Youth leading SDG action in agrifood systems

Interview with a Russian UN Volunteer serving with FAO
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By 2050, the global workforce will belong to today’s under 25s, placing the future of economies—and the survival of food systems—squarely in their hands. As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked its 80th anniversary in October 2025, one reality was impossible to ignore: young people are no longer the future of agrifood systems—they are already on the front lines. From innovation and digital transformation to climate adaptation and sustainability, youth are driving change in a sector that cannot afford to stand still. FAO Liaison Office in Moscow spoke with Aleksei Gorkov, a young UN Volunteer funded by the Russian Federation. Based as an Innovation Specialist at FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa in Cairo, Aleksei represents a generation that is not waiting for permission to lead—but is already doing so. The following are excerpts of the interview.

Tell our readers about yourself: what is your background? Where did you work before taking on a UN Volunteer assignment with FAO? 

The architects of peace in South Sudan

Matiisetso Jeannet Mosala, Public Information Officer, UNMISS
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My name is Matiisetso Jeannet Mosala. I come from Lesotho, and I work where peace is not an idea but a daily negotiation. I serve as an international UN Volunteer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), based in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State—far from conference rooms, close to consequence. I am a Public Information Officer, but when people ask what I do, I tell them this: I help people understand each other before misunderstanding turns into violence.

South Sudan is still learning how to live after years of conflict. UNMISS supports that fragile process—protecting civilians, enabling humanitarian access, advancing human rights, supporting political dialogue, and helping prepare the ground for elections. My work lives inside that reality, not outside it.

Turning a UN Dream into Reality

United Nations Volunteers
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Daria Sergeeva didn’t grow up planning to leave home at twenty to live and work in another country. But sometimes a life-changing decision doesn’t announce itself with certainty—it slips in quietly, disguised as a vacancy notice. When she saw the words: UN Volunteer. Belarus. Something clicked. It wasn’t just a job. It was a thread connecting a fifteen-year-old girl who once crossed a border for a training programme, a student organizing Model UN while dreaming out loud, and a young woman suddenly forced to ask herself: What if I actually go?

Daria still remembers the moment it all came together. “When I saw the UN Volunteer vacancy in 2022, it felt like everything aligned—the personal connection, the long‑held dream of working with the United Nations.” She applied, got the offer, said her goodbyes—and soon after, was on a flight to Minsk. Originally from the Russian Federation, Daria joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus as a UN Volunteer.

From Gulu: Where climate action becomes real

Decimon Anywar, Local and Community Development Specialist, UNCDF
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I am Decimon Anywar from Uganda, currently serving as a UN Volunteer with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) as a Local and Community Development Specialist on Climate Change. I am based in Gulu City in Northern Uganda. I joined the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) with a clear purpose: to serve my community where it truly matters—not in theory, but on the ground, where needs are real and immediate. To that end, I remained active on the UNV portal, continuously refined my profile, and applied for a role that genuinely aligned with my training and professional experience.

With both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree, alongside more than three years of field experience, I brought more than formal qualifications—I brought context. The role required strong local knowledge, and that is where I stood out.

Global momentum builds for IVY 2026

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Participants highlighted strong momentum across countries, including national launch events, early action planning, and active regional and global engagement. They also underscored the central role of national‑level initiatives and the importance of sustained collaboration. 

“We are developing an African perspective on volunteer data and strengthening our advocacy efforts, positioning Senegal as a capital of volunteerism in the Global South.” Seydina M. Ndiaye, IVY 2026 National Focal Point, Senegal. 

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