Launch of HLPE Report on “Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems”

Monday, July 5, 2021

Mr QU Dongyu, FAO Director General
Thanawat Tiensin, Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
Martin Cole, HLPE Steering Committee Chair - Introduction to the HLPE Report
Hannah Wittman, HLPE Project Team Leader - Main findings of the content and conclusions of the HLPE Report
Ismahane Elouafi, FAO Chief Scientist

This report offers some important take-home messages:

Youth are on the front lines to build the food systems of the future, while also bearing significant risks from climate change, social and economic inequities, and political marginalization.
Food systems provide a wide spectrum of opportunities for the engagement and employment of young people across diverse global contexts, but do not always provide decent and meaningful jobs, nor adequate livelihoods.
In response, policies and initiatives to protect and strengthen youth engagement and employment in food systems need to be based on the pillars of rights, equity, agency and recognition. The redistribution of resources, knowledge and opportunities for youth innovation and engagement in the development of context-specific employment and labour policies can not only contribute to creating jobs for youth, but can also directly support transitions to sustainable food systems.

HLPE (2021) Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture andfood systems. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome. 160 pp

HLPE (2021) Promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems. Executive summary of the report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome. 25 pp