Minister Chombo Champions Youth Inclusion at Global Food Forum in Rome

Minister Chombo Champions Youth Inclusion at Global Food Forum in Rome. Botswana’s Minister of Youth and Gender, Honourable Lesego Chombo, represented the country at the 2025 World Food Forum held in Rome, Italy, from 13 to 17 October, joining global leaders and innovators to discuss sustainable solutions for global food systems. The event ran under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and Better Future.”

Delivering a keynote address during the Youth Forum, titled “Local Youth, Real Impact: World Food Forum National Youth Chapters Leading Inclusive Agrifood Systems Change on the Ground,” Minister Chombo emphasized the importance of involving young people in policy development. She highlighted that youth are key drivers in building equitable and sustainable food systems that can address both food insecurity and unemployment.

Minister Chombo also participated in several high-level sessions, including the Global Youth Forum’s panel on “Youth as Carriers of Food Heritage” and the Youth Assembly sessions focused on Africa and Young Parliamentarians. Her contributions underscored Botswana’s growing commitment to youth empowerment in agriculture, food production, and innovation.

She commended the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) for creating platforms that amplify youth voices globally, encouraging Botswana’s young people to take proactive roles in shaping agricultural and food-related policies.

While in Rome, Minister Chombo met with Batswana living in Italy to discuss youth challenges back home, as well as the diaspora’s experiences abroad. Her engagements aimed to strengthen Botswana’s global network and promote opportunities for collaboration in youth-led agribusiness and innovation.

For Botswana’s entrepreneurs, particularly those in agribusiness and food innovation, Minister Chombo’s participation signals renewed focus on youth-driven partnerships and inclusive economic growth within the country’s food systems.