Experts urge a food systems and rights-based approach to nutrition during meeting ahead of HLPF

Experts and stakeholders in nutrition and on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review in the 2018 High-Level Political Forum (SDG6, SDG7, SDG11, SDG12 and SDG15) met in New York to identify interlinkages that can help push the 2030 Agenda forward. The participants highlighted the importance of utilizing a food systems approach to nutrition and advancing the rights and meaningful participation of marginalized groups.

The expert group meeting was convened by the United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) to provide concrete, actionable nutrition inputs into the 2018 HLPF and the 45th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 45). The coordinator of the UNSCN, Stineke Oenema, presented the key messages on the individual SDGs and cross-cutting themes at a briefing to Member States on 20 June:

• SDG6 (water): Decisions around water use should be driven with a goal to achieve sustainable, equitable, and nutritious food systems. SDG 6.2 and 6.4 are essential to improving nutritional outcomes.
• SDG 7 (energy) The Current food system is highly energy dependent with high use of fossil fuels. Infrastructure for clean and sustainable energy needs be expanded to provide the required energy for better nutrition and environmental outcomes for all. There is a need to encourage the transition towards food systems that promote sustainable use of resources and safeguards the environment.
• SDG 11 (cities and settlements): Cities and urban settings face the full array of nutrition problems. At the same time, we should move away from the rural urban dichotomy and look for solution that link the full spectre from rural to urban settings. This requires local leadership and governance. Applying a nutrition lens should ensure planning for appropriate nutrition-related provision of accessible infrastructure and services and the creation of inclusive, just, and sustainable nutritious food systems that avoid waste and environmental harm. All programming should put people and their needs at the center consider the heterogeneity of conditions and populations found in urban areas.
• SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production): The transformation of food systems, policies and practices that guarantee the rights of small-scale farmers and support sustainable and nutritious diets, regulation of the availability of ultra-processed foods, public procurement schemes that promote locally-sourced foods and pro-actively include women, and promotion of indigenous and local knowledge are instrumental to achieving the goal.
• SDG 15 (territorial ecosystems):Member States are encouraged to protect and manage food production processes through practices free from harmful inputs and to recognize the importance of agricultural biodiversity to SDG 15 for both the resilience of agricultural systems as well as supplier for healthy and diverse diets.
• Cross-cutting messages: A comprehensive review of policies and an inclusive effort spanning both the public and private sectors are necessary for ensuring the mainstreaming of nutrition goals. Policy coherence for nutrition is essential and reference is made to UNGA Resolution 68/177 paragraph 25 which states coherence between trade and nutrition policies is vital. Member States and multilateral agencies are encouraged to strengthen efforts to implement the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action.

 The two-day expert group meeting took place on 19-20 June 2018 and was organized by the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). The UNSCN is currently chaired by IFAD and brings together the UN entities that work on nutrition, including FAO. Delivering remarks during the opening session, Carla Mucavi, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in New York, briefed the participants on the outcomes of the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 2, which was organized in June 2017 to inform last year’s HLPF 2017 and culminated in political messages and policy guidance for countries on what is needed to accelerate the implementation of SDG 2 and achieve its targets.

 The EGM consisted of plenary presentations and discussions on each of the five SDGs to be reviewed at the HLPF 2018 as well as their links with nutrition, looking at the progress made to date, the major challenges and the way forward, as well as implications for investments, policies and programming. In addition, UN Women provided a short gender analysis about the five SDGs and their connection with nutrition.

The EGM’s key messages will be summarized into an outcome document that will inform the 2018 HLPF.