Delegate Description

Convened annually, the Global Food Security Symposium addresses the US government’s and international community’s progress on global food security and ensures that new challenges are met with action and innovation.

Since 2013, the Next Generation Delegation program has provided an opportunity for promising students to engage in symposium discussions and to interact with business and policy leaders, civil society, and social entrepreneurs working on agriculture, food, and nutrition issues.

The 2017 symposium will offer key insights on how to leverage past successes, and invigorate future efforts, amidst an evolving global landscape. This unique window of opportunity is a chance to help shape the next decade of leadership on global food security.

Candidate Opportunities

Next Generation Delegates will have the opportunity to:

• interact with symposium speakers and senior attendees in private forum;
• network with other outstanding students planning careers in global food, agriculture, and nutrition sectors;
• connect with key stakeholders from the public, private, and NGO sectors in private meetings; and
• select delegates may also participate in symposium side events, panel discussions, or video interviews.

Other Engagement Opportunities:

We have two additional opportunities for exceptional applicants to participate in the symposium and related events.

Opting-in to consideration for either of these two programs does not undermine your chances of being selected as a Delegate, but does increase your chances for being selected to participate in the symposium.

Social Media Ambassadors play an integral role in supporting the Symposium via our digital platforms and driving engagement, outreach and dissemination in the lead-up to the event. The 2016 symposium reached over 45 countries around the globe and we look to our Social Media Ambassadors to expand that footprint even further this year. Ambassadors are expected to engage in—and drive—online symposium discussion by live-tweeting portions of the event, along with many of our global partner organizations and speakers. This is a remote opportunity.

Rapporteurs will play an important role by attending working group “Solution Sessions” in Washington, DC, and capturing key themes and outcomes discussed at private working group sessions. The aim of this position is to allow students to participate in the working groups and the symposium and to ensure that the proceedings and outcomes are clearly recorded and shared with participants for follow-up action. The Solution Sessions will be held on March 29, and rapporteurs will also be invited to the symposium on March 30.

Candidate Responsibilities

Delegates are expected to:

• Attend all symposium-related events in Washington, DC, on March 29-30, 2017. The Council will cover round trip airfare, accommodations, and meal expenses.
• Prepare a commentary piece for the Global Food for Thought blog on food security, shocks to the global food system, and entrepreneurship and innovation, as it relates to their area of research focus and career trajectory.
• Support social media outreach, which includes engaging your respective universities and disseminating information about the symposium, its featured report and the live stream to your networks.
• Contribute to and participate in the event’s social media plans, and responsibilities as required.
• Participate in a private post-event debriefing session and complete an online evaluation of the event.

Candidate Criteria:

Students must be at the graduate or advanced undergraduate (third or fourth year) level studying agricultural development, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, or other food security related disciplines. Students must plan to enter the agriculture and food sector upon graduation. International students and students studying at universities outside of the United States are strongly encouraged to apply.

To Apply

Interested applicants should complete the application form below, providing the following:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two professional or academic references
• A letter of recommendation from a professor or employer
• A brief essay (maximum 500 words) on one of the following topics as it relates to their area of study: innovation and technology in the global food system, global food security and global stability, sustainable and equitable development of food systems.

Program date: March 29-30, 2017

Deadline: November 4, 2016.

Click here to apply