Declining bee populations pose threat to global food security and nutrition

The global decline in bee populations poses a serious threat to a wide variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods, and countries should do more to safeguard our key allies in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, FAO stressed today as it marked UN World Bee Day.
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Urban Food Systems for Better Diets, Nutrition, and Health

Friday, 17 May 2019 
12:15 pm to 1:45 pm (EDT)
IFPRI, Washington, D.C. 20005

The explosive growth of cities all over the world has led to major shifts in diets, with serious consequences for the health and nutrition of the urban poor, especially in rapidly urbanizing low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

 To reverse this trend, we must take into account the realities of urban life and understand what role urban food systems and environments play in shaping food choices. For example, what are the urban poor eating, and where do they source their food—from informal markets, supermarkets, or urban gardens? And how do gender, household structure, time constraints, and personal preferences, among other things, shape these patterns? Designing effective urban food systems policies for healthier diets and optimal nutrition among the urban poor requires answers to these and many other questions. Building this evidence base—in addition to documenting, evaluating, and learning from current and past initiatives and policies—will enrich the dialogue and enhance our efforts to improve the well-being of poor urban dwellers.

 IFPRI speakers will be presenting the Institute’s new research program, Urban Food Systems for Better Diets, Nutrition, and Health. Invited guests will share experiences and provide examples of ongoing initiatives, policies, and partnerships that are successfully tackling issues of urban diets, nutrition, and health among the urban poor.

Unable to attend in person? Click here to watch online.

Register here.

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Healthy diets vital for progress in Lao PDR, say UN food agencies

The heads of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) today concluded a joint visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with a call for greater investment in nutrition.
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Save Our Soils: Finding ways to stop erosion

“The negative impacts of soil erosion are ever more evident and the need to work jointly ever more urgent,” FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, Maria Helena Semedo, said while opening a three-day symposium focusing how to measure soil erosion and its economic costs.
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Strengthened global partnerships needed to end hunger and malnutrition

Eradicating hunger and malnutrition and achieving sustainable development requires strengthened global partnerships and sustainable investments to drive economic growth, FAO Deputy Director-General for Programmes, Daniel Gustafson, said today.
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FAO raises alarm over disastrous drought in Somalia where over 2 million people face severe hunger

A disastrous drought in Somalia could leave some 2.2 million people - nearly 18 percent of the population - faced with severe hunger during the July-September period, FAO warned today.
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UNSCN Formal Report to ECOSOC – 2019

In April 2017, UNSCN's annual reporting lines to ECOSOC were re-established. In 2019, UNSCN submitted a report to ECOSOC that will be presented at the ECOSOC 2019 Management Segment in June 2019.

The report is available in all UN languages.

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FAO and the Republic of Korea to bolster Zero Hunger efforts in Asia-Pacific

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) have joined forces to bolster Zero Hunger efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, and strengthen their collaboration in South Korea where the UN agency opened today its first office.
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Reducing disaster risks in agriculture is a win-win for small-scale farmers

Poor farmers can obtain significant economic gains and other benefits by implementing modified farming practices aimed at boosting their ability to cope with disasters and natural shocks, according to a new FAO study released today.
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Nutrition News – Issue 2, 2019

In an effort to present nutrition related news at the global and country level, UNSCN and the UNN Secretariats are teaming up to produce the first comprehensive overview of recent developments supported and/or coordinated by the UN system.

The second issue for 2019 includes:

  • Enhancing food systems dialogues in Central Asia and Caucasus
  • How close is Sierra Leone to implementing nutrition action at scale?
  • Climate and nutrition communities unite
  • New national nutrition strategy and plan: the keys to a healthy and productive Basotho Nation
  • IFAD demonstrates progress on Nutrition Decade
  • New era of SUN Movement is brewing in Peru
  • Publications and a calendar of nutrition related events

You can access you copy here. 

 

Photo credit: @FAO/Sergey Kozmin

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FAO chief warns of the ‘globalization of obesity’, urges G20 to ensure healthy diets through regulation

To address the interconnected problems of hunger, obesity, and climate change, the international community needs to introduce regulations and standards that transform food systems so that they provide, in sustainable ways, healthy and nutritious food for everyone, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at the G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting today.
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Liaison Officer – UN Network Secretariat

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.

Duration: 6 months, renewable 

Deadline for application: 18 May 2019

Interested parties are invited to send a copy of their CV to the Director and Global Coordinator, Purnima Kashyap (purnima.kashyap@wfp.org) and to Holly D. Sedutto (hollydente.sedutto@wfp.org) by 18th May.

Terms of Reference (ToR) Liaison Officer

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