Entries by UNSCN Secretariat

Call for Inputs on the use and application of the CFS- Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises (CFS-FFA)

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has launched a survey to collect experiences and good practices in the use and application of the CFS Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises (CFS-FFA). This survey complements an earlier call for inputs issued in March 2019 and will contribute to monitoring progress on the use and application of the CFS-FFA, both from a qualitative and quantitative perspective.

The survey is available in English, French and Spanish and you are welcome to provide your answers in any of the six UN languages. Deadline is the 31 March 2020.

For additional information, please contact CFS@fao.org

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Global Atlas on Childhood Obesity

The first global atlas on childhood obesity by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) shows that no country has a better than fifty percent chance of meeting their target for tackling childhood obesity. 

After agreeing at the World Health Assembly in 2013 that countries should ensure their levels of childhood obesity are no higher in 2025 than they were in 2010-2012, the latest analyses of trends in 196 countries found that 8 out of 10 countries (156) countries have less than a ten percent chance of meeting their target.

The atlas presents data for every country based on their current and predicted levels of obesity in children, the risk factors and the presence of government policies to tackle obesity, such as restricting marketing of foods to children, encouragement of physical activity and nation guidelines for healthy diets. Based on these factors the Atlas gives each countries a score for their childhood obesity risk.

 

Global Atlas on Childhood Obesity

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Call for Contributions: UNSCN Nutrition 45 – Nutrition in a Digital World

Open until 30 January 2020

SUBMIT HERE

UNSCN Nutrition is the peer-reviewed journal published by the UNSCN. The 45th edition, published in 2020 will focus on the theme ‘Nutrition in a Digital World’.

The Internet and other digital technologies have dramatically changed the world as we knew it just ten years ago. Information and data are being produced, shared, and consumed at prodigious rates, and people are connected in previously unthinkable ways. Digital economies are rapidly replacing traditional modes of production and exchange. Nutrition is no exception, with the proliferation of “food techs”, “agri techs”, “edu techs”, “fin techs” and even “gov techs” covering a broad spectrum of agriculture-, food systems- and nutrition-related activities. The potential benefits may be vast, and so may be the dangers. We are only now starting to grasp the scale of change this new digital world is bringing.

The benefit-risk duality can be exemplified with digital influence in food consumption. On one hand, educational games and web- or media-based digital nutrition education tools have shown potential to improve nutrition literacy and encourage healthier eating practices. On the other, digital marketing is shaping a digital food environment that promotes overconsumption of foods high in salt, sugar, unhealthy fats and additives, which is very challenging to address.

The reach and impacts of the digital world in nutrition, however, go far beyond demand side and food consumption issues. Digital processes and technologies are reshaping almost every industry and human activity, and the implications of such changes for health and nutrition are not yet sufficiently investigated, let alone understood. Increasing digital competence, overcoming the digital divide generated by inequalities, as well as the impacts of automation on the job market, have become major development challenges. The digital world potentially affects not only underlying and immediate causes of malnutrition in all its forms, but also its root causes, and our ability to address them.

The UNSCN Nutrition 45 aims at better documenting and sharing experiences, enhancing knowledge and promoting the debate on potential positive and adverse impacts of innovative digital technologies in people’s nutrition. It is also expected that it will contribute to the ongoing debate on establishing an international Digital Council for Food and Agriculture that will advise governments and other relevant actors, drive the exchange of ideas and experiences, foster innovation and help harness the opportunities presented by digitalization.

There is an intrinsic complexity in the digital world given its fluidity and speed of change that makes it difficult to grasp in its full extension and potential. This Call for Contributions welcomes conceptual thinking and academically rigorous examples of how the digital world is affecting people’s nutrition along, but not limited to, the following perspectives: 

  • What are examples of use of digital technologies that are changing nutrition action and food systems for more sustainability and improved nutrition?
  • What are some specific examples on how digital technologies are changing food environments for the good or for the bad? How can the potential of digital technologies be leveraged to improve food environments?
  • What has been the impact of digital technologies on food literacy and consumption practices? What examples are there of digital literacy and training on food and nutrition issues?
  • How do digital technologies influence the quality and accuracy of available nutrition information? How can we best communicate nutrition in the post-truth age where there is an overload of information from multiple and varied sources?
  • How is digital technology changing our relationship with food and affecting food cultures and traditions around the world?
  • How are digital technologies affecting food production, biodiversity, food transformation and food distribution?
  • How does digital technologies impact inequalities? Are they deepening the divide? Or, are they expanding access to information, goods and services?
  • What is the potential of digital technologies in addressing the root causes of malnutrition in all its forms?
  • Are digital technologies facilitating the design and implementation of nutrition-related activities within new development paradigms, such as shared and participatory economies?
  • Are digital technologies influencing financial investments in nutrition? What are the modalities?
  • What does innovation in nutrition look like, especially in low- and middle-income countries?

Contributions can be submitted on the following categories:*
 
Feature articles: 3,000 word articles related to the general topic of the publication. The articles will be submitted to peer review and can include conceptual contributions, original research or practical examples.
   
Speaker's Corner: 1,500 word articles with the authors’ views regarding the perspectives listed above. The section sometimes features a counterpoint by another author holding an opposite opinion to stimulate debate.
 
Publications: 200 word notes on recent publications of relevance to global nutrition, including manuals, tools and guidelines that are usually not found in regular bookstores. We welcome publications related to the overall topic of this issue of UNSCN Nutrition but not limited to it.
 
*Please note that at the Secretariat’s discretion, contributions that promote commercial digital products will be considered unsuitable for publication in this issue.
 
On-line submission:
 
Please submit your contributions by using the UNSCN Publications and Events Manager here. If you encounter difficulties in using the system, please inform the UNSCN Secretariat by sending an email to SCN@fao.org with the title “Publications and Events Manager malfunction”. You will then be assisted in using the system.
 
 
For editorial information, please refer to the UNSCN Nutrition Guidelines for Contributors available here.

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Call for Contributions: UNSCN Nutrition 45 – Nutrition in a Digital World

Open until 30 January 2020

SUBMIT HERE

UNSCN Nutrition is the peer-reviewed journal published by the UNSCN. The 45th edition, published in 2020 will focus on the theme ‘Nutrition in a Digital World’.

The Internet and other digital technologies have dramatically changed the world as we knew it just ten years ago. Information and data are being produced, shared, and consumed at prodigious rates, and people are connected in previously unthinkable ways. Digital economies are rapidly replacing traditional modes of production and exchange. Nutrition is no exception, with the proliferation of “food techs”, “agri techs”, “edu techs”, “fin techs” and even “gov techs” covering a broad spectrum of agriculture-, food systems- and nutrition-related activities. The potential benefits may be vast, and so may be the dangers. We are only now starting to grasp the scale of change this new digital world is bringing.

The benefit-risk duality can be exemplified with digital influence in food consumption. On one hand, educational games and web- or media-based digital nutrition education tools have shown potential to improve nutrition literacy and encourage healthier eating practices. On the other, digital marketing is shaping a digital food environment that promotes overconsumption of foods high in salt, sugar, unhealthy fats and additives, which is very challenging to address.

The reach and impacts of the digital world in nutrition, however, go far beyond demand side and food consumption issues. Digital processes and technologies are reshaping almost every industry and human activity, and the implications of such changes for health and nutrition are not yet sufficiently investigated, let alone understood. Increasing digital competence, overcoming the digital divide generated by inequalities, as well as the impacts of automation on the job market, have become major development challenges. The digital world potentially affects not only underlying and immediate causes of malnutrition in all its forms, but also its root causes, and our ability to address them.

The UNSCN Nutrition 45 aims at better documenting and sharing experiences, enhancing knowledge and promoting the debate on potential positive and adverse impacts of innovative digital technologies in people’s nutrition. It is also expected that it will contribute to the ongoing debate on establishing an international Digital Council for Food and Agriculture that will advise governments and other relevant actors, drive the exchange of ideas and experiences, foster innovation and help harness the opportunities presented by digitalization.

There is an intrinsic complexity in the digital world given its fluidity and speed of change that makes it difficult to grasp in its full extension and potential. This Call for Contributions welcomes conceptual thinking and academically rigorous examples of how the digital world is affecting people’s nutrition along, but not limited to, the following perspectives: 

  • What are examples of use of digital technologies that are changing nutrition action and food systems for more sustainability and improved nutrition?
  • What are some specific examples on how digital technologies are changing food environments for the good or for the bad? How can the potential of digital technologies be leveraged to improve food environments?
  • What has been the impact of digital technologies on food literacy and consumption practices? What examples are there of digital literacy and training on food and nutrition issues?
  • How do digital technologies influence the quality and accuracy of available nutrition information? How can we best communicate nutrition in the post-truth age where there is an overload of information from multiple and varied sources?
  • How is digital technology changing our relationship with food and affecting food cultures and traditions around the world?
  • How are digital technologies affecting food production, biodiversity, food transformation and food distribution?
  • How does digital technologies impact inequalities? Are they deepening the divide? Or, are they expanding access to information, goods and services?
  • What is the potential of digital technologies in addressing the root causes of malnutrition in all its forms?
  • Are digital technologies facilitating the design and implementation of nutrition-related activities within new development paradigms, such as shared and participatory economies?
  • Are digital technologies influencing financial investments in nutrition? What are the modalities?
  • What does innovation in nutrition look like, especially in low- and middle-income countries?

Contributions can be submitted on the following categories:*
 
Feature articles: 3,000 word articles related to the general topic of the publication. The articles will be submitted to peer review and can include conceptual contributions, original research or practical examples.
   
Speaker's Corner: 1,500 word articles with the authors’ views regarding the perspectives listed above. The section sometimes features a counterpoint by another author holding an opposite opinion to stimulate debate.
 
Publications: 200 word notes on recent publications of relevance to global nutrition, including manuals, tools and guidelines that are usually not found in regular bookstores. We welcome publications related to the overall topic of this issue of UNSCN Nutrition but not limited to it.
 
*Please note that at the Secretariat’s discretion, contributions that promote commercial digital products will be considered unsuitable for publication in this issue.
 
On-line submission:
 
Please submit your contributions by using the UNSCN Publications and Events Manager here. If you encounter difficulties in using the system, please inform the UNSCN Secretariat by sending an email to SCN@fao.org with the title “Publications and Events Manager malfunction”. You will then be assisted in using the system.
 
 
For editorial information, please refer to the UNSCN Nutrition Guidelines for Contributors available here.

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SUN Global Gathering 2019

4-7 November 2019
Kathmandu (Nepal)

The SUN Global Gathering brings together all SUN Government Focal Points and representatives of their partners from civil society, donor, United Nations agencies, private sector partners, academia, media, parliamentarians and others. It is the flagship event of the SUN Movement and an important moment where members take stock of progress and challenges, share their innovations and learn what is helping to reduce malnutrition across all SUN Countries. It is a moment for every actor to be energised and encouraged through sharing, learning and finding ways to take their fight against malnutrition to the next level.

As in previous years, the SUN Global Gathering will be divided into several sections including plenary sessions, workshops, and a marketplace designed to showcase country experiences in scaling up nutrition. This year, we are also planning plenty of space (and support) where participants will have the opportunity to share their unique experiences and perspectives.

More information available here.

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4th Eurasian Food Security Conference

29-31 October 2019
Yerevan, Armenia

The purpose of the conference is to provide an international collaborative platform by bringing together experts from regional and international organizations, scientific and educational institutions, and various governments to address regional food security concerns.

The first two days of the conference will include keynote presentations, panel discussions, poster presentations, and a cultural program. The conference will cover a wide range of issues related to food security: digital agriculture, climate change, natural resource management for food security, among other topics. In addition, participants from different Eurasian countries will share their experience in addressing food and nutrition security challenges and discuss new policy approaches to promote high-value agriculture and policies regarding the use of sustainable agriculture practices.

The field trip program on the third day of the conference will provide an opportunity to explore best practices in food and nutrition security and at the same time enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Armenia. Conference participants will be able to join one of the four field trips offered. They will get a chance to visit a technological fresh mushrooms production, a family-owned wine and brandy factory in the Ararat Valley, as well as one of the leading producers of brandy in Armenia based in Yerevan. Field trip options include a visit to Green Lane Training Center where conference participants will learn about educational and research opportunities at this unique organic farm, and will have an opportunity to have lunch of local products. A field trip is also planned to a new farm and veterinary service center in Kotayk province set up by the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD).

More information available here.

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Global Hunger Index 2019: the challenge of hunger and climate change

The 2019 Global Hunger Index (GHI) shows that while the world has made gradual progress in reducing hunger on a global scale since 2000, this progress has been uneven. Hunger persists in many countries, and in some instances progress is even being reversed. The GHI highlights where more action is most needed.

This year’s GHI highlights the inextricable link between hunger and climate change and the shared urgency of solving two of the world’s greatest challenges. As climate breakdown accelerates, it is clear that all sections of society—nations, donors, businesses, NGOs, and communities—will have to put their shoulders to the wheel to arrest this environmental devastation and ensure we set a course for genuine global sustainability, universal food security, and Zero Hunger.

GHI2019’s report includes a closer look at hunger and undernutrition in Haiti and Niger, with an examination of the main factors contributing to hunger and the policy environment in which those factors operate. Both countries face serious hunger and are already being severely impacted by climate change. Although the two countries are implementing a range of programs and policies to improve people’s food security and nutrition, they require additional efforts and support if they are to achieve a sustained positive impact.

Global Hunger Index 2019 

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Nutrition for Growth commitment tracking

The Global Nutrition Report commitment tracking tool provides you with the latest data on commitments to end malnutrition made by country governments, civil society, business, the UN, donors and other organizations at Nutrition for Growth summits.

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Sustainable healthy diets – Guiding principles

In 2014, the FAO/WHO Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) acknowledged that: “current food systems are being increasingly challenged to provide adequate, safe, diversified and nutrient rich food for all that contribute to healthy diets due to, inter alia, constraints posed by resource scarcity and environmental degradation, as well as by unsustainable production and consumption patterns”. To address these challenges, the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016 – 2025 puts a specific focus on the transformation of food systems to promote healthy diets that are sustainably produced and improve nutrition to achieve the global nutrition and diet-related NCD targets in line with commitments of ICN2 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Considering the detrimental environmental impact of current food systems, and the concerns raised about their sustainability, there is an urgent need to promote diets that are healthy and have low environmental impacts. These diets also need to be socio-culturally acceptable and economically accessible for all.

Acknowledging the existence of diverging views on the concepts of sustainable diets and healthy diets, countries have requested guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on what constitutes sustainable healthy diets. The two organisations jointly held an international expert consultation on Sustainable and Healthy Diets from 1 to 3 July 2019 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, to address these issues. The Consultation agreed on guiding principles for what constitutes “Sustainable Healthy Diets”. This comes at a time when the debate around the sustainability of diets is high on the agenda of governments, international organisations, civil society organisations, the private sector and academia.

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Accelerated Reduction Effort on Anaemia Webinar

16 October, from 16:00 to 17:00 CEST ( 10:00-11:00 EDT)

This Wednesday the Accelerated Reduction Effort on Anaemia (AREA) Community of Practice (CoP) is hosting the webinar: Universal Health Coverage: What it means for anaemia reduction programmes.

The webinar will explore this topic through a discussion with Dr Ellen Piwoz, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Dr Rebecca A. Heidkamp, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

More information can be found at the WHO Nutrition website here

Registration can be found here

Universal Health Coverage: what it means for anaemia reduction programmes

Last month, world leaders adopted a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It is the most comprehensive set of health commitments ever adopted at this level.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all people can use the health care they need without the risk of financial hardship and with the right quality to be effective, from preventive to palliative services.

What does this mean for anaemia, and is UHC attainable in anaemia reduction programmes?

This webinar will explore this topic through a discussion with Dr Ellen Piwoz, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Dr. Rebecca A. Heidkamp, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

We need to be well-equipped to join the UHC conversation at the national and global levels to advocate for anaemia reduction programmes.

You can also register to become a member of the AREA CoP, by clicking on the following link:

The Community of Practice (CoP) aims to support members of the global community dedicated to improving and scaling up existing methods and strategies for anaemia reduction in a holistic and cohesive manner; to build consensus for engagement in AREA at the global, regional and national level and commit to the achievement of the Global Nutrition Targets 2025 endorsed by the 65th World Health Assembly.

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#WorldFoodDay

16 October 2019

Celebrated annually on 16 October, #WorldFoodDay promotes awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and highlights the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. Events will be organised in up to 150 countries, bringing together businesses, NGOs, journalists, media agencies, cities and civic society organizations.

2019’s campaign, Our actions are our future, Healthy diets for a #ZeroHunger world, calls for cross-sector activity to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and available to everyone. At the same time, it reminds us all to start thinking about what we eat.

This year’s focus reflects the reality that healthy diets are fast becoming one of the leading priorities in achieving Zero Hunger by 2030.  Today, while over 800 million people suffer from hunger, over 670 million adults and 120 million girls and boys (5-19 years) are obese, and over 40 million children under five are overweight.

A combination of unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles has sent obesity rates soaring, not only in developed countries, but also in low-income countries, where hunger and obesity often coexist.

With the big day on the horizon, now is the perfect opportunity to start thinking about ways to get involved and engage with WFD 2019. A good place to start is the WFD website, where you can learn more about this year’s theme and the activities planned so far.

One of the first things you can do is make a commitment to healthy diets and share it on social media, using the hashtags #WorldFoodDay and #ZeroHunger. Use the free materials on the WFD digital channels to inform, educate and engage audiences.

You could also bring WFD to your hometown or city, by encouraging municipalities, outdoor advertisers, transportation companies, shops or airports to display WFD advertisements. Why not help organize events to engage the public – marches, marathons, festivals, exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, public lectures and roundtable discussions – the options are endless. Put your thinking caps on and get creative!

To help you promote and publicise, various communication materials have been created and can be found on the WFD workspace. The range of resources on offer includes a poster, a brochure, an event banner, web/social media graphics and an activity book for kids. Colleagues in all offices are invited to share these among partners in an effort to increase the global impact of WFD.

The photo contest is also on! This year’s contest (running until 8 November), calls on children and teens aged 5-19, to use their imaginations to create posters that illustrate their idea of what needs to be done to make healthy diets accessible for everyone and how each of us can improve our diets.

The WFD poster contest is an important tool for engaging the young generation and inspiring them to become advocates for a Zero Hunger world. You can do your bit and promote it among schools, educational organizations and youth groups.

For lots more ideas on ways you can get involved and contribute to this global movement, check out the get started guide, available in English, French and Spanish.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s all make a commitment to healthy diets today and start getting ready for WFD 2019!

Contact world-food-day@fao.org for further information.

See the highlights of WFD 2019 events here.

Join the conversation #ZeroHunger and #WorldFoodDay

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