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Hi all,
I hope you are all well.
As schedules slow for the summer, we have a bit of time to reflect on the new SDG2 evidence and learnings. From insights on COVID-19 and child malnutrition to new 2030 projections on hunger, this newsletter details recent reports that can help to drive advocacy and investment on SDG2 in the coming months.
I also wanted to flag that, all going well, I will be working out of Melbourne, Australia from mid-August. The other staff members of the Secretariat team will remain in London.
Find below the SDG2 Advocacy Hub’s August newsletter. Send future contributions to Rosie by 25 August for possible inclusion.
Best,
Paul
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This virtual dialogue brought together thought leaders across agriculture, nutrition, food systems, government and civil society to identify immediate actions to tackle our food security and nutrition challenges, as outlined in SOFI 2020 and Ceres2030. This lively conversation touched on the risk of SME failures, country-owned action plans for nutritious systems, the inclusion of family farmers in discussions and decisions at all levels, and more. Find here a snapshot of the discussion.
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6.7 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition due to the pandemic, finds new Lancet analysis. Reviewing the impacts of the pandemic on child malnutrition, the analysis highlights that the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 threaten at least two decades of progress on tackling hunger and malnutrition. Without urgent action, the number of children wasted this year could rise to 54 million.
The UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) and the UN Network for Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) have merged to form a more integrated and streamlined body titled UN Nutrition. As an interagency coordination mechanism for nutrition at the global level, UN Nutrition will bring together UN agencies to accelerate progress for nutrition objectives and targets at all levels.
US$10 billion is urgently needed to prevent millions of people from becoming food insecure due to the pandemic, finds new costing analysis by Ceres2030 researchers. The report highlights that with the right policies and long-term investments in social protection schemes and to build resilient food systems, governments can not only avert the COVID-19 hunger crisis, but get SDG2 back on track.
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3 billion people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet, finds SOFI 2020. The annual report provides an important stocktake of hunger, nutrition and food security globally – especially as hunger continues to rise and COVID-19 wreaks havoc on our food systems. Additionally, it shares new analysis on the cost and affordability of a healthy diet.
Find here a white label toolkit.
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New brief by Oxfam explores how the pandemic is fuelling hunger around the world – both in known areas of food crises and emerging hotspots in poor and wealthy nations. The brief outlines a series of gov’t actions to save lives now and in the future: from emergency assistance to building fairer food systems to promoting women’s participation and leadership.
Malnutrition costs business in low and middle-income countries US$850 billion a year due to lost productivity of its employees, finds new Chatham House report.
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Policy Priorities
SDG2.3 & SDG2.4:
Priority: Prioritise the needs of farmers to develop sustainable and climate resilient farming practices that encourage production of nutritious and diverse foods through greater investment in the following holistic ways: Innovation: building resilience;
Delivery: empowering farmers; Data: Measuring Progress.
See the knowledge page with new case studies here.
SDG2.5:
Priority: Drive action and awareness on biodiversity loss through Food Forever campaign.
See the knowledge page with new case studies here.
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GAFSP announces $55m in fund allocation
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program’s (GAFSP) recently made additional funding available for COVID responses to GAFSP public sector and producer organization-led projects already under implementation. Over twenty funding requests are expected, which will likely substantially exceed the $55 million available for allocation. A new Call for Proposals will also be launched in late 2020 to further respond to COVID in IDA-only countries, but this will be subject to funding the Program with at least $300 million in new contributions this year.
Diets for a Better Future
New EAT report authored by Dr. Brent Loken highlights the leading role G20 countries can and must take to realise the exponential changes required for a healthy and sustainable world. The report investigates current food consumption patterns and the efficacy of national dietary guidelines in G20 countries compared to the Planetary Health Diet. It also explores the potential of healthy and sustainable diets for a more equitable distribution of the global “carbon budget” of food.
On 20 July, a number of Northern and Southern CSOs issued a joint call raising the alarm on the impact of COVID-19 on food security in low income countries, especially on smallholder farmers and their families. The Call also urged donors to commit funds to GAFSP in order to enable the Program to issue a new Call for Proposals in late 2020 dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers in their recovery efforts and to build sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.
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Calendar
On 3 August, the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition (GLOPAN) and the World Food Programme (WFP) will host an online launch of policy brief "Strengthening food systems in fragile contexts." Join here.
Good Food For All – A Conversation With Youth Leaders
Taking place on 11 August – the eve of International Youth Day – and hosted by the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, this webinar will feature a discussion between youth leaders and food systems experts on the role and vision of youth in transforming food systems and ensuring Good Food For All, building up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. Save the date!
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Looking ahead, the virtual AGRF Summit 2020 will take place on 8 - 11 September, under the theme “Feed the Cities, Grow the Continent – Leveraging Urban Food Markets to Achieve Sustainable Food Systems in Africa.” The theme is a call to action to rethink our food systems to deliver resilient, better nourished, and more prosperous outcomes for all. See here for further information and registration.
Save the date: GAFP's Replenishment Kick-Off Event
The kick-off event for GAFSP's replenishment period (2020-25) will take place virtually on 8 October. The exact time is yet to be confirmed, but likely to be between 1-4 pm CET. The event aims to raise awareness on the enduring global food security challenge and the related impacts that COVID-19 is having, particularly in low-income countries. GAFSP will share the agenda and a formal invitation shortly.
World Food Day
On 16 October we celebrate World Food Day! Please let us know of any local, national and global events to take place that the SDG2 Hub can help amplify.
Save the date: CFS High-Level Special Event on Food Security and Nutrition
The Committee on World Food Security will host a virtual event from 13 - 15 October in lieu of CFS47 Plenary (rescheduled for February 2021). The event will take stock of the global food security situation, reflect on the impacts of COVID-19 and discuss the draft Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and nutrition. There will be 12 side event slots – please submit applications by 14 August.
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