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.

Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year!

23/12/2022

Dear Convenors, partners and colleagues,

As 2022 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to pause and reflect on what we have accomplished together this past year, as well as appreciate you, for the solid partnership we have co-created.

Despite an exceptionally challenging year, given the unprecedented food and cost-of-living crisis, we have taken great strides together towards keeping food systems transformation high on the global agenda.

Over the past year, the UN System has come together to bring the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub into existence. We are now fully operational and actively working to provide coordinated, country-driven, customized support to countries in translating their national pathways into concrete action, that can ultimately transform our current food systems into more sustainable, equitable, healthier and resilient food systems that work for People, Planet and Prosperity.

It has been an intense year of learning and growth. Looking back, we are proud of the foundations we have been able to lay together in just a few months.

Since its establishment, the Hub has liaised with food systems National Convenors to plan concrete support for the early and effective implementation of their national pathways. Multifaceted and tailored assistance has started in several countries through the mobilization of the existing UN presence in each country, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinators (RCs), as well as by engaging the Ecosystem of Support - such as food system coalitions, IFIs, development partners, think tanks and the private sector.

Since April 2022, we have organized monthly “Food Systems Solutions Dialogues” and Regional Touchpoints, on a wide range of topics. These sessions have enabled continued peer-exchange, peer-learning and capacity development within the Convenors networks.

Since its inception, the Hub has also worked on establishing tight links with the coalitions that emerged from the Food Systems Summit, through briefings, brainstorming sessions, a dedicated Solutions Dialogue, as well as one-on-one engagements. A Coalitions Compendium and FAQ have been developed and shared widely in order to facilitate countries’ engagement and strategic use of coalitions.

Together, we have also witnessed the appointment of focal points from Youth and Indigenous People in the Hub’s Stakeholders Engagement, Networking and Advisory (SENA) Group and the launch of a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) introduced at a plenary session during the World Food Forum in October 2022 in Rome.

Since financing came up as the highest area of support sought by countries, the Means of Implementation Finance has been prioritized for the biennium 2022-2023. IFAD and the World Bank, as co-lead of this stream of work within the Hub, have been active in mobilizing a broad range of partners to leverage financing for food systems transformation, including through the development of a Country Food Systems Budgeting Tool and of a methodology to measure ODA flows to food systems transformation.

Finally, the Hub has leveraged every opportunity to connect the Food Systems Transformation Agenda and other relevant global processes, including the UNCCD COP15, Stockholm+50, the HLPF, CFS50 and UNGA among others. Specific references to the food systems, the Food Systems Summit follow-up and the Hub have been included in the Ministerial Declaration of the 2022 HLPF.

While we get ready for next year, we are acutely aware and greatly humbled by the realization that great challenges lay ahead and that 2023 will be a pivotal year to push forward, with unrelenting resolution, to make change happen. Piece-meal approaches will not yield the results at the scale that is needed. What is required is a comprehensive systems approach that connects the emergency response with development action, delivering immediate relief without compromising but rather accelerating long-term structural changes.

We are confident that together, working in a coordinated and integrated manner, National Convenors, United Nations, Ecosystem of Support, Stakeholders and all other food systems actors, we can make a difference. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to you for your continued commitment and support on this journey. We are looking forward to great partnerships and accomplishments together, leading to the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment.

Season’s greetings and best wishes from our entire team. We wish you a restful holiday season full of love, peace, and good health!

Warmest wishes,

The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub