SEED FUNDING JOINT PROGRAMMES

Egypt

Strengthening Sustainable and Resilient Food and Nutrition Systems in Egypt for SDG Acceleration

SDG 2 Zero Hunger LogoSDG 3 Good Health and Well-BeingSDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

PROJECT TITLE

Strengthening Sustainable and Resilient Food and Nutrition Systems in Egypt for SDG Acceleration

ContextEgypt engaged actively in the 2021 Food Systems Summit process, convening a national dialogue and developing national pathways with recommended interventions for improving food security and nutrition by 2030. To enhance multi-sectorial coordination and spearhead the transformation process, the Government created a National Committee for Food and Nutrition Systems chaired by the Prime Minister and bringing together several ministries to coordinate joint actions. Strengthening coordination mechanisms, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, consolidating accountability structures, focusing on the availability of evidence, analysis, and data, are identified as key priorities to strengthen the food systems governance structure in Egypt.
PUNOsWFP, FAO, UNICEF
Contribution to SDGsSDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
Contribution to other SDG transitionsClimate, biodiversity, pollution
DurationJune 2024 – May 2025
Expected financial leverage$87,000 (PUNO co-financing)
Alignment with SG Call to ActionPolicy integration; Food systems governance; Research, data, technology and innovation; Inclusive and participatory design; Private sector engagement
OutcomesThe JP contributes to strengthening policy and governance frameworks for food systems transformation and generating evidence and analysis on key dimensions of food systems to inform decision-making, supporting the work of the National Committee for Food and Nutrition Systems. The JP complements the government’s flagship program “Country Platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy”, which provides a mechanism to mobilize climate finance and private investments.
Partners
  • National Committee for Food and Nutrition Systems, including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Supply and Internal Trade, Health and Population, Planning and Economic Development, International Cooperation, Social Solidarity, Youth and Sports, Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Trade and Industry, as well as representatives of the Defense Ministry and the National Authority for Food Safety
  • Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics
  • CSOs, private sector, IFIs
Outputs
  • Strengthen capacity of government institutions including the National Committee for Food and Nutrition Systems to effectively develop, implement, and monitor multi-sector, climate resilient, and gender responsive plans and initiatives for food system transformation.
  • Develop recommendations on financing options, partnerships and M&E for Egypt’s food systems strategies ad national pathways addressed to the National Committee for Food and Nutrition Systems.
  • Support development and/or drafting of M&E plans and costing plans for key policy frameworks relevant to food systems agenda, including on anaemia reduction and marketing of breastmilk substitutes.
  • Conduct analysis on gender-disaggregated impacts of economic crises on different food systems segments.
  • Carry out analysis and develop recommendations for: 1) more efficient, climate resilient, and gender responsive food value chains; 2) food loss and waste systems in small-holder farming systems; 3) food marketing.

Empowering UN teams to transform food systems

13/02/2025

The Food Systems Thinking Guide for UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams is now available online. Developed under the UN Food Systems Task Force, this guide offers a digital tool with practical examples to advance food systems transformation through a systems approach. The guide aims at supporting UN coordination on food systems transformation efforts at country level and integrating food systems into strategic planning, advocacy and policy work.

Given its potential impact on agriculture, health, economies and the environment, food systems transformation is one of the key transitions (or transformative entry points) that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Harnessing the transformative potential of sustainable food systems is essential to achieving food security and nutrition for present and future generations, while concurrently addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity and natural resource degradation, rural poverty and economic shocks. Transforming food systems, therefore, requires a systems approach that connects components and outcomes of agrifood systems and interrelated systems to achieve sustained change across multiple sustainability dimensions, transforming the way people interact with each other and with the planet.

This guide was created as a concerted effort of the UN Food Systems Task Force’s Working Group on Supporting UN Country Team Coordination and Joint Programming and reflects inputs from 13 UN agencies and bodies, highlighting the power of collaboration.

UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams are encouraged to pilot the food systems thinking guide in their day-to-day work on food systems transformation and provide feedback through this survey to ensure it evolves effectively to meet their needs. This first release of the thinking guide is intended as a working draft that will be piloted in 2025, with future updates based on feedback gathered from the experiences at country level.

Access the Food Systems Thinking Guide