The UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) today concluded its 50th Plenary Session (CFS 50). The Plenary was first convened on 10-13 October 2022 and adjourned to a later date to conclude deliberations on coordinating policy responses to the global food crisis informed by the 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report (SOFI).

The reconvened plenary on 19 December 2022 advanced global discussion towards addressing global hunger and malnutrition including on coordinating policy responses to the current and future food crisis. Members also endorsed new Policy Recommendations on Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition; agreed to continue work on draft Guidelines on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls in the context of food security and nutrition; revitalized CFS’s strategic direction to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); kicked off a CFS policy convergence process on Data Collection and Analysis Tools; and addressed ways of boosting responsible investment in sustainable agriculture building on the experiences of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems.

Convened as the first in-person plenary since 2019, CFS 50 saw record-high attendance by high-ranking delegates and senior officials including close to 40 ministers, vice-ministers and state secretaries from around the world. More than 1 500 delegates participated either live or on-line from among civil society, the private sector, and a diverse group of food and nutrition stakeholders.

Speaking at the October session, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Presidents of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and of the General Assembly, along with heads of the three Rome-based UN Agencies all pointed to the need for prompt, joint policy action against hunger and malnutrition, with CFS playing a crucial role bringing key parties together for policy alignment.

During the Session, a total of 30 side events were also organized by CFS partners and stakeholders on diverse topics critical to food security and nutrition including youth, gender, climate change, finance, land rights, and others.

The Plenary closed with the adoption of its final report.  51^st session will be held in October 2023 at the FAO headquarters in Rome. More details to be shared later.

Contacts and More Information

• Visit the CFS 50 website for more information on the Plenary including statements by delegates and the CFS 50 draft report.
• For enquiries please contact the CFS Secretariat at [email protected].