Global food, the UN summit on food systems: budgetary moments with an urgency to finance them, but now

ROME – The fight against hunger has stalled, according to the latest data released by the United Nations last week, there are an estimated 122 million more people suffering from chronic malnutrition, compared to 2019. “It is therefore time to finance food systems now”: is the message that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) leads to the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), a high-level event to be held in Rome from 24 to 26 July 2023, at the Dalla FAO headquarters.

Progress made, but 3 billion people… Summit takes stock of progress made to create inclusive, sustainable and resilient food systems, encompassing all aspects of food production, from cultivation to consumption, and their interconnection with the environment and human well-being – food systems are responsible of a third of greenhouse gas emissions and currently 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet.

Ahead of the SDG Summit in September 2023, the three-day meeting will further highlight how food systems transformation plays a central role in the overall advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and will advocate for a urgent action at scale, leading to better and more sustainable outcomes for people, planet and prosperity – leaving no one behind.

July 24 – The new financial agenda. As co-leader of the Financial Agenda, IFAD and the World Bank will lead a high-level session on the theme “Financing the transformation of food systemsThe session will showcase a new tool that makes OECD data available to track where funds are spent to support food systems, providing key insights for countries to better understand gaps in funding the needs of food systems. Sabrina Elba , an IFAD Goodwill Ambassador, will receive an honorable mention for her role as an advocate for smallholder farmers and the rural poor.

July 25 – the Africa-Event. IFAD will conduct a special event focusing on Africa, the region with the highest prevalence of malnutrition in the world. This event is co-organised with the Office of the United Nations Special Adviser for Africa. Another special event, also organized together with World Bankwill bring to the table our knowledge on the role of the private sector in food systems and allow for discussions on the positive influence and potential that private companies can have in achieving the Development Goals.

July 26 – The means of implementation. On the final day, IFAD will again co-lead a plenary session on ‘Mobilising the means of implementation for food systems transformation’, which will be key to setting commitments and moving forward with positive outcomes after the Summit.

Guest of the Italian Government. The Summit will be hosted by the Italian Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Agencies based in Rome (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the so-called “UN Food Hub”, United Nations Food Systems Coordination Center. The opening ceremony will be attended by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni; FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu; the president of IFAD, Alvaro Lario; the executive director of WFP (World Food Programme) and a group of heads of state and government. To date, around 1,200 participants from 161 countries are expected.