01 - Background

Launched in 2021, the World Food Forum (WFF) is an independent, youth-led global network of partners facilitated and hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Through its track activities, impact initiatives and content platforms, the WFF brings together young and young-at-heart people and an outstanding network of partners, with a common mission to co-create actionable solutions to advance agrifood systems transformation. In 2023 the WFF will centre its activities around the theme “ Food Action accelerates Climate Action.”.

Every October the WFF culminates in an annual flagship event, bringing together the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. These three interlinked fora advance bold and actionable solutions to catalyze the transformation of our agrifood systems in light of the current challenges and crises, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the current and next generation and their combined ingenuity in science, technology and innovation – and investments in key areas of food and agriculture.

This year the flagship event will take place from 16 to 20 October at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy and virtually. The week will foster dialogue and debate among relevant stakeholders, ranging from the young and the youthful, farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, policymakers, agri-investors and scientists.

To complement the Global Youth Forum mainstage events, the WFF invites FAO Members, stakeholders, partners and other interested parties to organize virtual or hybrid in-person side events to share their vision, along with key innovations and programmes. These events are expected to deepen the discussion on agrifood systems transformation and provide an interactive and inclusive space for young people to intervene, promote ideas and spark action.

The WFF promotes inclusivity and diversity and we encourage everyone who is acting for a better food future to apply for a side event.

02 - Practical Information

Format

Side events will be held in-person (hybrid) or virtually during the WFF flagship event from 17 to 19 October. Each event will have an ideal maximum duration of 60 minutes and is to be independently organized by the partner organizations.

Side events can be structured in a variety of ways, for example: panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, open-air activities or any other creative project that can support young people in creating a space that inspires new ways of thinking and doing, sparking discussions amongst various stakeholders, sharing knowledge, bringing together diverse perspectives, or providing an inclusive platform where good practices and ideas can be shared.

Side event conceptualization

• Side events can be organized by any entity and individual. The WFF welcomes organizers to partner in the organization of side events.
• Side event organizers are responsible for developing the concept note, planning and structuring the event, promoting the event, executing the event and covering any expenses.
• All costs related to side events, including travel, visas and logistical arrangements will be the responsibility of the organizers.
• Side events should be closely linked to the work of the WFF and should connect to topics related to the 2023 theme of “ Food Action accelerates Climate Action.”
• Side events should be youth-led, gender-balanced, ethnically diverse and inclusive for all, considering that the WFF is a multicultural platform that firmly believes in the importance of diversity and inclusion.
• The WFF encourages events focusing on different regions, and organized in different languages. Interpreters need to be arranged by the event organizers.
• Side events should be founded in the non-discriminatory respect for all persons.
• Only complete applications will be considered.

Promotion

• Side event organizers are responsible for the promotion of the event on their own channels.
• WFF will provide branding guidelines and materials.
• Approved side event applications will be displayed on the full WFF flagship event agenda.

Logistics

• For in-person side events the WFF will provide the space and the room for the side event to take place. Basic materials such as a table and chairs will be provided. Rooms will include a projector and will be equipped to stream to the WFF virtual platform. All other costs are the responsibility of the organizers.
• Organizers of in-person side events are responsible for their travel and visa arrangements.
• For online side events organizers are requested to create their own Zoom event and the WFF will be promoting them on the virtual platform.  Further practical information will be provided with the selection announcement. Virtual breakout rooms, close captions and hiring of simultaneous translations are possible (at own cost).
• Let’s be environmentally friendly. Please share all event materials digitally.

Location

• All in-person side events will be held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
• Virtual side events will be featured on the WFF virtual event platform.

Tips for successful applications

• The more dynamic the side event is – that promotes dialogue, skill/tool learning – the higher chances it will have to be selected.
• Provide a clear communication plan for the promotion of your side event.
• The WFF is looking for side events that promote action and forward-looking discussions among youth or in an intergenerational setting towards agrifood systems transformation and climate change.
• Side event outcomes should be clear, inspiring and practical to motivate others.
• Side events cannot serve the sole purpose of promoting an organization, but should rather be focused on providing valuable experience, skills, tools and/or dialogue for young people.

Application process

• Use this online form to submit your side event proposal. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• The deadline for in-person and virtual side event proposals is 1 May.
• The WFF team will be responsible for reviewing all proposals and selecting the events based on the criteria listed above.
• Organizers will be contacted after the submission and a notification on the acceptance of the proposal will be received by the organizers by 1 June.
• In-person side event organizers should provide confirmation of travel to Rome at the latest by 1 September.
• The full schedule of side events will be posted on world-food-forum.org after the acceptance of the proposals, by September.
• All queries and contributions regarding side events should be addressed to [email protected].