Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Nutrition and Food Systems

Professionals working in food and nutrition policy and institutional environment need to understand the major nutrition problems and their consequences on human, social and economic development. In addition, they have to possess competencies to design, implement, monitor and evaluate policies and programmes, adopting a holistic and integrated approach. They should be able to apply “systems thinking” in support of equitable, integrated, sustainable food systems and healthy diets. 



This MOOC covers the interlinkages between food, nutrition, and agri-food systems, and the importance of adopting a multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach for promoting healthy diets and nutrition through food systems. It offers collaborative activities such as live webinars, video recordings of experts’ contributions, publications and other relevant learning materials including links to other relevant self-paced e-learning courses.



At the end of each week of learning, participants will be offered to pass a graded test. Only students who participate actively and pass all weekly tests will be granted the final certificate, that attests the acquisition of competencies related to the MOOC.



Structure of the MOOC

Target audience

This MOOC is especially relevant for decision makers, policy makers, policy advisors  and formulators, investment planners, project managers involved in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of agri-food system policies and programmes for healthy diets and improved nutrition.



The course is also aimed at professionals and students  in the areas of food systems, nutrition, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, who are also interested in obtaining the FAO Certificate for “Nutrition and Food Systems”.



Learning objectives



At the end of this MOOC, you will be able to:

  • Explain how food systems shape peoples’ diets, and affect their nutritional and health status and the socio-economic development of countries;
  • Describe the linkages and impact pathways between agri-food systems, food and nutrition;
  • Advocate for a multisectoral and multidisciplinary food-systems approach for promoting healthy diets and addressing malnutrition;
  • Contribute to the design of actions and programmes drawing on lessons learned from different countries and contexts. 

How to attend



The MOOC is free and open to everyone, provided you have the link to the platform.

To join the MOOC, kindly register here.

Each module is unlocked on a certain date, and all resources will remain available until the last day of the course. On average, participants will spend about 5 hours working on the MOOC each week.



Registrations by interested applicants must be submitted by 12 September 2021.



Registered participants will receive the credentials to access the course no later than 15 September 2021.

Watch the teaser here.