Achieving water, food and nutrition security in a climate crisis: lessons learned from the field

Food system transformation is required to achieve SDG 2 (end hunger and all forms of malnutrition) and 6 (clean water and sanitation for all). While traditionally siloed in academic and policy arenas, food and water are inextricably linked. Water creates an enabling environment for optimal nutrition and is an essential resource in all aspects of food production, transformation and preparation, including optimal sanitation and hygiene practices as well as for food intake and normal physiological function. Yet 30 percent of the world’s population lives in water-stressed environments and millions more are expected to experience water issues due to climate change. As such, there is an urgent need to develop a multi-sectoral strategy that will assist farmers in the sustainable production of drought-tolerant crops that deliver maximal nutritional and economic value per drop of water used. To identify needs and potential solutions, this side-event shared lessons from the ongoing Nutrition-sensitive Agriculture Water Productivity Project being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Benin, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Jordan and Egypt.

Watch the side event video here!