PISA Community of Practice to Drive Systems Approaches in Agrifood Transformation

In a significant step towards promoting systems approaches in agrifood system transformations, 39 participants from 17 FAO divisions, convened in November for the inaugural workshop of the Programmatic Impact through Systems Approaches (PISA) project. The workshop, hosted by FAO’s Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency laid the groundwork for a Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at enhancing the adoption of systems approaches (SAs) in FAO field projects.

The CoP’s mission is to foster collaboration and learning around systems approaches, enhancing the sustainability and scalability of agrifood system transformations.

The case for systems thinking

FAO leadership stressed the urgency of using interconnected solutions to address the complexity of agrifood system transformations. Corinna Hawkes, Director of the ESF Division, stated: “A systems approach is the way forward for transformation change which enables us to achieve and sustain impact at scale to produce a different, better set of outcomes. This requires connecting the dots and understanding the interconnections in the system so we can consider ripple effects across agrifood systems.”

David Neven, LTO of the PISA project, explained: “Systems approaches are at the core of FAO’s current strategy. This workshop and the emerging CoP are about learning what works, what doesn’t, and how to operationalize systems-based approaches in the field.”

The workshop

Participants shared transformative impacts achieved through FAO field projects and discussed how systems approaches contributed to these successes. The Six Elements of a System Approach, a framework developed by ESF, provided a shared lens to classify these approaches by:

• systems thinking,
• systems knowledge,
• systems governance,
• systems investing,
• systems doing, and
• systems learning
  

all enabled by leadership and innovation.

Key observations emerged on successful practices.  

“In systems work, it is important to recognize that individuals are part of communities which make up systems. When working with individuals, we need to have intentionality around the fact that we are interacting with systems.” And for systems doing, the "need to embrace the centrality of process and invest resources in system change as a people-centered approach. We are aiming for real behavior change, and this takes time.” *

Enablers: Catalysts for systems change

The workshop highlighted enablers of systems transformation, including capacity building, empathetic communication, and collaborative tools. Institutional flexibility and multistakeholder engagement were seen as critical for overcoming barriers like rigid structures, siloed funding, and short-term project cycles

“Diverse perspectives are needed to represent the plurality of experiences of the food system, and so dialogue is central. We need to link science with farmer needs to better understand farmer behavior.”

Barriers: Constraints to overcome

Participants also identified barriers to adopting systems approaches, such as limited understanding of methodologies, insufficient stakeholder engagement, and resistance to complexity. Institutional silos, rigid structures, and risk aversion were noted alongside fragmented funding and short-term project cycles that conflict with long-term goals. Structural issues like power imbalances and inequitable resource access further hindered collaboration. Additionally, a narrow focus on outputs and inflexible reporting processes were seen as obstacles to fostering the adaptive learning needed for transformative change. These insights highlight the need to address both internal and external barriers.

 “There is a tension between short-term funding and the need for long-term change. Maintaining focus and motivation under pressure to show quick results is difficult.”

Opportunities: Pathways to transformation

Participants identified opportunities to advance systems approaches by scaling up successful initiatives and fostering capacity building, cross-divisional knowledge exchange, and communities of practice. Institutionalizing systems approaches through flexible funding, procurement, and reporting mechanisms was emphasized. Global challenges, like the climate crisis, were seen as catalysts for aligning agendas such as the SDGs. Leveraging local expertise, fostering stakeholder ownership, and designing adaptive, process-oriented projects were recognized as vital. Building evidence, setting common standards, and educating donors were also highlighted as key to embedding systems thinking into FAO’s work.

 “The workshop demonstrated systems approaches in practice: a reflective space fostering cross-divisional input and interdisciplinary focus, where participants shared expertise and facilitators guided a shared understanding.”

Opportunities Looking forward: The role of the Community of Practice

The workshop concluded with a clear call to action for future engagement. The PISA team plans to launch a call for Expressions of Interest to expand CoP membership globally.

The CoP aims to:

1. Serve as a learning platform for sharing experiences and co-designing solutions to operationalize systems approaches.
2. Shift from discussion to action by addressing bottlenecks and piloting innovative practices to generate evidence-based solutions for SAs in field projects.

Conclusion: A call for transformative action

The workshop underscored the importance of embedding systems thinking across FAO and beyond. Addressing food insecurity, climate change, and inequality requires leveraging enablers, addressing barriers, and seizing opportunities. The PISA CoP is poised to support FAO and its partners in accelerating progress toward the SDGs.

 “The system is within us. Systems approaches cannot rely on methodology alone. To transform institutions like FAO and ministries, we must first transform our own mindsets.”

For more information about PISA or the CoP, please contact:

Severin Oman,
Project Officer, ESF
[email protected]

Jasmin Roetzer,
Value Chain Specialist, ESF
[email protected]   


*The text in quotation marks reflects direct statements and insights shared by participants during the workshop