Regional dialogue on accelerating progress towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems

Countries of Europe and Central Asia continue to advance agrifood systems transformation, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving sustainable development, food security and improved nutrition, and in addressing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. Governments and stakeholders are pursuing integrated, multisectoral approaches that strengthen resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability while contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The upcoming Virtual Regional Dialogue will offer space for policy exchange, peer learning, and joint problem-solving, bringing together government representatives, development partners, academia, civil society, and private sector stakeholders. It will highlight innovations, investment models, and governance mechanisms enabling sustainable and equitable agrifood systems, while addressing institutional, social, and behavioural barriers limiting transformation. 

Participants will include policymakers, technical experts, and national food systems focal points and National Convenors directly engaged in agrifood systems transformation processes. In addition, the event will engage representatives of research institutions, academia, and scientific organizations, and private sector actors. This multi-stakeholder composition reflects the integrated nature of agrifood systems transformation and aims to facilitate dialogue across policy, science, and practice. 

Objectives 

• Fostering peer learning of policy coherence, governance and trade-offs and identifying shared priorities for collaboration to accelerate progress in the region. 
• Enhanced understanding of agrifood systems dynamics, identifying key entry points and levers to accelerate national and regional systemic transformation processes. 
• Explore pathways for acceleration, agree on next steps and identify priorities for advancing technical cooperation, inputs to a concept note for resource mobilization at country and regional levels.