New research highlights pathways to institutionalize youth leadership in food systems
The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub has released a new research paper under its Youth Leadership Programme, titled “Strategic Pathways for Government–Youth Collaboration in Food Systems Transformation”, co-authored by a YLP alumni and Hub's Director.
The study sheds light on the critical role of young people in shaping more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems. While youth are widely recognized as key agents of change, the research finds that their participation in food systems governance often remains limited to symbolic consultation, with insufficient access to decision-making power, resources, and accountability mechanisms .
Drawing on survey data from over 3,000 young people across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional consultations and national policy analysis, the study identifies a range of structural, cultural, and capacity-related barriers that continue to hinder meaningful youth engagement. Importantly, the findings highlight that the main constraint lies not in youth willingness or capability, but in the limited capacity of governance systems to integrate young people as decision-makers and implementation partners.
To address these challenges, the paper proposes a policy-oriented framework to institutionalize youth leadership across food systems governance, including formal mandates for youth representation, sustained resourcing, capacity development, and integration into monitoring and accountability processes.
By moving from episodic consultation toward structured co-decision and implementation, governments can unlock the full potential of youth as co-creators and stewards of future-ready food systems.
