Breaking down silos to deliver on SDG 2 and sustainable food systems
In the lead up to the 60th session of the Commission for Social Development, an inter-session informal preparatory meeting was convened to review the food security and nutrition status and pathways to recovery from the pandemic
9 December, New York - The Chair of the 60th session of the Commission for Social Development and Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, Ambassador María del Carmen Squeff, convened today the Inter-session informal preparatory meeting on the priority theme of the session “Inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19 for sustainable livelihoods, well-being and dignity for all: eradicating poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.” The briefing helps prepare Member States for the 60th session of the Commission, taking place in February 2022.
“ALL human beings, irrespective of their race, color, sexual orientation or gender identity, language, religion, political opinion, or any condition, have the right to adequate food and the right to live free from hunger,” stated Ambassador Squeff, adding that the right to food cut across all human rights.
At the meeting, FAO Chief Economist, Maximo Torero, and the Director of FAO’s Division of Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality, Benjamin Davis, briefed delegates on the state of food security and nutrition in the world and on the role of social protection in mitigating COVID-19 and ensuring an inclusive and resilient recovery.
Noting the grim picture where nearly one in three people did not have access to healthy diets in 2020, Torero said that an estimated 720 to 811 million people were facing hunger in 2020 – as many as 161 million more in one year under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to this year’s edition of the flagship “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World”.
We need bold actions
“Analysis shows that food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms are made worse by high and persistent levels of inequality,” reiterated Torero. Over the last two decades, significant achievements have been made in reducing poverty, however inequality has remained persistently high and, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time in two decades poverty and income inequality increased in 2020.
So, the key question remains ‘what needs to be done?’ FAO Chief Economist indicated that the solution lies in transforming our agrifood systems – increasing resilience to major drivers, addressing inequalities, while ensuring affordable healthy diets that are sustainable and inclusive.
Ensuring coherence among systems and the use of accelerators such as effective and inclusive governance mechanisms and institutions, access to technology, data and innovation, and human capital play a key role in scaling up implementation, maximizing the benefits and minimizing tradeoffs. In explaining how FAO assists governments in these efforts, he highlighted the Hand-in-Hand Initiative that supports coordinated responses and seeks to maximize partnerships for greater impact.
First line of response and key to inclusive recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical role social policy plays in protecting people, especially the most vulnerable, highlighted Benjamin Davis. He underscored the need for integrated long-term policy frameworks to recover better from the crisis and to accelerate progress in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Social protection is key to an inclusive recovery,” he added. Social protection not only helps households absorb shocks but can play key functions to support the most vulnerable build sustainable pathways out of poverty.
“We need to step up recovery efforts if we are to address the effects of the pandemic especially in rural areas,” added Davis, noting that more than 70% of the population does not have adequate access to social protection and the majority of these people live in rural areas.
The way forward
Sustainable food systems can become a powerful driving force towards ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms for all. “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” presents six transformation pathways that must take center stage in all our action moving forward for greater resilience.
The pathways include: (i) integrating humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict-affected areas; (ii) scaling up climate resilience across food systems; (iii) strengthening resilience of the most vulnerable to economic adversity; (iv) intervening along the food supply chains to lower the cost of nutritious foods; (v) tackling poverty and structural inequalities, ensuring interventions are pro-poor and inclusive; and (vi) strengthening food environments and changing consumer behaviour to promote positive impacts on human health and the environment.
The data are clear, and COVID-19 has showed us that everything is interlinked. “We need to adopt a systematic approach when formulating investments and legislation to transform our agri-food systems, and if we do not address the issue of inequality and poverty, we will not resolve the problem of hunger,” concluded Torero.
Related links
- 60th Session of the Commission for Social Development
- Access “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” and additional resources
- Missed the event? View the recording of the session
- Presentation by Mr. Máximo Torero Cullen, the Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2021”
- Presentation by Mr. Benjamin Davis, Director of the Division of Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — “Social protection and effect on rural areas and agriculture”
- Find out about FAO’s work on Food Systems and Social Protection