Announcing the launch of the CEA-FIRST GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions

Advancing Gender Equality and YouthInclusion in Research & Innovation

The Gender and Youth Working Group (GYWG), under the CEA-FIRST initiative and the AU–EU International Research Consortium on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (IRC on FNSSA), is launching a series of experience-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening the integration of gender and youth across research, innovation, governance, and policy processes.

These sessions form part of the operationalisation of the GYWG and will provide a platform for dialogue, learning, mentorship, and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, and young professionals.

The sessions are designed to supportinstitutional mainstreaming of gender and youth considerations, promotemeaningful participation of women and youth in decision-making spaces, andstrengthen capacity development pathways within the AU–EU research andinnovation landscape. Participants will engage with practical tools,institutional experiences, and policy discussions that contribute to moreinclusive and equitable agrifood systems transformation.

Planned Sessions

The 2026 experience-sharing series willinclude the following thematic engagements:

• Back to the Basics: Tokenism vs. Meaningful Engagement for Gender and Youth
      Exploring the difference between symbolic inclusion and meaningful participation of women and youth in research and policy processes, while identifying practical approaches for improving participation within IRC activities.
• Institutional Engagement for Gender and Youth: Governance  Representation and Standard Procedures
      Examining inclusive governance practices and discussing practical approaches for strengthening gender and youth representation within IRC and partner institutional structures.
• Toolkits and Trainings on Gender and Youth
      Showcasing existing tools, methodologies, and training resources that     support gender and youth mainstreaming across consortium activities and country contexts.
• Policy Advocacy on Gender and Youth Topics: Advocacy at the     CFS, HLPD, AU and EU
      Strengthening participants’ understanding of regional and international     policy spaces while enhancing their ability to contribute effectively to gender- and youth-responsive advocacy processes.
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Schedule

The sessions are scheduled to take place in:

• June 2026
• July 2026
• September 2026
• November 2026
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Further details on speakers, registration,and participation links will be shared ahead of each session.

The initiative is being led by YPARD and CORAF, with support from FARA, CIRAD, CSIR, and FAO, under the CEA-FIRSTinitiative.

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