SEED FUNDING JOINT PROGRAMMES

Egypt

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

SDG 2 Zero Hunger Logo SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

PROJECT TITLE	Strengthening Sustainable and Resilient Food and Nutrition Systems in Egypt for SDG Acceleration
Context	Egypt 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.
PUNOs	WFP, FAO, UNICEF
Contribution to SDGs	SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
Contribution to other SDG transitions	Climate, biodiversity, pollution
Duration	June 2024 – May 2025
Expected financial leverage	$87,000 (PUNO co-financing)
Alignment with SG Call to Action	Policy integration; Food systems governance; Research, data, technology and innovation; Inclusive and participatory design; Private sector engagement
Outcomes	The 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.

IFAD and the World Bank are co-developing the first country budget tool for food systems transformation

Left to right: Madhur Gautam (WB), Chris Brett (WB), Stefanos Fotiou (FAO/Hub), Nadine Gbossa (IFAD/Hub) and Armando Cortez Tellez (Hub).

12/01/2023

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank (WB) are co-leading the financing agenda for food systems transformation in support of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. This co-leadership brings together the expertise, resources and outreach of both International Financial Institutions to drive the food financing agenda.

Financing food systems transformation is vital for SDG achievement. The United Nations Food Systems Summit called on the global community for an ambitious financing agenda for the transformation of food systems across the world. The Summit called for a new food finance architecture with US$300-350 billion of additional investment per year and the optimization of resource allocation to curb the US$12 trillion lost every year in environmental, social and economic costs because of the way food systems operate. Some members have requested analytical support and tools for effective allocation of public financing to food systems.

On 12 January 2023, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub met with IFAD and WB, as well as knowledge and operational partners, for the co-development of the first country budget tool for food systems transformation. This tool will provide governments, donors and stakeholders with much needed evidence for smart investment decisions, including:

How much financing goes towards the food system?
To which parts of the food system is financing going?
Does financing target the areas and people most in need for food systems transformation? What are the gaps and needs?

For more information, contact the IFAD and WB co-leads for the Financing Agenda for Food Systems Transformation: Nadine Gbossa, Director Food Systems, IFAD and Chris Brett, Agribusiness Lead, WB.