DHAKA, Dec 19, 2024 - Demonstrating Bangladesh's ongoing commitment to transforming food systems, the ministry of food and the World Food Programme (WFP) arranged a national dialogue for food systems transformation in the city today.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and other development and civil society were also the partners of the event, said a press release. 

 The dialogue focused on integrating innovative, inclusive, and climate-responsive solutions into the national agenda, collaboratively shaping the National Food Systems Pathways toward more sustainable, resilient, healthy, and equitable food systems. 

Participants from government agencies, development partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector spent the day in five thematic sessions - nourish all people; nature-based solutions; equitable livelihoods, decent work, and empowered communities; building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses; and means of implementation - governance. 
 
The outcomes of the discussions will directly inform Bangladesh's updated National Food Systems Pathways, currently being updated under the leadership of the Ministry of Food, as National Food Systems Convener, and supported by UN agencies (IFAD, FAO, WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF), GAIN, CGIAR, IFPRI, among others, ensuring its alignment with the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). 

"We need implementation at scale of transformative solutions that gather all partners from all sectors to join efforts around a common objective of zero hunger and poverty eradication," said WFP Country Director Dom Scalpelli. 

Supported by Denmark through the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the event builds on Bangladesh's leadership in advancing the global food systems agenda, demonstrated during the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment in July 2023.

 The dialogue serves as a critical step in operationalizing the National Food Systems Pathways, by aligning national policies with sub-national and local plans while fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration.