Strategic Objectives:

Program Description:

Food insecurity problems call for specific responses at the policy level to create an environment where the potential and talent of young people can be used as an engine to drive change in agriculture and food systems. As such developing the capacity of youth and investing in the education and training of young people is becoming ever more important.

In addition, globally, there is a justified recent trend for universities to establish Institutes or Centers of Food Security considering its commitment to help the government in identifying the current challenges, review the food insecurity issues from a wide range of perspectives and propose ways of solutions. This also demands strengthening the cooperation among universities and research entities, because researchers need to be able to better communicate in order to effectively inform policymakers.

As such, the Program aims to develop the human capital of the OIC member countries for sustainable food systems, strengthen the role of universities in promoting food security education, facilitate cooperation among agricultural universities, support smallholder farmers through extension and raise awareness on food and nutrition security from the early ages among OIC member states. IOFS strengthens the program implementation through capacity-building activities for young specialists, particularly from OIC least developed countries, and promoting the inter-disciplinary food security education to be included in the universities and schools’ curriculum.

10-Year Strategic Goals:

• Education on food and nutrition security is facilitated in all MCs at all levels.