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FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

Science, innovation and private sector engagement in favour of LDCs

21/06/2021

At a joint high-level thematic event on Least Developed Countries, hosted by the Presidents of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, FAO’s Chief Scientist underscored the catalytic role of science and innovation in helping end poverty, hunger and malnutrition 

Aimed at building needed policy momentum, financial commitments and global political will to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs), this joint event, taking place under the theme “Diversifying the Financing Toolbox to Enhance Investment in LDCs,” served as a unique platform to advance key objectives and build common ground on priority actions ahead of the 5th UN Conference on LDCs (LDC5), scheduled for January 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

The thematic event centred on galvanizing technical knowhow and mobilizing resources as well as on assessing the progress made in implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action, thus helping foster commitments to provide substantive inputs ahead of LDC5.

Among those providing opening remarks was the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who shed light on the multidimensional risks and difficulties that LDCs currently face, especially on the heels of a post-pandemic recovery.

Sensible and inclusive investments on science, technology and innovation 

Discussions facilitated the exchange of, and agreement on, substantive inputs and implementation-ready solutions that build towards a smart and modern risk-informed and resilient financing toolbox for LDCs. 

FAO’s Chief Scientist, Ismahane Elouafi, spoke of the central role of agri-food systems transformation and the need to ensure investments in science, technology and innovation that can have a tangible and life-long impact on the lives of those most in need, particularly those living in LDCs. 

“Harnessing science, technology and innovation is key for transforming our agri-food systems and for leveraging emerging technologies and opportunities for reaching a world free from poverty, hunger and malnutrition,” she said. 

Democratizing the access to science and innovation, leaving no one behind

The discussions also highlighted the importance of engagement with various stakeholders including governments, international financial institutions, private sector, foundations and other stakeholders in addressing the new and emerging challenges before LDCs and seizing the opportunities offered by innovative financing modalities for SDGs. 

Against this backdrop, Ismahane Elouafi spoke of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Science Days, led by the Scientific Group of the Summit and to be facilitated by FAO. The Science Days will highlight the centrality of science, technology and innovation to guarantee sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems transformation and responsible investments, which shall be driven by science-based actions and solutions.

“We must elaborate new and enabling policies based on the best available evidence – policies that foster the production of nutritious foods and make them safe, affordable and accessible to all,” she said.

“Strengthening the science-policy-society interface is critical for that. Existing scientific evidence can effectively inform policy and can catalyse the transition to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agri-food systems. Better connecting scientific and research communities with policy-makers is also a critical entry point,” she added.

A rights-based commitment to human development and dynamic economies 

Member State delegates spoke of LDCs facing losses in revenues from the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the difficulties of responding to climate change-induced disasters and humanitarian complexities, which in turn affect the capacities of LDCs to attract and maintain investments.

“To achieve the ambitious transformative changes required,” Elouafi remarked, “we need to change policies, change mindsets, change behaviors and also change our business models.”

She outlined three transformative actions that FAO has been propelling forward since the outset of the pandemic, and which offer data-driven and rights-based approaches, frameworks, expertise and investment opportunities at the service of LDCs. 

First, she mentioned FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022–2031, whereby more efficient, inclusive, resilient and more sustainable agri-food systems are envisioned, for better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life for all.

Second, she spoke of FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which aims to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development based on data and information, especially for LDCs.  

Lastly, she mentioned the Joint FAO/WHO Center integrating FAO’s work on food safety, animal diseases and anti-microbial resistance through a One Health approach, as well as the joint FAO/IAEA Centre on Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, both of which are advancing the knowledge base to inform action and acting as support hubs for science-policy dialogue.

 

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