♻️ On the road to COP31, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub joined Zero Waste Forum 2026 at the invitation of the Turkish Presidency of COP31 and the Zero Waste Foundation. 💬 As highlighted by Khaled Eltaweel, Senior Programme Coordinator of the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub: Zero waste is not only about reducing emissions—it is about correcting inefficiencies in the food system, improving access to food, and delivering multiple outcomes at once. 💡 The message was clear: to deliver impact, global ambitions must connect with national pathways and integrated #FoodSystems action. 🤝

🤝 At the Bilbao Bootcamp, hosted by the Joint SDG Fund, the Local 2030 Coalition, and the Governments of Spain and the Basque Country, the new Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub met with the Global Flagship Initiative and AGFUND to strengthen collaboration around #FoodSystems financing. 🌱 Discussions recognized the importance of catalytic funding such as the Food Systems Window in preparing investable pipelines and unlocking larger-scale financing from IFIs and the private sector. 📈 👉The Horn of Africa regional programme, supported technically by FAO, IFAD and WFP, was highlighted as an important pilot.

📚 Have you used what you learned through the FAO elearning Academy to support a project, strengthen your studies, advance your career, or contribute to your community? The FAO elearning Academy Global Youth Contest is your opportunity to share that story. 🏆 Three winners will receive a fully funded trip to Rome for the World Food Forum 2026. 👥 Open to youth aged 18–35 worldwide 📅Applications close 31 July 2026 🔗More on how to apply: elearning.fao.org/youth-cont…

💬 What's your story? The FAO elearning Academy Global Youth Contest invites young people to share how the knowledge and skills gained through FAO elearning Academy courses have supported their academic, professional or community journeys. How to apply: 📚 Earn digital badges through FAO elearning Academy courses ✍️Share your impact story 🏆Win a fully funded trip to the World Food Forum in Rome 👥 Open to youth aged 18–35 📅Applications close on 31 July 2026 Show how learning has helped you create impact. 🔗 Find out more: elearning.fao.org/youth-cont…

📢 The May newsletter is out! The latest UN Food Systems Coordination Hub newsletter brings together stories and updates from across the #FoodSystemscommunity. This month's edition highlights: 🌍Regional Food Systems Transformation Meetings in Africa and Arab region 👥The growing Youth Leadership Programme community 🥗 #Nutrition and investment dialogues 🌿Food systems and #ClimateAction in the Amazon Basin 🤝New partnerships and country-led action Explore the latest developments, insights and opportunities shaping #FoodSystemsTransformationaround the world. 📬Read more: bit.ly/4e3ypsZ

Pleased to launch “FAO and the SDGs – Accelerating Transformation through the Four Betters”. This publication highlights how @FAO is working with Members to accelerate progress towards the #SDGs through the transformation of agrifood systems and the #4Betters.

🤝 Good meeting with Lilian Rahal from Brazil to advance collaboration on the Plan to Accelerate Solutions (PAS) and strengthen synergies with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub’s Convergence Initiative. 🌱🌍 Discussions focused on building on Brazil’s leadership in aligning #FoodSystemsTransformation and #ClimateAction, while exploring pathways to move from dialogue to concrete, country-led implementation and stronger regional cooperation across the Amazon region. 🌿📌 🔗 Read more about the Convergence Initiative: unfoodsystemshub.org/hub-sol…

🌱 From forests to forums: this week’s regional convergence dialogue focused on how Amazon countries can strengthen cooperation on #FoodSystemsTransformation and #ClimateAction through shared learning, diplomacy and integrated policymaking. 🌍 Participants explored pathways to: 🌿strengthen sustainable and resilient food systems 🤝reinforce regional cooperation and food sovereignty 📊connect climate action, food security and biodiversity protection 🏞️support Indigenous leadership and territorial approaches 🗨️ “What happens in the Amazon does not stay in the Amazon, which is why the convergence of food systems and climate action is not optional, but essential to deliver impact at the scale the world needs.” — Khaled Eltaweel, Senior Programme Coordinator, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub 🔗 More on the Convergence Initiative: unfoodsystemshub.org/hub-sol…

Alumni gathered from the Youth Leadership Programme in Rome last week, strengthening a growing global network of emerging leaders shaping the future of #FoodSystems. 🤝🌱 👉 Germany through BMZ also confirmed support for a second phase of the Programme. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/49l6Zgz @BMZ_Bund | @FAO

💡How can finance better support healthier #FoodSystems? This question was at the center of yesterday's #RomeNutritionWeek2026 thematic session on aligning private sector engagement and nutrition outcomes. Participants reflected on: 🤝the different roles and responsibilities across public and private actors 📈the importance of accountability, transparency and nutrition data 🌱how investor stewardship and responsible business practices can support healthier food environments 📌the need for stronger regulatory frameworks and country-led implementation A recurring message was that stronger coordination and long-term partnerships will be essential to close the nutrition financing gap and translate commitments into country-level implementation. 🗨️ “The question today is therefore not whether the private sector should be engaged, but how we ensure that engagement is responsible, accountable, and aligned with public health and nutrition goals.” — Carlos Watson, Director a.i., UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and FAO Office of SDGs #Nutrition #RNW2026 #FoodSystemsTransformation

The 4th Africa Food Systems Transformation Meeting concluded last week with renewed momentum around accelerating #FoodSystemsTransformation across the continent. Discussions throughout the meeting reinforced that food systems transformation in #Africa cannot be addressed through isolated sectoral approaches alone, but it must be country-led, coordinated and rooted in long-term resilience. Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized the importance of: 🌱 Strengthening country ownership and political leadership 🤝 Reinforcing regional cooperation and the role of Regional Economic Communities 🧩 Moving from fragmented projects to more coherent and integrated programmes with stronger accountability 📌 Advancing agrifood systems approaches that connect nutrition, agriculture, trade and climate 💰 Unlocking finance at scale — especially for smallholders — through stronger investment pipeline 📊 Using science, evidence and responsible innovation to support healthy diets and resilient food systems #FoodSystems #UNFSS @FAO @FAOAfrica @mofagovgh @ECA_OFFICIAL @IFAD @WFP_Africa @WFP @NEPAD_Agency @FAOGhana

🌱 Yesterday’s Food Systems Solutions Webinar focused on the role of farmer cooperatives in accelerating #FoodSystems transformation across diverse contexts. Discussions explored how cooperatives can strengthen resilience and inclusion by supporting smallholder producers with: 🤝 stronger bargaining power 💰 improved access to finance 📚 knowledge and technology sharing 🌾 local value chain development 📈 greater income security A recurring message across the webinar was that food producers are not only beneficiaries of transformation, but essential partners in shaping it. 🎥 Watch the full session here: youtu.be/m9svunaywu8

💰 Scaling up nutrition is not only about mobilizing more resources — it is also about aligning investments with healthier, more sustainable #FoodSystems. Join us on 26 May at #RomeNutritionWeek2026 for the session: Commitment to Investment: Aligning Private Sector Engagement and Nutrition Outcomes 📅 26 May | 09:15–10:30 (Rome time) 👉 More information: lnkd.in/du8ccSJB #RNW26

🌍From 44 countries to one shared vision for the future of #FoodSystems. Last week, alumni of the Hub’s Youth Leadership Programme gathered in Rome to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and reflect on the role of emerging leaders in shaping food ystems change. 👏Thank you to all who contributed! #YLPinAction @FAO | @BMZ_Bund

Resilient food systems are built with communities at the center. 🌾 In the Dominican Republic 🇩🇴, a new Joint SDG Fund-supported programme is helping strengthen local solutions on water, food security, and rural livelihoods. Read more: jointsdgfund.org/article/dom…

📢 How can finance and investment better support healthier and more sustainable #FoodSystems? Creating an enabling environment requires action from many actors across finance, policy, business, and development — including you. Join us at #RomeNutritionWeek2026 for an interactive dialogue: Commitment to Investment: Aligning Private Sector Engagement and Nutrition Outcomes, where we will discuss the challenges and opportunities in shaping investment environments that contribute to better nutrition and public health outcomes. 📅 26 May | 09:15–10:30 (Rome time) 📍 Sheikh Zayed Center, FAO Headquarters online 👉 Register here: unnutrition.org/rome-nutriti… #RomeNutritionWeek2026 #RNW26

The 4th Africa Food Systems Transformation Meeting opened today in Accra, Ghana. Over the next three days, National Convenors, governments, regional institutions, UN entities, IFIs, youth, researchers, farmers, and partners will come together to exchange experiences and accelerate #FoodSystemsTransformation across Africa. Discussions will focus on some of the region’s key priorities — from climate resilience 🌱, financing and governance 💰 to innovation 💡, inclusive participation 👥 and regional cooperation 🤝 — while strengthening alignment between the CAADP Kampala Work, the the UNFSS 4 Call to Action and Agenda 2063 👉 At a time when #FoodSystems across Africa continue to face pressure from conflicts, climate shocks, rising costs, economic instability and food insecurity, the meeting will focus on one central question: how do we move from commitments and pathways into implementation and tangible results for people and the planet? #Africa #SDGs #GlobalGoals

📢 Join the Special Session “Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems Nexus: Local Solutions for Global Impact” at #AFSD2026 on 19 May. 🌱💧#FoodSystems sit at the center of some of the Arab region’s most urgent challenges — from water scarcity and climate vulnerability to energy demand and urbanization. But they can also be part of the solution. This session will explore how integrated WEFE nexus approaches can help strengthen coordination across sectors and support more resilient and inclusive development pathways. 📅19 May | 15:30 (Beirut Time/EEST) 👉 bit.ly/3R8Bujs