Platform Topic: Rural Youth Employment
12 December, 14:30-15:30 CET | “The Future of Youth in Agrifood Systems: Tackling the Double Challenge of Access to Land and Finance” is a joint session by the Thematic Working Groups on Land and Rural Youth Employment that explores the central dilemma limiting youth engagement: how young people can access land without finance, and finance without land.
As global aid budgets shrink, how can we unlock new financing pathways for young people in rural economies? Read the blog on our latest webinar to discover how innovative mechanisms, from green bonds to carbon markets, are empowering youth as co-creators in sustainable development. Discover the key messages and insights.
The 2025 Annual General Assembly will focus on "Investing in the Future of Agrifood Systems: New directions for development finance". The sessions will explore how agrifood systems can be financed into the future and what this means for donors in a rapidly changing development landscape. A fresh rethink is needed to ensure financing matches the scale of the challenges ahead.
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30 September 2025 | 14:00-15:00 CET | On Zoom. Join the ILO, EU, IFAD, and WFF for a dynamic webinar on rural youth employment, exploring policies and solutions to unlock decent work opportunities through agrifood systems. Hosted on the YouthForesight platform, the event brings together global experts and youth voices driving change.
With major donors reducing development aid, the global development community is under pressure to do more with less. Speakers will explore how emerging financing mechanisms can contribute to youth employment creation. This is a webinar by the GDPRD's Thematic Working Group on Rural Youth Employment.
Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), shares her own experiences leading a global, youth-led organization.
Sebastian Pedraza is the Latin America Country Coordinator of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and the Chair of the YPARD Board. He shares his experiences both growing up in a rural environment and now working with rural youth to give them opportunities and a voice in their futures.
The world's agrifood systems stand at a crossroads. With 1.3 billion youth globally, the future of food, livelihoods, and economic resilience depends on their participation in agrifood systems. At the same time, agrifood systems need youth to drive productivity, innovation, and sustainability in a crucial and rapidly evolving sector. FAO's "The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems" report is a call to action.
The Global Donor Platform for Rural Development is a vibrant partnership, advocacy and knowledge network of key donors focusing on food security and rural development.
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