SEED FUNDING JOINT PROGRAMMES

Cambodia

Transforming Cambodia’s food systems to become more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient

SDG 2 Zero Hunger Logo

PROJECT TITLE

Transforming Cambodia’s food systems to become more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient

ContextCambodia’s National Pathway is the outcome of an extensive consultation process, involving more than 2,000 people throughout thirty dialogues, which identifies four priority areas, namely healthy diets for all, empowerment of youth, women and vulnerable groups, resilient livelihoods and food systems, inclusive governance. Acknowledging the risks posed by climate change to hard won development gains and as a co-founder of the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation, Cambodia is prioritizing the integration of climate change and food systems transformation, building coherence across the agendas. The Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, the government agency coordinating food security and nutrition initiatives in Cambodia, is leading collaborative efforts to translate national aspirations into concrete action.
PUNOsFAO, WFP, UNICEF
Contribution to SDGsSDG 2 Zero Hunger
Contribution to other SDG transitionsClimate, biodiversity, pollution
DurationAugust 2024 – July 2025
Expected financial leverage$3 million
Alignment with SG Call to ActionPolicy integration; Food systems governance; Inclusive and participatory design; Private sector engagement
OutcomesThe Joint Programme fosters an enabling environment for food systems transformation by enhancing national capacities and policy frameworks, identifying opportunities to unlock financial streams, and strengthening advocacy efforts for food systems transformation. The JP provides crucial support to the alignment of the climate and food agendas, accelerating progress towards resilient, sustainable and inclusive food systems.
Partners

Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) will be the main government counterpart and will coordinate the government activities in conjunction with other key Ministries, including:

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment
  • Ministry of Economy and Finance
  • Ministry of Commerce
  • Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Ministry of Rural Development
  • Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport
  • Ministry of Women’s Affairs
Outputs
  • Update the Food Systems Roadmap (National Pathway) to identify key transformative areas in different sub-sectors and strengthen its alignment to climate policy frameworks.
  • Develop an action plan and a financing strategy for the Roadmap. 
  • Carry out a costing exercise for the Roadmap, complementing the ongoing formulation of the 3rd National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (2024-2028).
  • Facilitate inclusive multi-stakeholder consultations with line ministries, local actors, private sector, youth and women groups.
  • Design and implement advocacy and communication strategies and tools to raise awareness among decision-makers and mobilize resources from the government, development partners, IFIs, and the private sectors.

National pathway operationalization Policy coherence Inclusive dialogues Advocacy Unlocking finance Food-climate convergence
10/12/2024

The webinar, co-organized by the HDSFS and the SUN Movement Secretariat, emphasized a shift towards food systems-based dietary guidelines with sustainability focus.

10/12/2024
The event was designed to explore practical solutions for improving access to agricultural financing through guaranteed schemes.
10/12/2024
The Adaptation, Biodiversity and Carbon Mapping Tool (ABC-Map) launched this year, utilizes satellite data to offer a comprehensive view of environmental impacts without ground data.
02/12/2024
Chad, supported by Denmark, FAO, and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, hosted a high-level dialogue in N'Djamena to advance its food systems transformation pathway (FRNSA). The workshop highlighted bold reforms to transform agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sectors into engines of nutrition, income, and resilience.
02/12/2024
The Agroecology Coalition will be at COP16 on desertification in Riyadh from 2 to 13 December with a delegation of members to highlight the role agroecology as a dot connector for the three Rio Conventions. Check out their upcoming events.
29/11/2024
At COP29 in Baku, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub showcased the potential of the Convergence Initiative, uniting food systems transformation with climate action. Through multi-stakeholder dialogue, innovative solutions, and real-world examples from pilot countries, the events highlighted convergence as a critical path to achieving the SDGs and Paris Agreement goals.
28/11/2024
Dina Kassa Kebede, an environmental scientist from Ethiopia and alumna of the Hub’s Youth Leadership Programme, is transforming samma, a forgotten indigenous plant, into an herbal tea that promotes sustainable nutrition. Through innovation and advocacy, she is blending traditional knowledge with modern science to address global food and climate challenges.
27/11/2024
On November 14, the WHO Health Pavilion at COP29 hosted a side event on “Aligning Food Systems, Nutrition, and Climate Action,” co-organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, WHO and the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All (HDSFS).
26/11/2024
In the Kyrgyz Republic’s Kadamjai district, an innovative public-private partnership is connecting farmers with schools, ensuring fresh, nutritious meals for children while strengthening local agriculture. This approach reflects the focus of the country’s recent Food Systems Dialogue, financed by the Government of Denmark and supported by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, where public and private stakeholders united to explore practical solutions to food security challenges and drive sustainable change through initiatives like this.
21/11/2024
At COP29 in Baku, GAIN, IFAD, the World Bank, and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub announced a major collaboration to scale up the 3FS tool, which tracks financial flows to food systems. This tool addresses the financial gaps identified at the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), empowering countries to make more informed, impactful investment decisions to support sustainable, resilient food systems.
18/11/2024

Indonesia becomes the first Asia-Pacific country to operationalize the Convergence Initiative, hosting a collaborative workshop to align food systems transformation with climate action goals through the development of a Convergence Action Blueprint.

18/11/2024
The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) has developed a compilation of applicable technologies to support the establishment of sustainable food systems in the Asia-Monsoon region. Learn about the latest updates to Version 3.0 of the catalog, published November 2024.
18/11/2024
The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) has developed a compilation of applicable technologies to support the establishment of sustainable food systems in the Asia-Monsoon region. Learn about the latest updates to Version 3.0 of the catalog, published November 2024.
TMG Research Side Event
15/11/2024

TMG Research, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), hosted a side event at the World Food Forum to examine the critical role of youth in global food systems discussions, challenging tokenistic youth engagement. The event highlighted the Hub's Youth Leadership Programme (YLP), which equips young people to engage meaningfully with national governments on food systems transformation, empowering them to drive impactful change from both top-down and bottom-up approaches.

11/11/2024

In this document the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have formulated principles of what constitute healthy diets, underpinned by guidelines and other normative elements developed by the two Organizations. The principles provide the basis for the design of policies aimed at improving diet and for the assessment of the healthiness of diets.

Amman Declaration
05/11/2024
Arab ministers welcome the Hub’s Convergence Initiative in their Amman Declaration at the Regional Forum on Accelerating Food Systems Transformation in the Arab Region.
04/11/2024

At WAFI 2024, alumni from the Hub’s Youth Leadership Programme shared powerful stories and bold ideas, underscoring the essential role of youth in driving food systems transformation to tackle climate and sustainability challenges.

Brasilia
01/11/2024
Brazil hosted the second National Inception Workshop for the Convergence Initiative, building a solid foundation for aligning food systems transformation with climate action in preparation for COP30.
28/10/2024
Kazakhstan takes the lead as the first pilot country for the Convergence Initiative, launching a new effort to combine food systems and climate action to help meet SDG and Paris Agreement goals.
CFS
25/10/2024
The CFS52 side event focused on the Convergence Initiative, showcasing efforts to integrate food systems and climate policies through global collaboration and practical national strategies