Financing urban and city regionfood system actions

In times of climate change and global uncertainty, cities play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable food systems. While a growing number of cities around the world are already assessing and planning their food systems, existing budget constraints often require external funds for effective implementation. 

At the same time, potential funding sources, including national governments, charitable foundations and private sector funds, often remain untapped due to lack of awareness or knowledge on how local stakeholders can access and channel them. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the RUAF Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems and the CGIAR Initiative on Resilient Cities, invite food system stakeholders at the local level as well as funding organisations to a webinar in order to: 

• explore the role of local and national governments in mobilising resources for local food system transformation; 
• identify potential funding sources for city and city region level and provide guidance to stakeholders on accessing them;
• address funding gaps and bottlenecks at the local-level.

The main language of the event will be English, with interpretation available in French and Spanish.

Agenda

Time	Item and presenter
14.00 - 14.08	Welcome and introduction by Guido Santini, Programme Coordinator, Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO and Jess Halliday, Chief Executive, RUAF
14.08 - 14.16	Overview of finance and investment opportunities and access pathways for cities, James Tefft, FAO Investment Centre
14.16 - 14.50	Speakers:  The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities, Yuna Chun, World Bank The landscape of charitable foundations for urban food systems actions, Lauren Baker, Global Alliance for the Future of Food What’s stopping the private sector from supporting and investing in sustainable food systems?, Brian Cook, Consultant
14.50 - 15.10	Roundtable discussion: City experiences in mobilising resources, funding gaps and needs Shelton M. Sithole, Representative for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Dayane Xavier, Representative for Curitiba, Brazil
15.10 - 15.25	Q&A Session
15.25 - 15.30	Closing remarks by Makiko Taguchi, Agricultural Officer, FAO.

 

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