Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Monday, November 30, 2020

VIRTUAL EVENT: 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet network’s Sustainable Food Systems Programme: week 2

25 November - 3 December 2020. 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet (10YFP) Sustainable Food Systems Programme

The purpose of this 3rd global conference is to provide substantial input to the UN Food Systems Summit that is tentatively scheduled for the third quarter of 2021, building on the achievements of the SFS Programme’s membership during the first five years of implementation as well as the outcomes of the Programme’s previous two global conferences.

See the week 1 recording on:
30/11 Side Event Unlocking Finance for Inclusive Agriculture: Aceli Africa SFSP Panel


  • Aceli Africa and Dalberg Advisors analyzed data from 31 lenders to assess the economics and low volumes of agri-SME lending
  • Agriculture & agri-SMEs are particularly important in East African economies, but the sector remains chronically under-financed
  • Annual financing gap of ~$65bn for African agri-SMEs with financing needs of $25k to $1.5m
  • Agri-SMEs in this $25k-$1.5m segment are under-financed in part because they fall between two lending business models
  • Three lender types target different agri-SME segments and all have room to grow – if the lending economics can be improved 
Aceli Africa Case Study by Convergence (Published 19 November 2020, 7 pages)

In this case study, Convergence calls out insights from the design of our facility that could be useful for other practitioners designing blended finance initiatives – particularly in the agri-SME sector. Those insights include:
  • Data collection is a powerful tool for right-sizing concessional capital when designing blended finance interventions, particularly in nascent markets
  • Blended finance practitioners must balance tailoring custom-fit solutions with reducing complexity
  • Technical assistance can be useful for addressing both demand- and supply-side constraints
  • Blended finance can be used to support the development of local markets

30/11 Addressing food systems through consumers – promoting awareness and behavioral change 
  • Chair Ulf Jaeckel, BMU, Germany 
  • Daniela Acuña, Ministry of Agriculture, Chile 
  • Ply Pirom, WWF Thailand 
  • Andre Nel, Pick n Pay 
  • Daniel Vennard, World Resources Institute 
30/11 Leveraging public procurement to accelerate SDG implementation 
  • Chair Stineke Oenema, UNSCN Coordinator 
  • Erika Bozzay OECD - Introduction to the potential and requirements of public food procurement to function as a key food system transformation tool, 
  • Florence TartanacFAO 
  • Anne-Marie Saulnier, ECPAR 
  • Peter Defranceschi, ICLEI 
  • Doris Yawa Gab, Ghana
01/12 Global food system dialogue (Invitation only)
  • Agnes Kalibata, Scial Envoy for 2021 Food Systems Summit
  • Renato Alvarado Rivera, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Costa Rica
  • Christian Hofer, Director-General, Federal Office for Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Joao Campari, Global Leader Food Practice, WWF
  • David Nabarro, Co-Director of the Imperial College Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, and Head, 4SD
Co-organizers: UNEP, WWF, Hivos-RUAF, Rikolto, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
Moderation: Charlotte Flechet, RIKOLTO

Presentation of the initiative: Food Systems Multi-Stakeholder Governance Mechanisms: an assessment of experiences + Multi-stakeholder Mechanisms cases:
  • Marina Bortoletti, UNEP food systems Associate Programme Officer
  • Carmen Torres, International consultant, One Planet Network SFS Programme
  • Mr. Samuel Ikua, Nairobi and Environs Food Security, Agriculture and Livestock Forum (NEFSALF);
  • Ms. Inoshi Sharma, Director, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), & Head, Eat Right Initiative;
  • Mr. 'David Jácome Polit, Quito Agri-Food Pact (PAQ)
02/12 Side event: 15:30-16:15 Stimulating markets for agroecology through public policy
How can public policies enable, transform and consolidate markets for agro-ecology based on the experiences in their regions. For instance, by supporting the direct connection between producers and consumers, or by promoting consumer involvement in multistakeholder platforms focused on building local and regional markets.
  • To what extent the success for the creation of markets for agroecology depend on public policy?
  • What policy instruments (e.g. public procurement, labelling schemes, regulation, etc) can support markets for agroecology?
  • How can public policy support agroecological markets across different scales (e.g. local level, rural-urban nexus at the national level, or global supply/value chains)?
Speakers:
  • Minister Edward Centeno, Minister of Agriculture and Husbandry of the Republic of Nicaragua
  • ​Cesar Carrillo, Director of Supply at the Secretary of Economic Development, Mayor's Office of Bogota, Colombia
  • Patrick Honauer co-founder Food Networks, social entrepreneur
  • Representative from ROPPA (Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organisations of West Africa)
  • Moderator: Celine Termote (Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT)
03/12 Side event: 12:00 PM Innovating for Sustainable Food Systems 
Panelists from all over the world will discuss how to achieve food systems transformation through innovative inclusive multi-stakeholder collaboration!

The overall aim of this side-event is to initiate a regional multi-stakeholder dialogue on SFS in the Mediterranean as a contribution to the preparatory process of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, and to boost collaborative actions on the ground to accelerate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region. The side event will also be an opportunity to present the multi-stakeholder initiative for Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean (SFS-MED Platform), an affiliated project of the UN One Planet Network 10YFP SFS Programme jointly supported by FAO, CIHEAM and UfMS, with a view to strengthen broader partnerships inclusive of all interested parties, consolidating the collaboration with the SFS Programme partners.
  • Introduction by Jamie Morrison, Director, ESF, FAO; 
  • Máximo Torero (Chief Economist, FAO), 
  • Plácido Plaza (Secretary General, CIHEAM), 
  • Isidro González (Deputy Secretary General, UfM);
  • Sandro Dernini, Coordination Desk’s Coordinator;
  • José Valls Bedeau, Focal point, FAO;
  • Roberto Capone, Focal point, CIHEAM;
  • Alessandra Sensi / Giuseppe Provenzano, Focal Points, UfMS
03/12 13:00-15:00 PM The role of food systems in achieving the 2030 Agenda: with the Chairs of the Food Systems Summit Action Tracks
  • Chair Christian Hofer, Director-General, Federal Office for Agriculture, Switzerland
  • Lawrence Haddad, GAIN
  • Ajay Vir Jakhar, Bharat Krishak Samaj
  • Joao Campari, WWF
  • Michelle Nunn, CARE USA
  • Saleemul Huq, ICCCD
03/12 Our commitment for a sustainable food future : Report from previous sessions

Action Track 1: Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all
October 2020: Discussion Starter Paper Action Track 1PDF icon
xx December 2020. Action Track 1 Public Forum
  • Chair: Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN
  • Vice-chairs: Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Sheryl Hendricks (University of Pretoria. South Africa)
  • UN anchoring agency: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
Action Track 2 Shift to sustainable consumption patterns
PDF icon
October 2020: Discussion Starter Paper Action Track 2
9 December 2020. Action Track 2 Public Forum
  • Chair: Gunhild Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair, EAT Foundation
  • Vice-chairs: Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, Lana Weidgenant, Real Food Systems, Deputy Director at Zero Hour International
  • UN anchoring agency: World Health Organization (WHO)
Action Track 3: Boost nature-positive production
PDF icon
10 December 2020. Action Track 3 Public Forum
  • Chair: Joao Campari, Global Leader Food Practice, WWF International
    "Trade off must be considered as well as synergies"
  • Vice-chair: Lavetanalagi Seru, Alliance of Future Generations
  • UN anchoring agency: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Action Track 4: Advance equitable livelihoods
  • Chair: Michelle Nunn, President and CEO, CARE USA
  • Vice-chairs: Shakuntala Thilsted, Research Program Leader for Value Chains and Nutrition, World Fish
  • Mai Thin Yu Mon, UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus – Program Director for the Indigenous Peoples Development Program of Chin Human Rights Organization
  • UN anchoring agency: International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Action Track 5: Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress
  • Chair: Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change & Development
  • Vice-chairs: Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of the Club of Rome
  • Mike Khunga, SUN Global Youth Leader for Nutrition, SUN CSN, and Project Officer, Civil Society Organisations Nutrition Alliance
  • UN anchoring agency: World Food Programme (WFP)


Upcoming webinars during the month of December

25 November - 3 December 2020. 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet (10YFP) Sustainable Food Systems Programme
  • Theme 1 Poverty alleviation: food and nutrition security (30th November 2020 from 1000hrs – 1315hrs East Africa Time / UCT+3)
  • Theme 2: Agro-biodiversity and smallholder resilience (1st December 2020 from 1000hrs – 1300hrs East Africa Time / UCT+3)
  • Theme 3: Food systems transformation (2nd December 2020 from 1000hrs – 1315hrs East Africa Time / UCT+3)
1 December 2020. Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems in the context of sustainable agricultural development and food security
  • The aim of the webinar is to present complementary and joint work areas of Agrinatura and FAO in the next three years, with the main objective to strengthen Agricultural innovation Systems (AIS) and partnerships between Universities and Research Centres throughout Europe and developing countries for inclusive, responsible and impactful agricultural innovations, in the context of sustainable agricultural development and food security.

1 December 2020. Action Track 4 Public Forum

1 December 2020 (4:30-5:30PM - EAT). Transforming Food Systems: Lessons Learned from Global and Local Experience. Feed the Future Ethiopia Growth through Nutrition Activity Webinar
  • The webinar will focus on core elements of food systems, external drivers, and political economy issues that facilitate or impede important changes in food systems - focusing on the Ethiopian context, followed by discussion of audience questions.
  • Incl. Dr. Namukolo Covic - Sr. Research Coordinator, IFPRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1-2 December 2020. First Biennial Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Stakeholders Conference CAADP-XP4 Organizations (FARA, AFAAS, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA) and Partners (AUDA-NEPAD, FAO, CCAFS, AGNES, CSAYN)

1-2 December 2020. Two-part webinar series on Green Deal Africa Call
  • The two-part webinar series are looking to increase awareness and understanding of the Horizon 2020 (i.e. H2020) research and innovation programme and opportunities for African organisations. In particular, the webinars will focus on the 'Accelerating the green transition and energy access Partnership with Africa (TOPIC ID: LC-GD-2-3-2020)’ call which is currently open.
  • The first session is mainly aimed at African organisations (e.g. research organisations, start-ups, NGOs, tech-hubs, corporate innovations) interested in learning more about H2020 and application procedures. The second session (i.e. matchmaking) is aimed at European and African organisations looking to connect with potential partners for the Africa Green Deal call. You can participate in one or both sessions.
2-3 December 2020. WTO Virtual Agriculture Symposium, entitled Agricultural Trade and Food System Transformation

3 December 2020. Africa Knows! Panel 47 on Agricultural Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training in Africa
3 December 2020. 17:00 CEST. Towards the 2021 UN Summit on Food Systems: An enhanced Africa-Europe partnership on sustainable agriculture

3 December 2020. UNSCN Webinar series - Nutrition in a Digital World! Episode 3: Digital solutions for data driven decision making, to help improve nutrition of vulnerable groups and to address inequalities


4 December 2020. Action Track 5 Public Forum

5 December 2020. World Soil Day

  • 5 Dec. Sat. | 19:00-22:10 hours | UTC+8:00 (Beijing Time) Global AgriInno Pitch Event
  • 6 Dec. Sun. | 09:00-12:00 hours | UTC+8:00 (Beijing Time) Digital Agriculture and Rural Development Forum
  • 6 Dec. Sun. | 15:30-19:30 hours | UTC+8:00 (Beijing Time) Digital Agriculture Dialogue

7 December 2020. Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems.

7-9 December 2020, 12:00-18:00 CET. 4th International Conference on Global Food Security
The 4th International Conference on Global Food Security will take place as a live-streamed and interactive event with pre-conference mini-symposia on 4 December 2020, 12:00-18:00 CET. It will bring together keynote speakers, presentations, talks and e-posters showcasing the latest research and addressing key topics in the field in a very rich programme

7-9 December 2020. The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) General Assembly

  • The Africa-Europe Innovation Partnership (AEIP) is organizing a virtual event, under the patronage of the South African Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation, as part of their annual Science Forum.
  • Opening by Ms. Maria Cristina Russo, Director for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation at the European Commission
8 December 2020. 2:30 p.m. GM. Food and Agricultural Trade in the New Policy Environment. How Can WTO members Support Economic Recovery and Resilience?


8 December 2020. 12pm EAT: A Dialogue on Youth Digital Agtech Entrepreneurship. AGRA + CTA

8 December 2020. 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM CET. Beyond the Basics: Integrating Psychosocial Support into Enterprise and Employment Programming Marketlinks webinar. 
  • Speakers from Action for Hunger, International Rescue Committee, and Catholic Relief Services will share successful examples from their programming in Iraq, South Sudan, and El Salvador and Honduras.

9 December 2020. 3:00 - 4:00 pm Nairobi. Food Safety Regulations: Know Your Way Organised by IFC (the International Finance Cooperation) Food Safety team.


9 December 2020. 14:30 - 15:30 PM. Launch of the High-Level Group Report on the Africa Europe Climate Alliance

10 December 2020. Weathering COVID-19 in Small Island Developing States: A pathway to resilience. FAO. The dialogue will raise awareness on their structural vulnerabilities and the looming impacts on food systems as a result of the pandemic

10 December 2020. 13:30 - 14:45 CET. Global Capacity Needs Assessment for Nutrition: Integrating Nutrition Objectives into Agricultural Extension Programmes and Policies

10 December 2020. Action Track 3 Public Forum By IFPRI Co-Organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) and the Food Security Portal



14 - 16 December 2020.WORLD AQUACULTURE 2020 Singapore. Virtual event more on www.was.org

15 December 2020. 14:00-15:00 CET. Home Gardens for Resilience and Recovery

15 December 2020. Natural Livestock Farming (NLF): an approach to reduce the use of antimicrobials and towards Sustainable Dairy Production. Contact for registration
NLF project in Ethiopia 2017-2020: Enhancing Quality and Safety of Milk: This project aims to introduce the Natural Livestock Farming (NLF) 5-layered strategy for improved cattle health in Ethiopia through a pilot study which combines activities at field- and laboratory level.


16 December 2020. 13.30-15.00 GMT). Innovation Accelerator: How to build resilient smallholder supply chains and drive systemic change for rural communities
This webinar will launch the initial findings of the research which has explored a wide range of supply chains, including cotton, fruit and vegetables, dairy, coffee, soya, palm and maize. As well as bringing together cross-sector experience, the project sought insights from political science and development economics to explore the wider societal dynamics of communities and countries in which supply chains exist.

  • An informal dialogue with the former and current SUN Coordinators – Dr David Nabarro, Mr Tom Arnold and Ms Gerda Verburg


17 December 2020, 14:00-15:30 (CET). Episode 4 – Digital solutions for nutrition sensitive programming. By IUCN 


18 December 2020. 14:00-15:30 (CET) - Digital solutions for nutrition sensitive programming. Webinar series - Nutrition in a Digital World 

18 December 2020. 9 h-16 h 45. L’Afrique et la crise de la Covid-19 : à la recherche d’une plus grande résilience des systèmes alimentaires - Téléchargez le programme

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8-11 January 2021. IUCN World conservation congress, Marseille. The dates are no longer up to date

18-22 January 2021. Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2021

21st January 2021, 12h00-14h00 (GMT) Grow local: Conquering high-value markets. Organised by PAFO and COLEACP

25-26 January 2021 – ONLINE WORLDWIDE. Climate Adaptation Summit 2021
The Netherlands government will host an online international Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS Online) on 25 January 2021. CAS Online will build on the advances of the UN Climate Action Summit by showcasing pioneering solutions to the climate emergency, and sustaining momentum through to UNFCCC’s COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

8 - 12 February 2021. Committee for Food Security 47

22-26 February 2021. Commonwealth Science Conference to focus on resilience against global environmental crises

25-27 February 2021. Virtual APIEXPO AFRICA 2020

The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will review the achievement and delivery of the CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. It is also anticipated that the final decision on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be taken, together with decisions on related topics including capacity building and resource mobilization.

17-20 May 2021. New Middle East Africa Virtual 2021 & Review Virtual for all Africa 2020

6 July 2021, 08:30 – 9 July 2021, 17:00 FAO-CIRAD international conference on Geographical Indication (by Sustainable Food Systems Network)


The twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the UNFCCC will take place in November 2021 in Glasgow.

1 December 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit. 
The Nutrition for Growth Summit will be an important opportunity to set the world on a path to achieving the SDG targets – in particular, to end malnutrition in all its forms by 2030 and to strengthen the link between diet, food systems and health. The goal is to galvanize commitments from governments, civil society, the private sector, donor agencies and the UN to end malnutrition in all of its forms.


WEBINAR: Food systems of the poor: shaping the agenda for the Food Systems Summit

25 November 2020. 2-3.15pm (GMT) Food systems of the poor: shaping the agenda for the Food Systems Summit. In the lead up to the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021, this IIED event will discuss how food systems transformation can be relevant for people living in poverty.

This is a recording of an online event on 25 November 2020 that explored how food systems transformation can be relevant for people living in poverty. This IIED Debates event examined the specific challenges of food systems in low-income countries in the lead up to the Food Systems Summit next year. 
  • Is a food system transformation also necessary in the global South? 
  • If so, what would it look like? 
  • And how should it be achieved? 
In this event we heard from leading experts on food systems, nutrition and informality. We also got the perspective from civil society organisations and donors about their hopes and expectations for the food summit. 
  • Andrew Norton (opening remarks), director of IIED; 
  • Jessica Fanzo, Bloomberg distinguished professor of global food policy and ethics; 
  • Jane Battersby, associate professor at the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town and; 
  • Immaculate Yossa Daisy, the regional advocacy manager for Uganda-East Africa at Hivos.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

VIRTUAL EVENT: Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change

26 - 27 November 2020
. FACCE-JPI 10 Year Event.
The Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) celebrates its ten year anniversary by engaging in a high-level science-policy discussion. 

The aim is threefold, 
  1. highlighting the European societal challenges including the key research concerns, 
  2. exploring potential new pathways by showcasing the past scientific results, and 
prioritisation of the science–policy discussion together with the national and European decision makers about the strategic urgencies.

The European Food System: The transition towards sustainability and climate mitigation

A sustainably-driven recovery in Europe will require a re-think of the agrifood system with an integrated approach to climate, food and ecosystems. There is a growing polarisation in the way society perceives solutions to agrifood challenges. Some focus on sustainability, whilst others favour economic ‘pragmatism’. To achieve sustainable food systems, policymakers must look at evidence-based arguments, engaging with actors from multiple sectors at local, national and regional level. Only this will lead to a holistic, fair, and coordinated approach. Ongoing investments in research and innovation will be crucial to achieve the necessary changes.
  • How can the Commission's 'European Green Deal' and the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy help a faster transition towards sustainable food systems?
  • How best to align objectives, targets and timelines to ensure a predictable regulatory environment, encouraging the innovation needed to achieve sustainable food systems?
  • Which R&I pathways can support the transition towards sustainable food systems?
  • How can industry encourage and support more sustainable farming with a focus on climate change?
  • -How to juggle consumers' purchasing power and willingness to pay, food affordability, and the true price of food?
Speakers
  • MODERATOR Brian Maguire, Journalist, EURACTIV
  • Wim Haentjens, Policy Expert, Food safety and the agri-food industry, DG RTD, European Commission
  • Atidzhe Alieva-Veli, MEP, AGRI Committee member, European Parliament
  • Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO
  • Frank Ewert, Scientific Advisory Board Chair, FACCE-JPI


Virtual Session 2 | 27 November 2020 - 10:00-13:00h CET
FACCE-JPI Scientific Debate
The critical role of science: Learning from the past to cope with future challenges

Virtual Session 3 | 27 November 2020 – 14:00-17:00h CET
FACCE-JPI Science to Policy Debate
Science, the cornerstone of future European policies: Working for a strong European Research Area

WEBINAR: Ceres2030: Sustainable Solutions to End Hunger

25 November 2020. DevCo Infopoint. 85 researchers spanning 25 countries worked intensely for the past three years to identify the most promising solutions to end hunger sustainably, with a focus on the role of donors. Their efforts, which combined artificial intelligence, state-of-the-art modelling, and a strong partnership with Nature Research, was released on October 13, as part of a series of events, hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and a call to action from the research community. 

Cooperation on research and innovation has steered the international agenda towards a different approach to agricultural research. The latest report on sustainable solutions to end hunger (CERES 2020)[1] finds that most researchers “had the wrong priorities”. Only around 10% compared the many existing agricultural practices to evaluate what works and what doesn’t: “science must stop neglecting smallholder farmers”.

[1] Ceres2030 (2020) Ending Hunger, Increasing Incomes, and Protecting the Climate: What would it cost donors? International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

Speakers

  • Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unity of Rural Development, Food Security, Nutrition, DEVCO C1
  • David Laborde, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI & Co-Director Ceres2030
  • Jaron Porciello, Associate Director, Cornell University & Co-Director Ceres2030
  • Carin Smaller, Director, Agriculture, Trade and Investment, IISD & Co-Director Ceres2030

Resources

Related: 

13 October 2020. Launch Event of Ceres2030: Uniting Science and Policy to End Hunger Sustainably ENGLISH

 

  FRENCH

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

WEBINAR: Publishing Agricultural Development Research in Social Science Journals

24 November 2020. Publishing Agricultural Development Research in Social Science Journals.

While there are many important ways to disseminate findings from agricultural development research, publishing in reputable, peer reviewed journals is particularly important for researchers as a means to not only showcase their work but also solicit peer input, gauge how their own work compares with that of others, and enhance options for career advancement.

Deciding where to submit articles is a difficult choice, especially for early career researchers. There is now an almost bewildering array of journals in almost every field. But all journals are not the same: they reach different audiences, with different business models, impact factors, and prestige. What are the factors one should take into consideration while deciding on a journal? What do editors really want? What makes editors decide what to desk reject and what to send out for review? How should one handle referee comments? What types of peer review are most useful—to editors, to authors, and to reviewers themselves?

This event will be a series of three webinars to
  1. address questions on the journal publication landscape, 
  2. provide advice from journal editors, and 
  3. discuss writing and responding to referee reports.
The Journal Publication Landscape 
This webinar, the 1st in the series, provides an overview of the publication process, reviews the overall landscape of journal publishing, and shares guidance on selecting a journal, including: 
  1. Assessing journal audience, impact factors, and reputation 
  2. Gated, open-access and hybrid business models 
  3. How to distinguish predatory journals 
  4. Overview of the process, from submission to publication, with tips for each stage 
  5. Journal special issues.

VIRTUAL EVENT: 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet network’s Sustainable Food Systems Programme: week 1

25 November - 3 December 2020
. 3rd Global Conference of the One Planet (10YFP) Sustainable Food Systems Programme

The purpose of this 3rd global conference is to provide substantial input to the UN Food Systems Summit that is tentatively scheduled for the third quarter of 2021, building on the achievements of the SFS Programme’s membership during the first five years of implementation as well as the outcomes of the Programme’s previous two global conferences.

Previous editions of the conference harnessed consensus on a range of priority areas for action. The 1st global conference in South Africa concluded with the Pretoria Resolution, while the 2nd global conference in Costa Rica finalized with the San José Call to Action.

Conference brief
REPORT: OPN (2020) Towards a Common Understanding of Sustainable Food Systems Key approaches, concepts, and terms. One Planet network Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Programme, 2020. 75 pages

Background:
The Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Programme is part of the One Planet network, formed to implement the UN 10-Year Framework for Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP). The 10YFP was adopted by Heads of State and Government in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), with the aim to promote cooperation to accelerate the shift towards sustainable consumption and production (SCP). 

The SFS Programme: a vision of multi-stakeholder dialogue to accelerate the shift to sustainable food systems:
  • The One Planet network SFS Programme is a 5-year long inclusive dialogue among food system stakeholders that is based on their wide range of on-the-ground research, experiences, policies and initiatives. 
  • The SFS Programme currently has over 170 members worldwide, bringing together leading organizations from government, the UN system, civil society, the scientific community, and private sector
Extract of the programme
25/11 Aligning collective action for food systems transformation 
  • Chantal Clément, Deputy Director, IPES-Food Speakers 
  • Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, CBD Executive Secretary 
  • Júlia Sánchez, Secretary General, ActionAid 
  • Francesco Branca, WHO Presentation 
  • Carmen Torres, (consultant One Planet network Sustainable Food Systems Programme): Multistakeholder Mechanisms for food systems transformation Speakers 
  • Esther Penunia, Asian Farmers Association 
  • Hurrem Betul Levent, Mezitli Municipality, Turkey 
  • Jason Baillargeon, Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-food, Canada
25/11 Side event 1: Presentation of the CERES report
25/11 Side event 2: Transformative actions to reduce unsustainable meat and dairy consumption

and production
(organised by Work Animal Net, ProVeg International, Bright Green, Compassion in Word Farming)
26/11 The science of characterizing and addressing the transition towards sustainable food systems (Part I) 
  • Christopher Béné, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT 
  • Food Sustainability Index. Samantha Grenville, Economist Intelligence Unit 
  • Food and Agricultural Benchmark: Carla Hommes and Viktoria de Bourbon de Parme, World Benchmarking Alliance
  • Food Systems Dashboard. Jessica Fanzo, Johns Hopkins University 
26/11 Transparent and comprehensive assessment of food system trade-offs to inform policy (Part II) 
  • Co-facilitators Elise Golan, USDA & Allison Loconto, INRAe 
  • Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure Project-Bangladesh, Freddie Harvey Williams, IFAD 
  • Challenges for the future and collective solutions for Zambia’s food system, William Chilufya, Hivos 
  • MASLAGO: A sustainable landscape management approach to save the lake that feeds Nicaragua’s cities: Nataly Pinto Alvaro, Rikolto Latin America
27/11Towards a holistic assessment of food systems policies 
  • Thanawat Tiensin, CFS Chair and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to FAO, IFAD & WFP  
  • Marion Jansen, Director, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD 
  • Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO 
  • Bard Vegar Solhjell, Director General, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation 
  • Mark Radka, Deputy Director, Economy Division, UN Environment 
  • Alvin Dizon, Councilor, Cebu City, Philippines
27/11 Investing in food systems transformation 
  • Moderator  Rex Raimond, Transformational Investing in Food Systems – TIFS Initiative Facilitator 
  • Matheus Zanella, Global Alliance for the Future of Food Roundtable 
  • GV Krishnagopal, Access Livelihoods Group 
  • Ingrid Prem, German Agency for International Cooperation 
  • Daniel Moss, AgroEcology Fund 
  • Kisa Mfalila, IFAD
  • Lucy Acton, HSBC UK 
  • Dale Lewis, COMACO (tbc)
30/11 Addressing food systems through consumers – promoting awareness and behavioral change 
  • Chair Ulf Jaeckel, BMU, Germany 
  • Daniela Acuña, Ministry of Agriculture, Chile 
  • Ply Pirom, WWF Thailand 
  • Andre Nel, Pick n Pay 
  • Daniel Vennard, World Resources Institute 
30/11 Leveraging public procurement to accelerate SDG implementation 
  • Chair Stineke Oenema, UNSCN Coordinator 
  • Erika Bozzay , OECDIntroduction to the potential and requirements of public food procurement to function as a key food system transformation tool, 
  • Florence Tartanac, FAO 
  • Anne-Marie Saulnier, ECPAR 
  • Peter Defranceschi, ICLEI 
  • Doris Yawa Gab, Ghana
02/12 Our commitment for a sustainable food future 
Report from previous sessions 
Chair Christian Hofer, Director-General, Federal Office for Agriculture, Switzerland 

The role of food systems in achieving the 2030 Agenda: with the Chairs of the Food Systems Summit Action Tracks: 
  1. Lawrence Haddad, GAIN 
  2. Ajay Vir Jakhar, Bharat Krishak Samaj 
  3. Joao Campari, WWF 
  4. Michelle Nunn, CARE USA 
  5. Saleemul Huq, ICCCD

VIRTUAL EVENT: promising investments in farmers’ human capital.

24 - 25 November 2020
. “Strategies to invest in human capital in agriculture” to generate evidence about promising investments in farmers’ human capital. (FAO), (IFPRI), and the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) presented this one year global study

Through a consultative process, existing human capital initiatives were identified and reviewed, and a typology was developed. In collaboration with a technical advisory group of international specialists, nine agriculture human capital development projects were selected as cases for in-depth analysis. The cases were chosen based on selection criteria co-developed with the technical advisory group, while simultaneously securing diversity regarding geography and the type of human capital investment. The selected cases are:
  1. Investing in vocational training and apprenticeships for youth: Support Program for the Renovation and Development of Professional Training in the Agricultural, Livestock, and Fisheries Sectors-Phase for Consolidation and Perpetuation (PCP-AFOP) in Cameroon
  2. Investing in public-private farmer training: Productive Alliances Program in Chile
  3. Investing in women livestock farmers with community livestock service providers: Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Project (JOHAR) in India
  4. Investing in lead farmers and farmer groups with public-private-producer partnerships: Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Development Program Scaling-up Initiative (READSI) in Indonesia
  5. Investing in market-oriented horticultural producers: Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) in Kenya
  6. Investing in low-income rural farming households with community-based promoters and programs: Haku Wiñay/Noa Jayatai program in Peru
  7. Institutionalizing farmer field school investment: Twigire Muhinzi National Extension System in Rwanda
  8. Interagency collaboration in Mississippi contributes to successful agriculture human capital development: State University Extension Service in the United States
  9. Investing in farmers through professional organizations: Agribusinesses in West Africa
Day 1: included three simultaneous parallel sessions to better understand the case studies under three different themes:
  1. Theme 1: women, youth, & marginalised groups (Cameroon, India, and Peru) Johanna Gammelgaard (IFPRI)
    In Cameroon youth develop the skills needed for their self-designed livelihood projects through on-the-job training mixed with classroom learning;
    In India where women are certified as service providers and advise and train their community in improved livestock farming with their newfound expertise;
    In Peru low-income, indigenous communities select and hire their own promoters to help develop productive and entrepreneurial skills within small-scale agriculture.
  2. Theme 2: private-sector engagement 
    In Chile alliances between small-scale producers and buyers involve specialised advice from the latter to the former that in turn helps both meet new market requirements;
    In Indonesia chocolate companies play a role in training extension workers, “cocoa doctors”, master trainers, and village facilitators who support good agricultural practices and motivate farmers and farmer groups;
    In the Agribusiness Leadership Programme in West Africa interactive needs assessments and tailored training of cooperative leaders help develop capacity of cooperatives that in turn promotes the development of skills among their member farmers, leading to improved market access for farmers and improved supply for buyers.
  3. Theme 3: systems integration, institutionalisation and scaling
    In Kenya, training groups via promoting “farming as a business”, empower and motivate farmers through systematic and motivational trainings;
    In Rwanda’s national extension system is organising farmers in groups supervised by farmer promoters. Farmers have access to basic extension messages and imparted with in-depth knowledge by offering an experimental learning experience in the Farmer field school plots in each village; and
    In Mississippi State in the United States of America there is a model of interagency collaboration where the formal education system, non-formal education, state government agencies, and advocacy groups together help farmers learn useful skills.
Day 2:
  • Study synthesis report and major highlights Kristin Davis and Johanna Gammelgaard (IFPRI) 
  • Economic measurement of agriculture human capital report highlights Paul McNamara (University of Illinois AgReach) 
  • Recommendations for agriculture human capital investment John Preissing (FAO Investment Centre)
Watch the previous webinar (May 27, 2020) on the study: Investing in Farmers. Agriculture Human Capital Investment Study

VIRTUAL EVENT: FIT4FOOD2030 final conference

24 - 25 November 2020. FIT4FOOD2030 final conference - Implementing FOOD 2030 to future proof Europe's food systems through Research and Innovation.

The conference intended to broaden the understanding and importance of food system transformation and help different stakeholders engage to accomplish the transformation.

In this two-day virtual conference, the systems approach to food system transformation was discussed and practical tools and solutions developed by FIT4FOOD2030 to support responsible research and innovation in food system transformation, to have an impact on the challenges the food systems currently face within the local, national or European context. The FIT4FOOD2030 Final Conference was divided into two thematic streams. 
  1. First stream “Understanding food system transformation” focuses on describing food system transformation by describing trends, showcases, and breakthroughs that are affecting the food system and its transformation. It is primarily intended for researchers within food system.
  2. Second stream “Engaging stakeholders for food system transformation” emphasizes hands on information, learnings, and tools on how to best engage with stakeholders at EU, national and city level to drive food system transformation and food policy coordination. It is primarily intended for EU and national policy makers as well as local actors.

FIT4FOOD2030: Prof. Jacqueline Broerse about the project's context and outcomes


FIT4FOOD2030: Prof. Maggie Gill about the EU Think Tank and policy briefs

       

Extract: 
24/11. Second stream “Engaging stakeholders for food system transformation”: Connecting local and national ideas on R&I to European and international organisations 
  • Prof. Maggie Gill University of Aberdeen, chair of the FIT4FOOD2030 EU Think Tank 
  • Gerda Verburg, UN's Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition {SUN) Movement 
  • Mirjana Gurinovic, Scientific Research Advisor, FAO Nutrition consultant, research team leader at the CENM, University of Belgrade 
  • Prof. Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy, City, University of London 

25/11. Keynote Presentation 
  • Afton Halloran - Independent Consultant, Sustainable Food Systems Transition - Bridge builders, knowledge brokers and cross-pollinators: why transdisciplinarity matters in the transition to healthy, fair and sustainable food systems 

WEBINAR: Regional E-Launch: Decade of Family Farming - Near East and North Africa Region

24 November 2020
. The United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019 - 2028. Regional E-Launch in the Near East and North Africa Region

The UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) Global Action Plan developed by FAO and IFAD recommends a series of interconnected actions from the local to the global level. In the NENA region, FAO is regionalizing the UNDFF Action Plan with its extensive experience of supporting small-scale family agriculture and its implementation of the FAO Regional Initiative on Small-Scale Family Farming (RI-SSFF).
The event brought together all relevant stakeholders (including: ministries, farmers’ organizations, civil society, research institutions, regional bodies, and relevant international organizations among others) for the development and support of family farming in the region.
  1. Familiarize key relevant stakeholders with the objectives of the UNDFF and the Global Action Plan (GAP), taking into consideration the COVID-19 and its impact as an emerging challenge.
  2. Provide a platform for stakeholders and partners to exchange on priorities to implement the UNDFF in NENA at the regional and country levels in the period up to 2028.
  3. Gather perspectives on the draft Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the UNDFF in the NENA Region that will support the finalization of the UNDFF RAP for dissemination and implementation by FAO, IFAD, WRF, key partners and relevant stakeholders.
For more information, please check the concept note and the tentative agenda from HERE.
Please find a draft for the UNDFF Regional Action Plan HERE & the Background Document HERE.

Introduction:
  • Serge Nakouzi, Deputy Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa & Officer-in-Charge of the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO RNE)

Panel Discussion 1 (UNDFF Stakeholders)
  • Moderated by: Eric Rwabidadi, Country Director Somalia Portfolio – IFAD
  • Fatma Ben Rejeb, Chief Executive Officer – PanAfrican Farmers Organization (PAFO)
  • Kate Newton, Deputy Regional Director - WFP, Regional Bureau for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
  • Sylvie Fontaine, Program Manager "Environment, Water and Agriculture", for Regional projects in Neighbourhood South Region – EC DG NEAR.
  • Hubertus Gay, Senior Agricultural Policy Analyst – Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Panel Discussion 2 (Farmer Organizations and Country Representatives) - Implementation at regional and national levels?
  • Moderated by: Ibrahim El-Dukheri, Director General - Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD)
  • Ines Ben Saad Nagara, President – Forum of African Farmers Women, & Assistant of the President – The Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP).
  • Heidi Sadek, Road for Development – Egypt
  • Ahmed Sourani, General Coordinator – Gaza Urban Agriculture Platform (GUPAP), Palestine
  • Dr. Mahmood Bin Saif Al Mahrooqi, Vice President – Omani Agricultural Association