YPARD interns on a mission: Youth in agroecology

Agroecology is a scientific discipline that involves a set of practices and a social movement. 

Indeed, it seeks sustainable farming systems to optimize and stabilize yield and tackles a multifunctional role for agriculture, promotes social justice and culture and strengthens the economic viability of rural areas.

The new project involving youth in agroecology will be implemented through the collaboration between UNFAO and YPARD with the active involvement of the two new YPARD project support interns – Gabriel Yves Badr and Wendel Georges. The project will be implemented in the Near East and North Africa region (NENA) and Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC).

FAO’s framework of ten elements on agroecology is derived from the common principles articulated for agroecology. Different elements may come in place in various configurations, with a strong blend of social, economic and environmental aspects. 

We will continue our network’s vision and mission by using our coverage around the countries and familiarity in the respective regions. YPARDians equipped with their diverse skills and knowledge of the cultural context and communities is expected to contribute to the successful implementation of the project. Priorities are to be set in both regions due to the need for early intervention in countries facing certain challenges such as Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Iraq and Haiti. 

Nevertheless, the project will expand in order to reach out to all the countries in the NENA and LAC. In the NENA region, the intervention will differ within the countries according to their development level and context in terms of climate, availability of natural resources and conflict-prone areas. Although, the main intervention will be based on education and formation on new practices and technology of the new generation to reach sustainable practices for self-sufficiency with a futuristic vision toward the SDGs.  

In the LAC region, we will also develop a strategic plan focused on education to empower the youth, through a school farming concept. The school outcomes will be based on sustainable systems practices to generate significant progress in their communities. Its trends to support and engage young farmers to recognize core values that shape youth’s awareness within the agricultural sector, applying innovations and reasonable policies and practices to ensure their well-being in the future.

We will have a major role in the project implementation and process; therefore, we highly encourage the YPARD community to join us on this journey. We do believe that we will effectively attain this goal in the best way possible with the available resources. 

For more information or expressing your willingness to take part, do not hesitate to contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.