Grant opportunity
UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme 2026
The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub is recruiting the second cohort of its Youth Leadership Programme for young leaders working on sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems.
- Funder
- UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
- Applications close: 13 July 2026
- Applications close: 13 July 2026: Jul 13, 2026
- Award
- Leadership development, mentoring, peer learning, UN partner engagement and access to a global food systems network
- Applicant
- Young leaders aged 18 to 35 who are proficient in English, nationals of low- or middle-income countries, and experienced in food systems, sustainable development, climate action or related fields.
- Discipline
- Agriculture, Food Systems and Nutrition
- Region
- LMICs / Global South
- Posted
- Jul 9, 2026
Call summary
Overview
The Youth Leadership Programme is a global leadership journey for emerging food systems leaders, led by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and supported by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Who can apply
Applicants should be 18 to 35 years old, proficient in English, nationals of low- or middle-income countries, especially from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, or Latin America and the Caribbean, and able to participate fully through 2028.
What it supports
- Food systems transformation
- Systems thinking
- Leadership development
- Peer learning
- Mentorship and collaboration with experts and UN partners
Funding and duration
- The programme provides leadership development support, mentoring, access to networks and opportunities for collaboration. Applicants should review the official call for final participation terms.
Applications close: 13 July 2026
Applications close: 13 July 2026: Jul 13, 2026
How to apply
Use the official SurveyMonkey application form linked from the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub page before 13 July 2026.
Call details
Source-based overview
Applications are open for the second cohort of the UN Food Systems Youth Leadership Programme. The initiative supports young leaders working across policy, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy and community action to advance food systems transformation. Participants gain systems thinking and leadership skills, access to peers and experts, practical tools, and exposure to global food systems processes.
Eligibility
Applicants should be 18 to 35 years old, proficient in English, nationals of low- or middle-income countries, especially from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, or Latin America and the Caribbean, and able to participate fully through 2028.
Funding and benefits
The programme provides leadership development support, mentoring, access to networks and opportunities for collaboration. Applicants should review the official call for final participation terms.
Themes and supported activities
Food systems transformation
Systems thinking
Leadership development
Peer learning
Mentorship and collaboration with experts and UN partners
Deadline and timeline
Applications close: 13 July 2026: Applications close: 13 July 2026: Jul 13, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Use the official SurveyMonkey application form linked from the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub page before 13 July 2026.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.