Date: 29 June 2021

Time: 10am to 12:00pm CET

For enquiries, please write to auda-nepadfoodsystems@nepad.org; at5.unfss@gmail.com

Introduction and Background:

AUDA-NEPAD is providing technical backstopping to National FSS Conveners in their work to organise and run National Food Systems Dialogues, leading up to the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021.

This involves ensuring the Dialogues interrogate in an inclusive and systems approach manner, both thematic priorities and issues of implementation. The support includes facilitating linkages and content
input from Independent Dialogues and Action Tracks on science and evidence-based articulation of national
perspectives, priorities and action pathways.

AUDA-NEPAD in liaison with Action Track 5 (AT5) on Resilient Food Systems is organising a Dialogue to enable national and regional CAADP (Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme) and Nutrition focal point persons to exchange on AT5’s emerging key issues of the AT5 objective of “Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses” in food systems. The interaction will expose the National and Regional CAADP and Nutrition focal point persons to Action Track 5, its Action Areas and Solution Clusters. Moreover, this dialogue will enable them to understand and explore ways to articulate the AT5 priorities with those emerging from National and regional Dialogues, as well as regional initiatives already ongoing within the AUDANEPAD framework.

This dialogue will focus on “Action Area 2 – Universal Food Access to Build Resilience” specifically “Enhancing Local Production for Local Consumption” and “National Food Supply Chains”. The revitalisation of the African agricultural sector for strengthened food systems depends on building resilience to multiple and compound shocks of all actors within food systems which is a core objective of the CAADP. Discussions will also explore the current health, natural, man-made and economic shocks that are challenges to food production on the Continent. In this regard, Action Area 3 - Climate Resilient Development Pathways covering climate adaptation, mitigation and risk management will be highlighted as an important AT5 area of focus.

Propositions that AT5 received from civil society, member states, UN agencies, farmers and youth have provided the basis for defining Action Area 2, its Solution Clusters and the other Action Areas. The Dialogue will provide the opportunity for participants to learn from the progresses achieved in AT5, ask questions, provide feedback and engage in the Action Area. Likewise, this dialogue will provide a good opportunity for the AT5 Core team to learn more about national and regional priorities related to resilience of food systems.

The final goal would be to inform coalition building around shared priorities (regional & global) where  governments and other stakeholders can join to foster collaboration, build partnerships for technical cooperation and mobilise finance in line with country/regional priorities. All stakeholders have a role to play to transform food and agriculture value chains, while ensuring that local farmers, women, youth and children benefit from this transformation for their livelihoods and sustainable access to a supply of safe and nutritious food.