CONCEPT NOTE ON THE GCSAYN ROAD TO UNFSS+4
TO BE HELD FROM 27-29 JULY, 2025, in ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Background:
The United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) is a critical global platform to accelerate progress towards sustainable and resilient food systems. As we approach the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stock take (UNFSS+4), GCSAYN remains committed to amplifying the voices of youth, women, persons with disabilities, the aging population, indigenous people, as well as educational institutions in transforming the agri-food systems.

GCSAYN operates in over 170 countries, implementing initiatives across over 70 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) spanning primary and secondary schools, universities, and TVET institutions worldwide. This will be done through independent dialogues throughout the network.

GCSAYN’s Road to UNFSS+4

To strengthen the stakeholders’ meaningful engagement in food systems transformation, GCSAYN will officially launch its Road to UNFSS+4 campaign globally online on 7th March 2025 at 4 pm EAT.

This initiative will serve as a mobilization framework for each CoE, facilitating localized, in-person activities within their respective institutions.

These activities will focus on: Strengthening youth-led innovations in sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient food systems; Enhancing educational programs on food security, nutrition, and agri-preneurship; and Promoting policy dialogues that integrate youth perspectives into global agri-food systems governance.

The first phase of our implementation plan will be organizing a global launch virtually. This virtual event will feature youth, women, persons with disabilities, the aging, indigenous people, all our CoEs and partners globally.

The second phase will be the institutional roll-out where each CoE will independently implement tailored programs, including workshops, research initiatives, and advocacy campaigns. In the last phase, GCSAYN will facilitate knowledge exchange among CoEs, while ensuring alignment with UNFSS+4 priorities, through the regional Hubs.

Objectives:
The key objective of the call for dialogues across our CoEs is to mobilize youth, women, persons with disabilities, the aging, indigenous people, and all our CoEs’ engagement to empower these stakeholders in agriculture, education, and technology to contribute actively to agri-food systems solutions. Through these dialogues, knowledge sharing, and capacity building in skills that are beneficial for sustainable food production, environmental stewardship, and policy advocacy, the role of the aforementioned stakeholders in partnership with academic institutions in shaping national and international agri-food systems policies will be strengthened. Furthermore, these will enhance the promotion of best practices by highlighting innovative solutions from CoEs across the network that can be scaled and replicated globally.

Expected Outcomes

• Strengthened youth, women, persons with disabilities, the aging, and indigenous people’s participation in global agri-food systems discussions.
• Enhanced collaboration between educational institutions and policymakers.
• Promotion of scalable best practices contributing to food security and sustainability.

GCSAYN remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive, action-oriented approach towards achieving sustainable agri-food systems. The Road to UNFSS+4 is a call to action for youth, women, persons with disabilities, the aging, indigenous people, educators, and policymakers to work together for a resilient, food-secure future.

We are excited to invite you and your Institutions, Mentees and Interns to the Official Launch of the GCSAYN Road to UNFSS+4 on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM EAT | 08:00 AM EST | 3:00 PM CAT | 2:00 PM WAT.

As we move towards UNFSS+4 (July 27-29, 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), this initiative is crucial for strengthening youth-led innovations, climate-resilient agriculture, and inclusive agri-food systems governance.

Your meaningful engagement is vital in shaping sustainable solutions and empowering Future Leaders, towards enhancing the achievement of the Agenda 2030 and “The Africa We Want” . We look forward to your participation!