FAO at the 2024 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD)

The 2024 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) is an annual intergovernmental forum aiming to assess progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and provide a forum to exchange knowledge, best practices, and policy solutions to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in line with regional priorities. This year it is being held ahead of the 2024 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the RFSD will provide the space for an in-depth regional review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in 2024.

In the framework of the RFSD, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will organize the following side events:  

Women in Sustainable Food Systems and Climate Action (12 March 2024, 12:00 – 13:30 p.m., virtual)

Organized jointly by FAO and UN Women regional offices, the Side Event seeks to explore the critical role of women’s empowerment (SDG 5) in building sustainable food systems, realizing the SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and accelerating climate action (SDG 13). The perspectives of diverse rural women, civil society representatives, activists and policymakers from the region will guide the interactive session. Participants will showcase their experiences and identify potential for replicating good practices on the local or regional levels. The outcomes will serve as inputs for UN Women’s and FAO’s preparations for the Twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29), taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024.

 

Breaking Down Barriers and Driving Finance for SDG 2 in the ECA Region: Policies, Partnerships and Innovations for the Final Push Towards 2030 (14 March 2024, 13:15 - 14:45 p.m., virtual)

Organized by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, this event will examine the financial aspects of SDG 2 while fostering a targeted discussion on critical issues, opportunities, and innovative approaches related to scaling up financing and investment. To help Member Nations deliver on their SDG commitments, the event will identify potential roles, responsibilities and opportunities for various public and private stakeholders in a revamped financing architecture. 

 

As Co-Chair of the UN Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems, FAO will organize the following events:

Regional Meeting for Europe and Central Asia (12 March 2024, 09:00 a.m. – 17:00 p.m., UNOG Office. Building A. Salle Room V)

The UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the UN Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems in Europe and Central Asia (ECA), are pleased to convene Food Systems National Convenors and other experts from across the ECA region to assess the progress made in transforming food systems, facilitate regional knowledge sharing, and identify emerging patterns and solutions.

 

Healthy and sustainable diets: enhancing the resilience of food systems in the face of climate change impacts (14 March 2024, 10.00 - 13.00 a.m., Room XXI, Palais des Nations, Geneva & Live on UNTV) 

The round table aims to facilitate knowledge and experience exchange among Member States on current and innovative policies and practices, through a multi-stakeholder, participatory and inclusive dialogue. It will focus on exploring conditions for sustainable and efficient food systems. In particular, the discussion will revolve around two SDG 2 aspects, key for ensuring food security and nutrition for all: 1) sustainable food production systems emphasizing healthy soils, climate, biodiversity, and nutrition linkages; 2) creating an enabling environment for sustainable food choices, showcasing initiatives and incentives.

Food Systems Transformation as an Accelerator for the SDGs Implementation and Climate Action (13 March 2024, 08:15 – 09:45 a.m., Palais des Nations, Building H, Room 207-209 and virtual)

In this side event, co-organized by the UN Food Systems Hub and the Issue-based Coalition for Sustainable Food Systems in Europe and Central Asia, stakeholders from diverse sectors will exchange vital strategies for transforming food systems into powerful catalysts for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate targets. Drawing insights from global meetings such as the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), the SDGs Summit, and COP28, participants will explore actionable steps at both national and regional levels. The session will spotlight the crucial nexus between food, climate, and biodiversity, presenting transformative solutions like the Hub's Food systems and Climate Convergence Initiative. Governments, UN representatives, and representatives from youth organizations, civil society actors, and the private sector representatives will collaborate to find solutions that will foster resilience, enhance food security, and drive progress towards a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems.