Pivoting innovation and cooperation for inclusive and resilient post-pandemic recovery

FAO served as the lead entity for the third and final UN ECOSOC Integration Dialogue, where exchanges on catalysing an inclusive post-pandemic recovery included calls for agri-food systems transformation, green recovery, climate resilience, robust social policies and science and data‑led innovations

New York, 10 June 2021 – As part of the preparatory process for the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Integration Segment due to take place in July, FAO led the third and final Integration Dialogue entitled “Human well-being and capabilities: Building back more resilient, healthy, equitable and sustainable societies”. 

FAO’s Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol moderated the timely exchange, advocating for the centrality of agri-food systems as a driver to getting the world back on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Integration Dialogue was an opportunity for the UN system and its partners to identify key policy options and priorities, and capture an array of creative ideas emanating from the work of ECOSOC subsidiary bodies – and the UN system at large – which will feed into the Integration Segment. The Dialogue helped break new ground on how to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic, which hasbecome a major socio‑economic crisis placing unprecedented pressure on food systems and threatening the food security and nutrition of millions.

Hosting and opening the virtual exchange was Ambassador Juan Sandoval, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, in his capacity as Vice‑President of ECOSOC and Chair of the 2021 Integration Segment of ECOSOC.

“Integrated policy frameworks are at the heart of realizing the 2030 Agenda,” Ambassador Sandoval said, adding that approaches to breaking away from silos in our work, pursuing integrated policies and strategies, and generating positive impacts across sectors to increase coordination through multidimensional lines “are crucial at a time when we look for sustainable and resilient recovery strategies that also set inclusive and effective paths towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda”.

Fostering joint efforts and identifying implementation-ready capabilities

Bechdol underscored the importance of joint collaborations in order for the UN system at large to tap into the interlinkages and transformative solutions available for a post-pandemic recovery. Emphasizing that this can only come into fruition through common lines of action, she stated that “worldwide, over four billion jobs and livelihoods are related to food systems, and over 1.5 billion are now considered at risk because of the pandemic”. 

Against this backdrop, Bechdol highlighted three strategic lines of action around which the UN system is well poised to work together and deliver as one, through at-scale collaboration: (i) transformation of agri-food systems, including nutrition-sensitive investments, (ii) a green recovery that is closely linked to climate resilience and livelihood rehabilitation and (iii) robust and human rights-centred social policies, including social protection and decent employment programmes.

“We need to build to transform during our COVID-19 response and recovery efforts so that agri-food systems become more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, all while ensuring that we leave no one behind to achieve the SDGs by 2030,” Bechdol remarked.

Operationalising capabilities through innovation

Bechdol also touched on key crosscutting drivers of these initiatives, which stand to galvanise support from different actors and stakeholders, in turn allowing the UN system to better help its Members and those most in need. 

There are tools and mechanisms ready to implement across the board, from digital technology innovations in emergency and non-emergency settings that promote production, productivity and market access among smallholder farmers; to critical livelihood support mechanisms for the continuity of food supply chains; and even scalable data and analytics as well as information and communication technologies (ICTs) that can inform policy decision-making in a timely fashion.

“The most explicit example [from FAO] is the country-led and country-owned Hand-in-Hand initiative, which uses data and modelling to provide a comprehensive view of economic opportunities with a particular eye toward identifying employment and income-generating activities,” Bechdol pointed out.

A fruitful exchange ensued, with Member States and representatives from ECOSOC subsidiary organs and UN Specialized Agencies, Programmes and Funds taking the digital floor to share latest milestones, exchange opportunities for collaboration, and move forward the encouraging redoubled efforts and renewed partnerships.

Bechdol praised their commitment to providing global responses to a global set of problems. Hinging on equitable access to resources and opportunities for recovery, science, innovation and ICTs will help drive the UN system’s momentum on building back better and differently, and bringing forth multisectoral and holistic solutions. 

All key policy options and innovative alternatives that have been identified will feature in panel discussions during the Integration Segment to inform the deliberations of ECOSOC on 2 July, in which FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, will participate.

Related links

• Read Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol's statement
• Visit the UN ECOSOC 2021 Integration Segment website
• Stay informed on the preparations of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) (July)
  and the UN Food Systems Summit (September)
• Read more about FAO’s Hand-in-Hand initiative