In 2012, GFAR and partners launched a new mechanism “Gender in Agriculture Partnership (GAP)” 2 while continuing to provide support to the Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural Research and Development (YPARD). In Africa for example, there are several programs e.g. the ANAFE-SASACID, FARA UniBRain, TEAM Africa, AWARD, and USAID’s Borlaug Fellowships, which aim to build up a cadre of professionals who are sufficiently well-prepared, committed and motivated. However, questions remain; what’s working, and can more be achieved through greater collaboration and partnership? Through a series of presentations this session will tease out lessons and innovations for moving the GCARD youth and women agenda forward and, therefore, strengthening the foundations for transformative agriculture.