part of a youth network, movement, association, professional network, Indigenous organization, women-led organization, farmer organization, or other relevant platform?

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* 37. If yes, please provide the name of the organization or network and briefly describe your role.

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* 38. To support an inclusive and balanced selection process, please indicate whether any of the following apply to you, your background, or the communities you work with. Please select all that apply.

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* 39. If relevant, please briefly explain how your background, lived experience, or work relates to the answer selected above.

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* 40. Are you available to participate in the YLP training approximately one week between November and December 2026?

Section 5 - Supporting documents and reference

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* 41. Please upload your CV and short biography.

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* 42. Please provide a link to one relevant example of your work, if available. This may include a publication, project page, campaign, video, website, article, social media page, portfolio, or other relevant material.

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* 43. If the relevant example of your work is not publicly available online, you may upload it as an attachment.

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* 44. Please provide a referral letter containing the name, title, organization and email address of the referee who can speak to your work or engagement in food systems transformation.

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* 45. Please provide the name, title, organization and email address of one referee who can speak to your work or engagement in food systems transformation.

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* 46. Please provide the name, title, organization and email address of one referee who can speak to your work or engagement in food systems transformation.

Section 6 - Final declaration

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* 47. I confirm that the information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

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* 48. I understand that submission of this expression of interest does not guarantee selection and that only shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete the next stage of the process.

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* 49. I understand that participation in the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme does not constitute employment, consultancy or any other contractual relationship with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, FAO or the United Nations system.

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* 50. If selected, I agree to participate actively in programme activities and contribute respectfully to the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme peer-learning and alumni network.

 
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