Joint SDG Fund

Food Systems Transformation Window

BACKGROUND

Following the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021, National Food System Convenors called for a global funding mechanism to support the shift of national food systems transformation pathways from consultations and political commitments to the implementation of innovative interventions and systems impact.

In response, the Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Transformation Window was established through a partnership between the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat. This initiative leverages the strengths of both the UNFSS process—including national pathways, National Convenors, and the Ecosystem of Support (such as UNFSS coalitions)—and the UN Development System Reform, which strengthens efforts through UN Resident Coordinator leadership, enhanced UN Country Team coordination, revised UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), and insights from the SDG Summit.

Together, these elements harness the UN’s unique capacity to support government-led food systems transformations.

The Joint SDG Fund serves as a key mechanism to drive food systems transformation, turning holistic policy visions into multisectoral, multilayered impact across the SDGs. It also helps mobilize scaled-up financing, aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s UNFSS+2 Call to Action for enhanced support.

Thanks to the governments of Germany, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, a first funding round for food systems transformation was officially launched in February 2024. This launch followed the approval of the Investment Strategy and Terms of Reference – including management arrangements – by the Joint SDG Fund Operational Steering Committee for a 5-year period.

 

 

Objectives

Drawing from a participatory design process, the Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Investment Strategy pursues 4 overarching objectives:

Promote sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems as
a key SDG accelerator
Support government-led transformations
Drive sustainable, inclusive
food financing
Foster knowledge & measure impact

Strengthen advocacy efforts and broaden the collective understanding of the pivotal role that food systems play for People, Planet and shared Prosperity, and to withstand current and future shocks.

Empower governments to lead rights-based, inclusive food systems transformations as envisioned in the national pathways through strategic, coordinated support from UN Country Teams.

Reshape national food finance architecture to support healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems, maximizing the impact of SDG investments.

Promote learning at national, regional, and global levels while monitoring progress and sharing the impact of food systems transformations.

 

The Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Investment Strategy is based on the principles of bottom-up and country-owned, catalytic, inclusivity, sustainability, predictability and agility, partners’ comparative advantage, and spirit of collective learning.

Joint SDG Fund

ACTION AREAS

The Investment Strategy prioritises support for the 5 Action Areas guiding national food systems transformations:

  1. Nourish All People
  2. Boost Nature-based Solutions
  3. Advance Equitable Livelihoods, Decent Work and Empowered Communities
  4. Build Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks and Stresses
  5. Accelerate Means of Implementation

FUNDING MODALITIES

Thanks to the governments of Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland, a first funding round mobilised USD15 million which were allocated to 18 countries following 2 distinct funding tracks:

High Impact Track (HIT)

A High Impact Track (HIT) supports countries in advanced stages in their food systems transformation journeys. High-impact proposals are piloting or scaling up innovative systemic interventions as part of national food systems pathways. They are designed to mobilize and deepen partnerships, and leverage substantial additional financing (at least 4 to 5 times the amounts invested). More information coming soon.

Seed Funding Track

The seed funding track, supporting countries to incubate transformative solutions and contributing to an enabling institutional environment to accelerate progress in their food systems transformation journey.

With renewed support from the government of Germany, a second funding round is under development, to be launched in 2025.