UNFSS+4 (5) Side events 29/07

27–29 July 2025. Addis Ababa. 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4)

Extracts of the side events 

29/07 Accelerating Food Systems Transformation: Why and How

07:45-09:00 | Room: CR-3 CONCEPT NOTE

The Food Systems Transformation Accelerator aims to (a) help countries turn priorities into investible, private sector–leveraged actions, (b) align business strategies with FST goals, and (c) work with development finance institutions (DFIs) to fund these actions.

Panel 2: Development finance and operational partnerships – catalyzing action

Moderator: Andreas Schaumayer, Head of Division for Food Security and Fisheries, BMZ

Panelists:

• Federica Diamanti, Associate Vice President for External Relationships, IFAD
• Takashi Yamano, Principal Economist, Asian Development Bank
• Nicole Metz, Senior Knowledge Broker, Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP)
• Stephanie Sargeant, Youth Advocate, Act4Food

29/07 The Role of Public-Private Partnerships

13:00-14:15 | Room: CR-4 THE AGENDA

Backed by the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Crop Trust, UNCCD, and more than 50 partners worldwide, the Flagship Initiative champions sustainable food systems, community empowerment and long-term resilience.

• Keynote: H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations 
• Presentation state of play: Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary General Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security 
• Moderator: H.E. Dr. Nasser Alkathani, Executive Director of AGFUND, Co-Chair and Founding Member of the Global Flagship
• H.E. Dr. Rola Dashti, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
• H.E. Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs at MEWA, Saudi Arabia
• H.E. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, Former President of BADEA, President-elect of the AfDB; Founding Member of the Global Flagship
• H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

The  Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security is a global coalition of development partners is leading this initiative to address food insecurity, poverty and land degradation, with focus on the Sahel and IGAD (Horn of Africa) regions. Backed by the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Crop Trust, UNCCD, and more than 30 partners worldwide, the Flagship Initiative champions sustainable food systems, community empowerment and long-term resilience.

Upcoming engagements:

• 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27-29 July
• Africa Food Systems Forum – Dakar, Senegal, 1-5 September
• Science Summit at UN General Assembly – New York, USA, 22-25 September
• World Food Day – Rome, Italy, 15-17 October

29/07 Public-Private Collaboration for Seed System Transformation

13:00-14:15 | Room: CR-5 CONCEPT NOTE

The session spotlighted approaches on a country (Netherlands, Ethiopia) and global (Seeds for Food Coalition, Seed Equal) level that enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of seeds. 

• 
  Prof. Nigussie Dechassa Director General, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
  
• Ms. Wampie Libon Director Inclusive Green Growth, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands
• Mr. Elijah Mwashayenyi Head Africa, EastWest Seed - Knowledge Transfer
• Mr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim Cluster Leader Institutional Capacity & Future Scenarios, FARA
• 
  Ms. Dina Kebede (see picture) Youth Leader Ethiopia, World Food Forum - FAO
  
• Mr. Adrian Cano Guerrero EU delegation to Ethiopia
• Ms. Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière International Seeds Federation & Seeds for Food Coalition

Respondent: Nico Wilms-Posen Crop Trust, Project Coordinator - Power of Diversity Funding Facility

28/07. Crop Trust co-hosted a reception with the Irish Embassy to Ethiopia to celebrate Opportunity Crops and their potential to contribute to climate resilient and healthy diets.  Dr. Agnes Kalibata and Ambassador Olivia Leslie championed the work of Crop Trust and the Power Of Diversity Funding Facility.

Crop Trust has launched (19/03/2025) the 

Power of Diversity Funding Facility (PDFF). This
transformative multi-donor funded initiative will promote the use of so-called opportunity crops across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Initially, the PDFF will focus on 14 high-potential opportunity crops in seven countries,: Colombia, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Additional funding can extend the project’s reach to more countries, driving a shift towards resilient and sustainable agrifood systems worldwide.

Dina Kassa Kebede is revitalizing a forgotten plant for sustainable nutrition. 

Dina Kassa Kebede crouches on her grandfather’s farm in Ethiopia, gently picking leaves from the samma plant, careful of their nettled edges prickling through her gloves. To most, samma is little more than a wild shrub, a relic of rural kitchens. But to Dina, it holds untapped potential – a chance to merge indigenous knowledge with modern science to help tackle global health and environmental issues.