Enviro News Asia, Banjul — The World Food Forum (WFF) Gambia Youth Chapter has been officially launched as a national platform to strengthen youth participation in agrifood systems transformation in The Gambia, marking a milestone in advancing inclusive and sustainable food systems through youth leadership.
The launch took place during a two-day multi-stakeholder event held from 10 to 11 December 2025, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in The Gambia in partnership with Gambia Tech, the Alliance Française de Banjul, and the Ministry of Agriculture of The Gambia. The Chapter was also formally introduced at the global level during the WFF 2025 flagship event at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The event gathered policymakers, young agripreneurs, investors, donors, development partners and civil society representatives to examine pathways toward resilient, inclusive and youth-responsive agrifood systems. Discussions addressed investment opportunities for young entrepreneurs, value-chain resilience, and mechanisms to strengthen collaboration between youth-led enterprises and financial and institutional actors.
Participants reviewed priority agrifood value chains, explored innovative financing models, and discussed policy frameworks needed to support youth-led agribusinesses and sustainable sector growth. The WFF National Youth Chapter framework was presented as a structured mechanism to promote youth-driven innovation, inclusion and sustainability in agrifood systems at the national level.
The Chapter outlined five strategic focus areas—culture, youth action, education, policy and innovation—to guide its activities and ensure alignment with national development priorities. These pillars aim to translate global youth commitments into concrete actions that respond to local agrifood challenges.
A panel discussion on governance and policy highlighted the importance of youth-responsive policies, improved market access and opportunities linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area. Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture detailed ongoing initiatives, including capacity-building programmes, grant schemes and policy support instruments designed to enhance youth engagement in the agrifood sector.
Another session focused on climate action and youth leadership, drawing insights from the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Speakers emphasized the role of young people in climate resilience, climate finance access and community-based adaptation, highlighting the interconnections between climate justice, food security and agrifood systems transformation.
The final session underscored the role of youth in preserving and promoting Gambian food culture. Culinary professionals discussed how traditional gastronomy can support cultural heritage, generate economic opportunities and encourage sustainable consumption, particularly among young entrepreneurs.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to develop a National Youth Position Paper on agrifood systems transformation, aimed at ensuring that dialogue outcomes inform concrete policy and programme actions.
The establishment of the WFF Gambia Youth Chapter represents a significant step toward institutionalizing youth and women’s participation in agrifood systems transformation, positioning young people as key drivers of sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems in The Gambia. (*)
