FAO Statement at ‘Future We Want: A Global Initiative for Young Leaders’

 

FAO Statement at ‘Future We Want: A Global Initiative for Young Leaders’

Statement by FAO, delivered by

Shen Hong, Liaison Officer, FAO Liaison Office with the UN in New York

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I feel honored to share this venue with such a distinguished cohort of youth delegates. On behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, I wish to thank the Italian Diplomatic Academy and the Future We Want organizers for the invitation.

You may have heard many times before that the youth are the leaders, innovators, and solution-seekers of tomorrow. But we all know, that truly, you are the leaders of today, of right now!

This is the vision FAO has for global youth – both as people we work for and support, and as partners with whom we can work hand in hand to rise to the occasion and solve some of the world's most pressing challenges before us.

So, what are the challenges ahead of us?

The world is lagging behind in achieving zero hunger, as set out in the 2030 agenda under Sustainable Development Goal 2. Unless we change the way we think and address our agrifood systems, we may end up with as many hungry people by 2030 as we had in 2015.

The most vulnerable countries are paying the highest price of food insecurity, and it is always women, children, and youth who end up disproportionately affected.

In the current global context of rising prices, climate variability and protracted crises and emergencies, youth are cornered into a disadvantaged position, with their future directly affected. In the realm of agriculture, this is translated into less access to decent jobs and livelihoods. 

You, youth delegates, are an integral component to the solution to these challenges, and FAO is joining the UN system to facilitate your efforts in this regard.

In his ‘Our Common Agenda Report’, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prioritised youth by calling for a Summit of the Future in 2023, and the adoption of a UN Declaration on Future Generations.

FAO is responding to this call in a coordinated way by aligning with the vision of the Secretary-General, in a number of ways, each of which acts as an avenue for you to get engaged and work with us.

To inspire widespread discussion and action around the urgency behind rising hunger and malnutrition in the world, the World Food Forum, a youth-led movement and network to transform our agrifood systems, was launched by FAO in 2021.

Since then, a range of events with participants from all corners of the world have taken place. Rich dialogues and debates are ongoing, with youth in the driving seat, as it should be. 

The young and the youthful, including farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, policymakers, agri-investors and scientists are making their voices heard at the World Food Forum. You can too.

Rallying around its 2022 theme ‘Healthy Diets, Healthy Planet’, the World Food Forum annual flagship event will take place from 17 to 21 October in Rome. 

Let me use this opportunity to invite each and every one of you to participate. Through your unique resolve and creative acumen, driven by your outside-the-box ideas and hopes for a better future for all, you belongs in this youth community! Your participation and contributions to the discussion are most welcome.

Also worth mentioning, in 2019, FAO launched its first ever Youth Committee to increase young staffs’ engagement and foster their innovative spark to contribute to galvanizing a more dynamic FAO. Some of you may very well end up pursuing a career at FAO, an organization whose reinvigorated strategic framework promises FAO to be a champion for youth. 

We also host the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA), a partnership formed by UN agencies and youth organizations to create a gateway for children and youth to participate in the activities and initiatives of the United Nations. As you may know, YUNGA programs and resources are used in over 100 Member countries.

Interactive platforms like today’s event are crucial for your engagement in policy making and enriching the ongoing discussions where your voices are urgently needed.

Please be assured that FAO will keep on providing you with the space to join us in driving the sustainable agrifood systems transformation we need. 

By the same token, we count on your support, your ideas, and a much-needed behavioral change to restore the right course for achieving poverty eradication, zero hunger and reduction in inequality.

And as you very well know, Italy is the home of FAO. Italy's commitment to a Zero Hunger world has been evident throughout time. It is indeed a distinct pleasure to be addressing this venue today.

FAO is committed to working closely with Italy and other Member States and stakeholders to ensure together the delivery of FAO’s work as to achieve better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life, leave no one behind.

I thank you.