YPARD

What YPARD does

YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) e.V. is a Berlin-registered non-profit association founded in 2006 that operates the largest global youth-led network dedicated to young professionals in agrifood systems. The organization connects 32,000+ members across 50+ countries through a digital-first community platform (ypard.net, built on WordPress), 75+ active volunteers, and country chapter structures that deliver grassroots engagement. Members access networking, mentorship, fellowships, capacity-building training, and policy advocacy opportunities at no cost.

The organization's product portfolio includes the membership and networking platform as its core offering, augmented by several donor-funded programs: the GIZ-funded WYNA Programme (Building Women & Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture, delivered with PELUM Kenya and AGSN across 36 training centres in 12 African countries), the CEA-FIRST Mentorship Sessions (IRC Cafés) and GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions under the AU–EU International Research Consortium on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture, the EYAAS Training Programme co-developed with FAO and IFAD under the GEF Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), and the Changemakers for Agri-food Action webinar series tied to UNFCCC/COP processes. Programs are delivered via online webinars (Zoom-based), fellowships, country chapters, and working groups, with events numbering 200+ to date.

YPARD operates as a non-profit with no membership fees; revenue is sourced from project grants and institutional partnerships — primarily GIZ, GEF, FAO, IFAD, and affiliated entities such as CORAF, FARA, CIRAD, CSIR, IUCN, and UNCCD. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: members self-onboard via the website, country chapters drive local recruitment, and high-profile international engagements (GEF Assemblies, COP summits, GFFA) serve as both advocacy venues and visibility channels. The organization co-developed the FSIP Global Youth Strategy with FAO and IFAD, embedding itself into the $3.9 billion GEF-9 programming cycle announced at the 8th GEF Assembly in Samarkand in 2026.

Name

YPARD

Legal name

Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) e.V.

Website

https://ypard.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) is a Berlin-registered non-profit operating the largest global youth-led network for young professionals in agrifood systems, connecting 32,000+ members across 50+ countries through fellowship, mentorship, and policy advocacy programs funded by GIZ, FAO, IFAD, and GEF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Development Non-Profit Network

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nutrition Governance, Policy & Coordination (SUN, National Plans) (BPADAJAL)

Keywords

• Youth agrifood network
• Capacity building programs
• Agroecology mentorship
• Policy advocacy fellowships
• Sustainable food systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership and Community Programs: YPARD operates as a non-profit membership organization. Membership is free and open to young professionals globally. Revenue is not generated directly from members but through project grants, institutional partnerships, and donor-funded programs. The organization is supported by GIZ, GEF, FAO, IFAD and other institutional donors for specific initiatives such as the WYNA Programme (GIZ-funded), EYAAS Training (GEF/FAO/IFAD-funded), and CEA-FIRST mentorship (CORAF/FARA/CIRAD/CSIR/FAO-supported).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YPARD operates an international, free-to-join membership movement connecting 32,000+ young professionals across 50+ countries who work in agrifood systems. Its core deliverable is community-based access to mentorship, fellowships, capacity-building training, advocacy platforms, and networking, delivered through programs such as the WYNA agroecology fellowship, CEA-FIRST Mentorship Sessions, EYAAS Training, the Changemakers for Agri-food Action webinar series, and 50+ country chapters. Programs are funded by institutional donors (GIZ, GEF, FAO, IFAD).

Product overview

YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) is an international movement and membership organization—not a commercial software product—offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on youth empowerment in agri-food systems. The core offering is its membership and networking platform connecting young professionals across 50+ countries. Key programs include the WYNA Programme (Building Women & Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture) implemented with GIZ, PELUM Kenya, and AGSN; the CEA-FIRST Mentorship Sessions (IRC Cafés) and GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions under the AU-EU International Research Consortium; and the EYAAS Training Programme (Empowering Youth for Agroecological Transformation in Agrifood Systems) developed with FAO and IFAD. Additional offerings include the Changemakers for Agri-food Action webinar series, WYNA Global Café dialogues, and a network of country chapters. The organization operates as a non-profit registered in Berlin, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YPARD Membership & Networking Platform YPARD's core membership platform connecting young professionals in agrifood systems globally, offering networking opportunities, events access, working groups, and community engagement across 50+ countries with 32,000+ network reach. Membership is free and open to young professionals aged approximately 18-40 working in agricultural development, food systems, agroecology, and rural development.
• WYNA Programme (Building Women & Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture) A GIZ-funded fellowship and mentorship programme implemented by YPARD in collaboration with PELUM Kenya and AGSN, building on the KCOA network, that empowers young people and women to lead Africa's agrifood systems transformation through agroecology and organic agriculture. Fellows are paired with mentors and supported through community solution projects.
• CEA-FIRST Mentorship Sessions (IRC Cafés) A mentorship-focused webinar series under the Gender and Youth Working Group (GYWG), designed to support young professionals and women navigating careers in research and innovation within the AU-EU landscape through interactive conversations with experienced researchers from CIRAD, CSIR, CORAF, FARA, and FAO.
• GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions Online dialogue sessions under the CEA-FIRST initiative covering tokenism vs meaningful engagement, governance representation, toolkits, and policy advocacy on gender and youth mainstreaming within the AU-EU IRC on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture, supported by CORAF, FARA, CIRAD, CSIR, and FAO.
• EYAAS Training Programme (Empowering Youth for Agroecological Transformation in Agrifood Systems) A training programme developed by YPARD under the Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), coordinated by FAO and IFAD and supported under the $3.9 billion GEF-9 programming, designed to equip young people with agroecology knowledge, practical tools, and leadership competencies to support sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative agrifood systems.
• Changemakers for Agri-food Action Series An interactive webinar series unpacking key outcomes of UNFCCC processes and exploring implications for agrifood systems, youth engagement, and climate action pathways toward COP conferences such as COP31.
• WYNA Global Café Interactive online dialogue series under the WYNA Programme exploring transformative approaches in agroecology and organic agriculture, bringing together educators, youth leaders, researchers, and practitioners from different regions to exchange experiences and discuss sustainable food systems.
• YPARD Country Chapters YPARD's network of national chapters operating across 50+ countries, enabling local youth engagement in agrifood systems transformation with regional coordinators and country-specific activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32,000+ young professionals reached globally across 50+ countries
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core and minor.

• Global Environment Facility (GEF)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026YPARD partners with the GEF through the Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP), co-developing the FSIP Global Youth Strategy alongside FAO and IFAD. YPARD actively participated in the 8th GEF Assembly in Samarkand (2026), advocating for meaningful youth engagement in GEF-8 and GEF-9 programming cycles.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO and YPARD co-developed the FSIP Global Youth Strategy under the GEF Food Systems Integrated Programme. YPARD also co-developed the EYAAS (Empowering Youth for Agroecological Transformation in Agrifood Systems) training modules with FAO, designed to equip young people with agroecology knowledge and leadership competencies.
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAD co-developed the FSIP Global Youth Strategy alongside FAO and YPARD under the GEF Food Systems Integrated Programme. YPARD works with IFAD to ensure youth are included as co-leaders in agrifood systems program design and implementation.
• CORAFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORAF and YPARD jointly launch the IRC Cafés mentorship webinar series and the GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions under the CEA-FIRST initiative and the AU–EU International Research Consortium on Food, Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (IRC on FNSSA).
• FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFARA supports the CEA-FIRST initiative alongside YPARD and CORAF, providing institutional backing for the Gender and Youth Working Group (GYWG) and related experience-sharing sessions.
• CIRADminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRAD (French agricultural research institution) supports the CEA-FIRST initiative's GYWG activities, contributing to gender and youth mainstreaming within AU–EU research and innovation landscape.
• CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIR supports the CEA-FIRST initiative's Gender and Youth Working Group, contributing expertise to gender and youth mainstreaming in agrifood research and innovation.
• FAOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO supports the GYWG Experience Sharing Sessions and broader CEA-FIRST mentorship activities, contributing to capacity development for gender and youth integration in AU–EU research and innovation.
• PELUM Kenya (Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Association Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPELUM Kenya is a key implementation partner in the WYNA Programme alongside YPARD and GIZ, contributing to agroecology and organic agriculture knowledge exchange across Africa.
• AGSN (African Green Store Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGSN collaborates with YPARD in the WYNA Programme, connecting 36 training centres across 12 African countries. AGSN's Chair and General Secretary are also WYNA Programme mentors, linking the network deeply to YPARD's capacity-building work.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUCN organized a side event on regenerative landscapes at the 8th GEF Assembly where YPARD's Programme Coordinator participated as a panel speaker, discussing youth perspectives on regenerative agrifood systems transformation.
• UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYPARD engages with UNCCD, particularly through youth constituency representation and the UNCCD Youth Caucus, to advocate for youth inclusion in land degradation and desertification policy processes.
• ICLEI Africa (Local Governments for Sustainability)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICLEI Africa's AfriFOODLinks programme collaborated with YPARD, KHSA, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation to produce Mizizi Magazine, showcasing youth storytelling and innovations across Africa.
• YPARD UzbekistanminorOthersYPARD Uzbekistan Country Representative Nuriddin Samatov participated in the 8th GEF Assembly alongside YPARD's GCU team, discussing how YPARD Uzbekistan can plug into regional and global initiatives.
• Teach For UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeach For Uganda serves as the host organization for WYNA Fellow Nsiima Faith's fellowship, with supervisor Tumwebaze Joel providing oversight for her community solution project in Kibaale District.
• FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Irene Kadzere, Senior Scientist at FiBL with 30+ years of experience in agricultural research across Sub-Saharan Africa, serves as a WYNA Programme mentor, supporting fellow Harriet Amondi and contributing expertise in sustainable agriculture and agroecological transitions.
• CARE InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichard Mugisha serves as a Locally Led Technical Advisor with CARE International and Senior Consultant with CARE International Uganda, while also mentoring WYNA Programme fellows, linking YPARD to CARE's development networks.
• Netherlands Food PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichard Mugisha serves as a Senior Consultant with the Netherlands Food Partnership, contributing expertise in youth engagement and agribusiness development within YPARD's mentorship network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Restless Development: Global youth-led development agency operating across Africa, Asia, and the UK, focused on youth leadership, advocacy, and participation in development — comparable in operating model and youth constituency focus, though broader in scope beyond agrifood.
• Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN): A youth-led global network of 400+ youth organizations in 150+ countries advocating for biodiversity policy under the UN CBD — directly comparable to YPARD as a youth-led global network engaging with multilateral environmental governance.
• Slow Food Youth Network: Global youth movement within Slow Food International focused on food systems, agroecology, and sustainable agriculture — directly comparable to YPARD's agrifood systems mission and youth-led community structure.
• Food Tank: Global nonprofit focused on sustainable agriculture, food policy, and youth engagement in food systems — comparable in food systems mission and emphasis on amplifying youth and next-generation voices.
• PELUM Association (Participatory Ecological Land Use Management): Pan-African network of civil society organizations promoting ecological land use and agroecology — directly comparable as a PELUM Kenya is already a YPARD partner in the WYNA Programme and shares the agroecology/youth empowerment focus.

Broad incumbents

• CGIAR: Global agricultural research partnership comprising 15 international centers — comparable as a global agrifood institution engaging youth, but operating as a research funder rather than a youth-led membership network.
• 4-H: Large established global youth development organization with deep agricultural roots and millions of members — a broad incumbent with overlapping youth-in-agriculture mission but operating at much larger scale and primarily through formal youth education.
• Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI): Intergovernmental organization supporting green growth and sustainable development across emerging economies — comparable as a multilateral engaging on food systems and youth, though with a broader green economy mandate.

Regional players

• National Young Farmers Coalition: US-based grassroots network of young farmers advocating for policy change in agriculture — comparable as a young-professionals-in-agriculture network, though geographically concentrated in the United States rather than globally.

Emerging players

• Agroecology Fund: Collaborative fund supporting agroecology movements globally, including youth-led initiatives — comparable as a grantmaking entity in the same agroecology space where YPARD operates the WYNA Programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/YPARD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBmDgkpJO5ccePRwEYUfX0w?themeRefresh=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/YPARD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ypard
• Instagraminstagram.com/ypardglobal
• Pinterestpinterest.com/YPARD

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YPARD