Partnership Opportunity Agriculture Policy: Join the WFF Youth Assembly Partner Organizations Programme 2026 to Shape Youth-led Agrifood Policy (Apply by Jan 29 2026)

Captured cycle: This page is retained for historical guidance. Confirm whether the program has reopened before planning an application.

Partnership Opportunity Agriculture Policy: Join the WFF Youth Assembly Partner Organizations Programme 2026 to Shape Youth-led Agrifood Policy (Apply by Jan 29 2026)

If this page feels heavy with policy language, that is normal for this opportunity. The 2026 World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly Partner Organizations Programme is not framed as a simple application task; it is a partnership and co-organization role inside a global youth policy process.

The official partner page and the Terms of Reference state that selected organizations co-create and co-organize sessions and consultations on agrifood topics, support youth-focused recommendations, and help translate those recommendations toward intergovernmental policy processes. The opportunity is listed as a 2026 cycle call with a deadline of 29 January 2026, and selection communication expected in February 2026.

What matters most for practical use: this is a work partnership and a process commitment, not a short-term grant award.

At-a-glance summary

What this opportunity is and is not

This is a partnership call intended to identify organizations that can help organize Youth Assembly sessions and consultations for selected themes. WFF presents the Youth Assembly as an open, year-round, structured process for young people to co-create agrifood policy discussions and outputs.

It is not just a branding opportunity. The ToR sets expectations for participation, materials, and collaboration. It also makes clear that partner work can involve session planning, consultation design, recommending session contributors, and helping shape recommendations.

It is not a guaranteed event slot. Being one of many applicants does not automatically translate to engagement unless your organization is selected and then delivers throughout the cycle.

Why this opportunity can be useful

A useful way to think about this call: it offers access to a global policy environment where your organization can shape framing, not only respond to it.

1. You can influence what is discussed and how it is discussed. If your team already builds evidence, field pilots, or youth-facing interventions in agrifood, this can amplify relevance into a formal process.

2. You get a credibility test. The application requires practical readiness: contact continuity, documented theme experience, youth involvement, and operational discipline.

3. You build internal systems. Even if you are not selected, preparing a strong pack can improve your organization’s ability to work in multi-year coalitions.

Confirmed eligibility and baseline requirements

These are directly from the official ToR:

• Global scope with demonstrated expertise in selected theme(s)
• Track record in agrifood systems, climate change, biodiversity, development, or related areas
• Strong commitment to youth engagement and empowerment
• Ability to allocate members and maintain a contact point for collaboration
• Alignment with integrity, responsibility, and collaboration standards

The ToR also says the programme welcomes both existing and new partner organizations, so there is no strict first-time-only constraint.

The 11 official 2026 themes you can work with

These themes are listed in the WFF material and should be treated as your first filtering list:

• Biodiversity
• Bioeconomy
• Climate Change
• Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought
• Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Forestry
• Livestock
• Nutrition
• Water Management
• Young Women’s Empowerment
• Resilience

You can only work across a maximum of two thematic processes if selected. That is not a suggestion; it is written in the official objective and scoring context.

Who should apply: practical fit test

Before spending application time, ask:

• Can we contribute meaningful expertise in one or two themes with specific examples?
• Can we identify meaningful youth participation mechanisms rather than symbolic attendance?
• Can we maintain steady communication through a full planning cycle?
• Do we have two named contacts and a continuity plan?

If the answer is mostly no, it is better to pause and prepare.

A strong candidate often has

• Evidence from real projects
• Internal ownership and internal replacements
• A communication rhythm that can survive staff changes
• A concrete contribution to session quality and youth engagement design

What selected partners are expected to do

From the ToR and partner page, expected partner contributions include:

• Co-planning and executing thematic sessions and consultations
• Sharing expertise, data, practical research, or solutions related to the selected theme(s)
• Helping design youth-friendly formats
• Nominating experts and moderators for sessions
• Supporting youth-driven outcomes and recommendations
• Helping communicate and promote sessions
• Supporting pathways for recommendations into broader agrifood processes

These responsibilities mean you need more than a “yes” statement. Reviewers are looking for operational ability to deliver.

Selection criteria and review flow (confirmed)

The official documents describe a two-step review:

1. Preliminary eligibility and relevance screening by the Youth Assembly Secretariat.
2. YPB review for strategic alignment.

Results are said to be communicated by email in February 2026.

The same ToR also states evaluation criteria include:

• Global operational scale
• Relevance and alignment with chosen themes
• Demonstrated expertise and prior track record
• Capacity to contribute with members and contact point
• Commitment to youth engagement and empowerment
• Ethical alignment with WFF values

Application materials and how to prepare them

The public page instructs candidates to read the ToR and complete the application form. The exact form layout can vary by implementation. To avoid guessing, use a structured prep pack that maps directly to the criteria above.

Core minimum pack

• Organization profile with mission, geography, and operations
• Evidence mapped to one or two themes
• Proof of youth-related work in governance, not just attendance
• Names of primary and secondary focal points
• A practical contribution concept for one session or consultation
• Internal calendar commitment summary

Stronger submission bundle

• Short evidence memo for each selected theme (what, where, when, impact)
• Draft session design with objectives, audience, method, and expected outputs
• Candidate experts/moderators list (optional but useful)
• Communication and follow-up plan
• Risk notes: who covers if lead contact is unavailable

Timing advice (especially practical)

Because this is a two-step process with review, late completion creates avoidable risk. A good approach:

• Align internally on two themes quickly.
• Build a clean theme evidence packet.
• Draft concise role and contribution statements.
• Confirm contact details and backups before submission.
• Submit early when possible and keep submission proof.

Why you might not be ready yet

This call is often misunderstood as low effort. In practice it is not.

You may want to wait if:

• Your organization cannot commit to recurring meetings and deliverables
• You have no clear evidence of youth decision-making roles in your work
• You rely on one person for all external coordination
• Your theme claims are broad but unproven

Applying when readiness is weak often weakens your position and wastes reviewer time.

What to do next if you still want to apply

The action sequence is straightforward:

1. Read and re-read the ToR before writing anything else.
2. Define your two-theme scope and keep scope realistic.
3. Draft contribution notes tied to specific sessions, outputs, and youth outcomes.
4. Confirm secondary contact and backup before outreach.
5. Contact WFF via official email to confirm any unresolved process details.
6. Submit through the official route and archive the confirmation trail.

For a past-deadline 2026 call, this same sequence is still useful for preparing for future cycles.

Common mistakes in this programme application context

• Applying to too many themes and sounding superficial.
• Making generic claims without links to outcomes.
• Submitting with a single point of contact.
• Omitting clear examples of youth co-lead involvement.
• Underestimating communication frequency.
• Treating this as a one-time event rather than a year-cycle task.

FAQ

Is there a funding amount?

The official materials do not list a grant amount. No payment amount is currently specified.

Can we still apply if we have not worked directly with youth-led sessions before?

You can apply if you can demonstrate youth engagement structures and a credible implementation approach. The call rewards proven capacity, not labels.

Can existing WFF partners apply?

Yes. The ToR states both existing and new partner organizations are encouraged.

How many themes can one partner organization work on?

No more than two themes.

Are contacts required?

Yes. The ToR specifies a primary and secondary focal point expectation.

Where is the application form?

The partner page indicates applicants should use the official form after reading the ToR. The form details are not always visible from static page snippets, so use the official contact route for confirmation if needed.

What happens after submission

If shortlisted or selected, partner activity continues through the year in planning, consultation, and recommendation support, with a review at cycle end based on contributions.

This is not passive membership. It is sustained collaboration where your organization is expected to provide continuity, quality inputs, and practical participation.

Decision framework for leadership teams

For teams deciding internally, use this simple pass/fail check before submission:

• Pass if all six items are true.
• Fail if any is unresolved.

Pass criteria:

• Scope is one or two themes, and both are supported by evidence.
• Youth roles are visible in planning and not only in attendance outcomes.
• Two contacts are confirmed: primary and secondary.
• Internal operations can support periodic review of contributions.
• Documentation is ready, with links to outputs and past evidence.
• The team can articulate why this partnership improves mission impact.

Failure indicators:

• No backup contact point.
• No evidence for real contribution in the selected theme(s).
• No clear role allocation for planning and execution.
• History of delayed external responses.
• Theme language that reads like generic claims without deliverables.

This is a practical screening tool, not a requirement from WFF. It helps your team avoid submitting based on interest alone.

Suggested preparation sequence if the call reopens

Use this sequence when the process is active again:

Month 1: Scope and proof

Identify your top two themes, then create a short evidence matrix with three columns:

• Theme
• Concrete outputs or partnerships
• Youth leadership evidence

If any row has weak evidence, reduce scope rather than guessing what can be added later.

Month 2: Co-design contribution

Build one concrete session concept per selected theme, including:

• Objective
• Audience profile
• Who co-facilitates
• Expected youth-centered output

Use this to show you can support design, not just participate.

Month 3: Finalize and test submission readiness

• Align language with ToR criteria.
• Confirm both contacts and communication commitments.
• Dry-run the submission package internally once.
• Submit early where possible and keep confirmation records.

Post-submission:

• Be ready for clarification requests.
• Prepare short follow-up responses with links and evidence.\n This sequence is still useful even after a past deadline; it improves organizational readiness for future cycles.

What to do if selected: practical first 90 days

If your organization is selected, the first three months should move from planning to execution rhythm quickly.

• Week 1: agree on internal ownership and communication cadence.
• Week 2: finalize your first contribution file with the Secretariat contact.
• Weeks 3 to 4: prepare session notes and backup participation support.
• Month 2 onward: keep a simple log of milestones, attendance, and outputs.
• End of month 3: run an internal check and adjust your contribution if needed.\n You do not need to be perfect in month 1. You do need evidence that your delivery is continuous and structured.

Communication language that tends to be stronger

Keep language specific and bounded. Use statements like:\n

• “We can support the Youth Assembly under the Nutrition theme with evidence from two country pilots and three youth workshops.”\n
• “Primary contact handles coordination; secondary contact handles documentation and backup review.”\n
• “We propose one co-facilitated consultation with two external practitioners and one youth-led synthesis pathway.”\n Avoid broad claims such as “we support all youth-led objectives” unless each objective is paired with concrete actions.\n This matter most when review criteria include alignment, capacity, and implementation readiness.

Final internal review checklist

Before final submission, complete this quick checklist in writing:

• Are two themes clearly identified and realistic?
• Are youth engagement mechanisms documented?
• Are two contacts confirmed with backup coverage?
• Are outputs tied to selected themes?
• Is there a realistic timeline for recurring participation?
• Can the team respond quickly to follow-up questions?

If more than one question is unanswered, hold and strengthen the application before submitting.

Official links and evidence sources

• WFF Youth Assembly Partner Organizations page: https://youth.world-food-forum.org/youth-assembly/partner-organizations/en
• WFF Youth Assembly Partner Organizations ToR (PDF): https://youth.world-food-forum.org/docs/devworldfoodforumlibraries/track-youth-assembly/wff-youth-assembly-partner-organizations-tors.pdf
• WFF Youth Assembly page: https://youth.world-food-forum.org/youth-assembly/en
• WFF contact route: [email protected]