Food systems in the Arab region are under growing pressure from interrelated challenges that compromise their ability to deliver food security, sustainable livelihoods, and healthy diets for all. In response to the urgent need for strategic planning for food system transformation, ESCWA organized two consecutive events in Amman that focused on this critical issue.
On 1 and 2 December, ESCWA in cooperation with the UN Food Systems Hub, the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Regional Bureau for Arab States, with support from the Government of Sweden, organized a regional workshop on Strategic Planning and Implementation for Food Systems Transformation in Arab Countries.
The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacities of Arab countries to plan and implement transformative actions for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems. It provided a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and exchange of experiences to support national and regional efforts aligned with global food systems transformation agendas.
On 3 and 4 December, ESCWA, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) convened an inception meeting in Amman to lay the groundwork for strong national and regional partnerships, build momentum, and reinforce collective commitment towards integrated, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems across Arab least developed countries (LDCs).
The meeting brought together food systems convenors and climate focal points from Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia, the Sudan, and Yemen, alongside regional and international experts, to officially launch the "Bridging the Climate-Food Nexus: Coherent Climate Action and Food System Transformation for Resilient Arab Least Developed Countries" Project, which aims to support Arab LDCs in aligning their food system transformation efforts with national climate action plans.
The event also includes the launch and dissemination of relevant analytical reports that assess the current state of food systems in LDCs and explore critical linkages with climate change. These resources provide evidence-based insights and actionable recommendations to inform national strategies and policy dialogues.
