The regional and national dialogues will identify solutions to more sustainable, equitable food systems in the country
01 September 2021, Mogadishu – FAO Somalia and The Federal Government of Somalia have launched the first of a series of virtual regional and national Food System Summit dialogues in preparation for the United Nations Food Systems Summit, to be convened by the Secretary-General in September 2021. The global Food Systems Summit is central to the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which rely to some degree on a healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems. Transforming food systems in Somalia is central to efforts in achieving the goals outlined in Somalia’s National Development Plan and the SDGs and the national dialogues build on pre-summit consultations that occurred earlier in 2021.
The Somalia Food System Summit dialogues, that began with the first sub-national meeting held in Jubaland on Monday around the theme ‘Digital Revolution and Innovation in Food Systems’, are an approach for enabling systematic, inclusive opportunities for people from all walks of life in Somalia to be engaged in food systems. The approach enables Somali participants to contribute to the Summit by building on efforts already underway, working together on pathways that lead to sustainable food systems, and setting out intentions and commitments in the run up to the Global Summit. A series of summits are planned to be held across six different regions and one national summit culminating in a report that identifies a pathway to addressing food systems challenges in Somalia.
Present at the Sub National Jubaland Dialogue on Monday were the curator, Dr. Said Mohamed Hersi, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Network Focal Point for Jubaland, Director General of the Jubaland Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mr. Mohamed Mursal Hersi, FAO Representative in Somalia, Mr Etienne Peterschmitt, state and federal officials, private sector, non-government organizations, UN representatives from FAO and WFP, and other participants. The key-note speaker for the Jubaland Dialogue was Mr. Sherif El Tokali, an Innovation Specialist from the UNDP Somalia Innovation Lab.
