Introduction to food systems-based dietary guidelines

BACKGROUND 

Hunger reached a record high in 2024 in the Near East and North Africa1, the highest in more than two decades, among the Arab States, and malnutrition continues to rise in several countries in the region. The coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising overweight and obesity rates illustrates a complex “triple burden.” Nearly 38 percent of the region’s population could not afford a healthy diet in 2024. All these challenges call for renewed commitment and integrated action across sectors. Coherent policies and coordinated actions across agrifood systems are essential to make healthy diets a reality for all.   

Dietary guidelines provide a common vision and are increasingly recognized as a powerful lever for promoting healthier diets through sustainable food systems. They have the potential to inform food systems transformation towards not only better nutrition and health outcomes for people but also towards sustainability.   

An innovative approach to developing and implementing dietary guidelines considering food system constraints, opportunities and interconnections has been developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with input from multiple experts and stakeholders.   

In this context, the new FAO’s Food systems-based dietary guidelines (FSBDGs) methodology goes beyond health outcomes and integrates sustainability in its environmental, economic, and social dimensions. It not only enables the development of nationally led and context-specific dietary recommendations but also identifies food system-wide interventions targeting different stakeholders and levels. As such, the methodology provides a strategic policy tool and practical approach that helps countries in developing evidence-informed dietary recommendations fully tailored to their needs and translating them into aligned, multisectoral food systems actions.  

This webinar will introduce FAO’s FSBDGs methodology and highlight how dietary guidelines can serve as a bridge between nutrition, health objectives and food systems transformation. The event will bring together perspectives from FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), reflecting the complementary roles of UN agencies in advancing healthier diets and improved nutrition outcomes. 

While FAO contributes expertise on agrifood systems and food policy, WHO brings a public health perspective on nutrition and non-communicable disease prevention. 

Objectives 

Present the evolution of dietary guidelines and their role in promoting healthy diets. 

Introduce FAO’s Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines methodology. 

Highlight how dietary guidelines can support countries in developing policy coherence across agrifood, health and social sectors. 

Share perspectives from FAO and WHO on the role of dietary guidelines in improving population nutrition. 

Discuss country experiences and opportunities for applying food systems approaches to dietary guidelines in the NENA region. 

Webinar Structure 

The webinar will be organized by the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) and the WHO regional office. The event will be conducted virtually and will include presentations, country perspectives and an interactive discussion with participants. 

Target Participants 

Participants will include government officials from relevant ministries (health, agriculture, planning and education) and related institutions, representatives from FAO and WHO, as well as researchers and development partners working on food systems and nutrition. 

Expected Outcomes 

Participants will gain a better understanding of the Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines methodology and its potential to strengthen policy coherence across sectors. The webinar is expected to stimulate dialogue among countries and partners in the NENA region on how dietary guidelines can be leveraged as a strategic entry point for food systems transformation and improved nutrition outcomes.