Project: Strengthening capacities for nutrition-sensitive food systems through a multi-stakeholder approach

FAO

Project: Strengthening capacities for nutrition-sensitive food systems through a multi-stakeholder approach

Engaging with the private sector, civil society organizations and academia

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Eliminating malnutrition in all its forms is imperative to break intergenerational cycles of poverty. It is also crucial if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be met by 2030. To ensure that food systems are conducive to healthy diets and better nutrition, the knowledge base and capacities of key stakeholders must be strengthened. This applies particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector and students, who can act as agents of change. To this end, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is training representatives of SMEs and university students in Africa and Asia. The training is given through local universities and facilities of the private sector, with the Japanese private sector providing technical expertise. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Governments of Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam.

Language English

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Project

Strengthening Capacities for Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems in Ghana, Kenya and Viet Nam - GCP/GLO/712/JPN 2022

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Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that work in food production, processing and retail play a key role in agrifood systems, especially in sub Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where opportunities for commercialization are expanding. Indeed, agrifood SMEs can take advantage of these opportunities to compete and thrive in the market, while increasing local access to nutritionally dense foods and promoting healthy diets. This project was formulated to leverage the power of SMEs in three countries that have great potential for creating an enabling environment for developing nutrition sensitive food systems: Ghana, Kenya and Viet Nam. Through its multistakeholder approach, the project created synergies among the private sector, academia and civil society, which is critical to boosting in country capacities to support healthy diets.
Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
Linking agri-food SMEs to innovation for sustainable food systems: the role of multi-stakeholder approaches
Thursday 13 October 2022 | 09:30 – 11:00 (CEST)
2022

Also available in:

French

This series of technical webinars is organized to leverage the knowledge and expertise of a network of researchers, development practitioners and decision-makers. The webinars aim at strengthening knowledge sharing and stimulating debate around themes relevant to food systems transformation in the Mediterranean, peer exchange about recent research and study findings, as well as showcasing successful and inspiring actions to promote the operationalization of food systems approaches. This webinar, designed in the framework of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum, will bring together stakeholders from across the Mediterranean to present concrete experiences of university-business cooperation, successful cases of innovation adoption and transfer, innovative pathways of capacity development, provocative thoughts from investors and farmers. The webinar will highlight the needs and challenges that agrifood SMEs and farmers are experiencing in linking with innovation and investigate possible pathways and the added value of multi-stakeholder approach to promote the uptake of innovation. The event will also allow strengthening collaboration among the different partners and stakeholders shaping the agrifood ecosystem, that are essential to enable SMEs and farmers with solutions, tools and best practices. The webinar will aim to address a key question: how can multi-stakeholder approaches accelerate the transition of agrifood SMEs towards more sustainable business practices?
Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
Linking agrifood SMEs to innovation for sustainable food systems: the role of multi-stakeholder approaches
Webinar outcomes
2023

Also available in:

French

During this webinar, organized by the SFS-MED Platform and held on 13 October 2022, stakeholders from across the Mediterranean shared practical experiences of university-business cooperation, successful cases of innovation adoption and transfer, innovative pathways of capacity development, as well as provocative thoughts from investors and farmers. Panelists and speakers discussed about the needs and challenges that agrifood SMEs and farmers are experiencing in linking with innovation, and investigated possible pathways for transformation, leveraging the added value of multi-stakeholder approaches to promote the uptake of innovation. Moreover, the webinar allowed strengthening collaboration among the different partners and stakeholders shaping the agrifood ecosystem, that are essential to enable SMEs and farmers with solutions, tools and best practices. The discussion was instrumental in demonstrating that linking agrifood SMEs to innovation is key for a sustainable future of the Mediterranean food systems, where SMEs and small-scale producers are empowered as economic actors and agents of change for a blue, green and circular food system transition. There is a need for an interactive innovation ecosystem based on a multi-stakeholder collaboration process that is open and inclusive, where new technologies and organizational processes are co-designed by all food systems actors. To this effect, science diplomacy is a powerful tool to ensure that scientific knowledge is effectively shared and adequately translated to be used by non-scientific stakeholders, leveraging co-creation and win-win solutions through alliances that engage all shores of the Mediterranean on a level-playing field. Moreover, innovative capacity building and training programmes are instrumental in developing the human capital necessary to address skills mismatch between graduates and employment demand from the agri-business sector, enhancing the innovation chain through new professional profiles. Finally, sustainable finance and new financial mechanisms can be unlocked to enhance SME access to affordable innovation and technology. Business incubators and accelerators promote a change of mindset that can lead SMEs to embrace innovation by adopting new business models, matchmaking innovators and co-founders, and inspiring ideas.