I share from my experience of working with FAO Bangladesh on how FAO can proactively work with governments for sustainable transformation of agri-food systems. FAO supported the government of Bangladesh in the run-up to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021 and took the lead in coordinating drafting of the national pathway document for accelerating transformation of food systems. Even prior to this, FAO has been closely supporting the government of Bangladesh in policy formulation and developing institutional frameworks for effective delivery. The National Food and Nutrition Security Policy 2020 and its Plan of Action (2021-2030) and Country Investment Plan (2021-2025) for sustainable and resilient food systems are examples.
Given the overlapping nature of food systems and the need for a coordinated approach, FAO and GAIN worked with the government in Bangladesh to develop a linking document, linking the commitments under UNFSS, N4G Summit and COP. Inter-ministerial and donor meetings have been convened to share the pathway commitments and the need for monitoring them.
Following the reporting at the first biennial stocktaking following the UNFSS last year, a draft roadmap was developed for drafting a plan of action and monitoring framework of the pathway commitments for the transformation of agrifood systems. This is work in progress. Given its pool of technical expertise, FAO is well positioned to extend support in realization of many of the pathway commitments such as for example, developing a national strategy for reducing food loss and waste.
I feel that keeping the UNFSS national pathway commitments at the centre, will enable FAO country offices to develop the strategy for sustainable transformation of agrifood systems and effectively extend support to national governments.
Dr. Bhavani R Vaidyanathan