About the 2026 World Food Forum

From 8–16 October 2026, the World Food Forum (WFF) will bring together policymakers, scientists, innovators, and global leaders at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.

More than a forum about food and agriculture, the WFF is a global platform connecting sustainability, youth action, science, innovation and investment to accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.

Under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”, the 2026 Forum offers a unique opportunity to explore how ideas, innovation, investment, and youth action can contribute to the future of global agrifood systems.

Across the Forum, participants can engage with discussions and activities spanning three major pillars:

Global Youth Action
Youth voices, dialogue, advocacy, and action on global challenges.

Science & Innovation
Emerging technologies, research, innovation, and solutions for more sustainable agrifood systems.

Hand-in-Hand Investment
Investment, financing, partnerships, and approaches to creating sustainable impact at scale.

Delegates can engage first-hand with experts, innovators and changemakers from around the world, explore global sustainability challenges and solutions, speak up and share their perspectives, and contribute their voices to global conversations and youth action.

Held as part of the UN World Food Forum, the Global School Assembly brings together school delegations from around the world to celebrate student learning, exchange ideas across cultures and explore solutions to global challenges through the lens of food, sustainability and youth leadership.

As the flagship annual gathering of CultivatED Programme, FAO’s global education initiative, the Assembly offers students a unique opportunity to experience the United Nations first-hand while connecting with UN experts, global leaders, educators and fellow young changemakers from across the world.

The 2026 Assembly is expected to bring together approximately 500 students, educators and UN experts from around the world at FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Don’t just attend an event — become part of a global movement shaping the future of food, sustainability and youth leadership.

Through the APAC School Delegation, students have the opportunity to represent their schools at one of the world’s leading United Nations youth platforms while engaging with peers, educators, UN experts and international leaders from across the globe.

Selected delegates may also have the opportunity to speak on stage during the Global School Assembly, sharing their efforts and commitment to advancing the SDGs, subject to the final programme and selection by the organisers.

This is more than a one-day event.

As part of the APAC School Delegation, students can also take part in the Next Impact Learning Journey x Rome, an additional educational experience designed to extend learning beyond the Assembly through curated visits, expert engagement and immersive exposure to the work of the United Nations and the wider social impact ecosystem.

This 3-day learning experience extends beyond FAO Headquarters.

Students will explore how international organisations, social enterprises, and local communities collaborate to create positive impact through innovation, sustainability, and partnership. They will also explore opportunities for further youth engagement through internships and social impact projects.

An immersive journey offering unparalleled insights into how the United Nations convenes governments, businesses, civil society, and global partners to address the world’s most pressing challenges while advancing the transformation of agrifood systems towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Morning
Global School Assembly
Join school delegations from around the world at the flagship youth gathering of the UN World Food Forum.

Midday
Discover Station Workshop
Take part in interactive workshops and engage directly with various divisions of FAO to learn how the United Nations translates expertise into action to address global challenges.

Afternoon
Youth Exhibition
Explore the official World Food Forum Youth Exhibition, celebrating youth creativity, culture and innovation from around the world.

Reflect on how Service as Action, CAS, and Community Project initiatives can extend beyond the classroom to create meaningful impact in local communities through real-world social enterprise cases.

Morning
Pedius – AI for Social Impact Workshop
Founded in Rome, Pedius is an award-winning Italian social enterprise that has developed an AI-powered app enabling people who are deaf and hard of hearing to make and receive phone calls independently. Today, the technology is available in Hong Kong and across multiple international markets.

Afternoon
Ridaje – Building Communities Through Social Enterprise
Meet one of Rome’s leading social enterprises that believes everyone deserves a second chance and explore how environmental restoration, community partnership, circular economy and inclusive employment can create lasting community impact.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialised United Nations agency and sister organisation of FAO with headquarters in Rome, dedicated to investing in rural communities through development finance.

Participate in an interactive learning session at IFAD Headquarters and discover how finance, innovation and international cooperation help strengthen food systems and support sustainable development around the world.

The Day 3 programme is subject to confirmation based on the final delegation size and partner arrangements during the WFF week.

This journey is designed for exceptional secondary school students with the intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, and global outlook to thrive in an international learning environment and represent their schools with distinction.

Ideal candidates demonstrate:

• Outstanding academic achievement
• Strong English proficiency
• A genuine interest in the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global affairs
• Curiosity about social entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable development
• Leadership potential, initiative, and a collaborative mindset

Priority consideration may be given to students who:

• Are from CultivatED partner schools or are interested in joining the CultivatED community
• Are in the senior years of secondary school
• Have participated in Model United Nations (MUN), SDG initiatives, community impact projects, or other international programmes

Students may apply through school nomination or independently.

Please submit the student’s CV (with grades) by 18 September 2026 to hello@nextimpactlearninghub.org, with the subject line: “Name – School – 2026 Global School Assembly Application”.

Shortlisted students will be invited for a brief online interview.

A limited number of USD 500 merit-based scholarships are available for outstanding student applicants to support their participation in the 2026 Global School Assembly Delegation.

Places and scholarship are limited, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.