GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP) launch at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh
The GEF-8 Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP), co-led by FAO and IFAD, will be officially launched during the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 on 5 December 2024, as part of the AgriFood Systems Day. This key event will highlight the vision and strategies of the FSIP in promoting sustainable, regenerative, nature-positive, resilient, inclusive and pollution-free food systems.
Event Objectives
The launch session aims to introduce FSIP and its new approaches to food systems transformation, focusing on moving from "Doing no harm" to actively "Doing good." Highlights include:
- Governance and Policy Processes: Supporting national pathways, investment plans, policy and legal frameworks, NDCs, NAPs, and other food systems initiatives for effective governance and enhanced policy coherence
- Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Practices: Emphasizing approaches that foster resilience and accelerate transformation.
- Catalytic Financing and Policy Options: Identifying impactful strategies to enhance and scale up food systems transformation.
- Cross-Country and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Promoting learning and collaboration across countries and sectors to drive global progress
- Private Sector Involvement: Encouraging strategic partnerships to leverage resources, expertise, and innovation
The session will feature insights from key global leaders, experts from GEF, FAO, and IFAD, representatives from various regions, and voices from Indigenous Peoples and youth organizations.
Agenda and Run of Show
The event will be moderated by Teresa Marie Welsh, President of Bloom Global Communications
- Welcome address by Mr. Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Developmemnt (IFAD)
- Setting the Scene of Food Systems IP Ambitions by Mr. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO, Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Inclusive Perspectives from Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII)
- Food Systems IP Overview and Key Objectives by Mr. Jeffrey Griffin, Executive Coordinator of FAO-GEF Unit
- Food Systems IP Country and Youth Roundtable
- Dr. Charles Lange, Deputy Director of Research and Planning at National Environment Management Authority, Kenya
- Mrs. Nilmini Wicramarachchi, Director of Natural Resources Management, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka
- Mr. Jesus Villegas, Director of Climate Change Adaptation and Desertification, Ministry of Environment, Peru
- Ms. Genna Tesdall, Director, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD)
- Food Systems IP Partner Roundtable
- Mr Stewart Maginnis, Deputy Director General International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Ms. Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment and Natural Resources, World Bank;
- Ms Diane Holdorf, Executive Vice President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
- Mr Bob Tansey, Senior Policy Advisor, The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
- Mr Christian Derlagen, Senior Advisor, Food Systems at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Q & A session between audience and panelists
- Closing reflections by Mr. AbdulHakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, FAO
Date: 5 December, 2024
Time: 17:30–19:00
Location: COP16 Blue Zone, Action Dome, Boulevard City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia