2014 : a promise for a bright future, for young professionals in agriculture

The YPARD Team sends you their very best wishes for 2014!

Thanks to all of you who contributed to making 2013 a year of great achievements.  We are ready to kick off 2014 with a strategic planning meeting, to set out a longer term vision and strengthen YPARD’s ability to bring significant youth input into discussions that are key for their role in sustainable agricultural development.

YPARD’s key achievements in 2013

• New YPARD representatives for Ethiopia , India, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia , Moldova, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, Canada, Georgia, Russia, Brazil, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ukraine, Kenya, Armenia, Croatia, Malawi
• An increase in 2074 YPARD members in 2013 and 237 blogs posted on www.ypard.net
• YPARD partnership with the CGIAR’s Dryland Systems Reseach program, for better inclusion of young people in the program, at all levels
• Youth participation at the 6^th African Science Week, a youth and women side session and youth social reporting
• Global Landscapes Forum (part of COP19) TEDx style Youth session, webcasted, with 150 online submissions and 9 young, powerful speakers
• YPARD is part of the GAP initiative - a collaborative platform for Women in agriculture - as catalyst for better involvement of young people
• YPARD community is one of the pioneers in the AgriVivo initiative, for better networking and collaboration in agriculture
• Inclusion of youth in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme – Knowledge, Information and Skills (CAADP-KIS)
• Successful International Youth day celebrations with 20 powerful testimonials from youth on the topic of migration
• Stronger YPARD national working groups, field visits and activities on local level (check YPARD news)
• Innovative Ideas from the Youth to Feed the World showcased at FAO!  
• Seeing Thoughts contest's winner...Grace Wanene – announced and video available!
• YPARD on the jury for the 2013 ITU Telecom World Young Innovators Competition, in the section Food and water wastage
• YPARD European team's participation to the 26th International Leadership Workshop for Rural Youth
• YPARD now part of the GFAR Steering Committee
• New YPARD Steering Committee member: Danielle Nierenberg (FoodTank)
• 5 remote interns in Web4Knowledge and Social Media in 2013: Tega , Apeh, Emmie, Madhu, Madan
• YPARD report 2012 and Youth and GCARD2 report available in YPARD e-library

Focus for 2014

• Stronger YPARD strategy and activities, with more capacities at regional and country levels
• Stronger partnerships to involve the youth in thematic areas in ARD
• Supporting mentoring programs
• Moving from getting young people heard through social media to getting more seats at decision makers’ table

We want to hear from you.  What issues do you think we need to focus on in 2014?  Are you interested in becoming more active in your country?  Contact us!

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All the best in 2014!