The Committee on World Food Security stimulates policy dialogue on food systems and nutrition in the Near East and North Africa

25 September 2019, Cairo - In the Near East and North Africa region, there are still more than 52 million people who are undernourished, and the prevalence of stunting among young children is high in many countries.

The region is not facing just a hunger crisis as some of the highest rates of obesity are also found in countries within the region, putting pressure on people’s health, lifestyles and national health systems and economies.

Fostering discussion and debate around policy and institutional reforms are key to promoting sustainable food systems that improve nutrition and enable healthy diets at global and regional level.

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS), a joint body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP), is currently undertaking an inclusive policy process, which will lead to the development of Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition in 2020.

The CFS Voluntary Guidelines are intended to be a reference document to provide guidance to governments, as well as to specialized institutions and other stakeholders, on appropriate policies, investments, and institutional arrangements needed to address the key causes of malnutrition in all its forms.

In order to get inputs, comments and suggestions on how to best align the guidelines with regional and national priorities and needs, CFS is organizing a Regional Consultation for the Near East and North Africa region from 25-26 September in Cairo.

This consultation – the fourth of six regional meetings across the globe - is gathering 60 participants from governments, civil society organizations, private sector associations, agricultural research organizations, UN bodies, international financial institutions, and private philanthropic foundations. Additional participants are expected from the food, agriculture, and health sectors of the region.

The meeting’s outcomes will feed into the development of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition during 2020, and culminate in adoption by CFS Plenary din October at its 47th session.

“The Consultation in Cairo will represent a unique opportunity to develop and advance comprehensive policy approaches to pressing food system and nutrition issues affecting urban and rural people in the Near East and North Africa region”, highlighted the CFS Secretary, Mr. Christopher Hegadorn.

Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa praised the inclusive approach of the CFS and said “the discussions are bringing together stakeholders from the food, agriculture and health sectors to address issues of malnutrition, child stunting, overweight and obesity and promote policy coherence between sectors”.

“This regional consultation is part of a global dialogue on policy, investment and institutional interventions leading to the formulation of voluntary guideline that will serve as common reference policy document for governments, civil society, private sector and UN system, to promote sustainable food systems that improve nutrition and enable healthy diets,” Ould Ahmed added.

This two-day meeting will embrace the CFS vision to advance a world free from malnutrition in all its forms, where all people at all stages of life and at all times have access to adequate food and enjoy diversified, balanced and healthy diets for an active and healthy life.