YPARD is an international movement by Young Professionals FOR Young Professionals for Agricultural Development. YPARD operates as a network; it is not a formalized institution.

At the heart of YPARD as a movement are its members, who are encouraged to become active in their area, spread the news about YPARD to other young professionals, encourage a stronger voice of youth in their own organizations and share their views and ideas with other young professionals in the network.

This global on-line and off-line communication and discussion platform is meant to enable YPs all over the world to realize their full potential and contribute towards innovative agricultural development.

Objectives
 

• Facilitate exchange of information and knowledge among young professionals across disciplines, professions, age and regions
• Broaden opportunities for YPs to contribute to strategic ARD policy debates
• To promote agriculture among young people (activities still under discussion)
• Facilitate access to resources and capacity building opportunities

 

What They Do

Exchange of information and connecting people
 

• Developing e-services for information dissemination and networking through YPARD website. Information provision relates to funding, jobs, events, news, resources for and about young professionals in Agricultural Development. 
  
  It also includes monthly newsletters, funding news bulletin twice a month and selectively disseminated announcements.
   
• Developing a mentorship program: Pilot project of a mentoring programme, peer-to-peer and solicitation of experienced professionals to support youth's cause.

 

Organisation and active participation to thematic, political and strategical meetings and debates

Participating actively in various meetings including thematic, strategic and policy debates – on-line and off-line. 
 

On-line: YPARD organises online events like special series of blog posts, e-discussions, picture and video contests, etc.

Off-line: YPARD participates to key events in Agricultural Development in order to give a voice to the youth and bring on table youth specific issues.

Promote agriculture among young people
 

• Study and Support for the development of adapted curricula
• Awareness campaigns

Organizing and strengthening local bases of YPARD members in selected regions
 

Workshop and Trainings

Finding grants and cooperating with regional actors leading to a long term sustainability of activities. YPARD, for example, partners in organizing workshops and commission a number of studies for further capacity building actions.

• VIT Grant, India: Grant writing trainings, in partnership with Terra Viva Grant
• Grant Writing Training, Kenya
• Youth, ICT and Agricultural Innovation, Kenya in partnership with ACTS
• Studies

 

Studies

YPARD initiates and coordinates studies, in order to implemente activities adapted to needs of capacity building.
 

• Cartography of youth organizations
• Study on young professionals' profile in the 21st century