Welcome and overview
Welcome to the food systems guide! This guide responds to the Secretary-General's Call to action for accelerated food systems transformation, and supports the commitment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) to a transitions approach for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) acceleration. The guide also responds to your request as United Nations resident coordinators for support in enhancing interagency coordination for food systems transformation. With food systems recognized as one of the key sectors central to SDG acceleration, this guide collects key insights and resources for RCs and United Nations country teams (UNCTs) to advance food systems transformation in their countries. It combines existing tools and practical knowledge to equip and support you and your UN country teams in adopting a systems approach as you support governments and engage with relevant actors, such as civil society, private sector, investors and others in the design, implementation and coordination of actions to transform food systems to deliver healthy diets for all.
About
the guide
This is a resource that equips you with essential knowledge and tools to support you in coordinating UN efforts towards food systems transformation. Its interactive architecture aims to trigger a shift in mindsets, empowering you not only to enhance your understanding but also to set in motion and apply a systems approach to food systems transformation. The guide is flexible allowing you to tailor its strategies and ideas to the unique contexts of your country. It encourages RCs to not only to think in terms of systems but also to act accordingly.
When and how
to use the guide
This guide will aid the process of addressing challenges in food systems as a UN country team and collectively identifying solutions for food systems transformation at country level. The guide can be used to provide strategic insights for integrating food systems into Common Country Analysis (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and to support UN joint planning processes, while also supporting advocacy and policy engagement. It is also valuable for skill building through workshops and training sessions related to food systems transformation. This guide is also designed to help you maximize opportunities for technical, financial and cross-country support to accompany your counterparts on this journey.
Let’s get started
Food systems are complex and include a broad and diverse ecosystem of stakeholders, including governments, the food industry, and consumers. All these people and institutions have varying levels of financial resources, skills, priorities, power structures, perspectives, policies, regulations and time constraints. Within this complexity, the UN has a role in supporting governments to propel progress towards achieving food systems transformation and broader transformative change across systems. Countries already have various initiatives and frameworks focused on food systems transformation. By establishing clear linkages with government initiatives, the UN can ensure alignment and synergy in its interventions, maximizing impact and fostering sustainable transformative change in the context of the key transitions to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda.
Given the complexities of coordinating food systems transformation at the country level, you and your teams have likely encountered or are currently facing the question: what actions can we take to support food systems transformation in a more coordinated and systemic manner? Rather than trying to answer this question outright, there are key questions you can reflect on in your own context and leverage insights to improve your support and coordination of food systems transformation at the country level. In the next section, you will be able to navigate these questions and select the best possible way in which this guide can help enhance your support to food systems transformation in your country contexts and the roles you and your UN play.
How can this guide best support you?
QUESTION 1
Recognizing that food is part of an interconnected system highlights the need to adopt a systems approach. This involves taking actions that connect the different components and outcomes of food systems and interrelated systems to achieve and sustain better outcomes across multiple SDGs. A fragmented, siloed approach limits the lasting impact of current efforts in food systems and hinders transformative change.
QUESTION 2
Transforming a system without understanding its structure and interrelationships can lead to unintended consequences and fail to achieve long-term impacts. Food systems involve a network of interconnected components, from production to disposal or reuse, involving many elements beyond food and agriculture. Understanding the system's state enables teams to navigate trade-offs, identify synergies, and drive progress towards desired outcomes and broader SDGs. Additionally, understanding the system includes recognizing the national prioritization process and the government's motivation and commitment to transforming the food system toward sustainability.
QUESTION 3
Engaging relevant stakeholders and facilitating their collaboration is essential for implementing a systems approach and achieving transformative change. Given the complex and interconnected nature of food systems, transformation necessitates synchronized efforts across multiple fronts, for example through portfolios of interventions that include combinations of policies, actions, innovations and investments. These interventions, carried out by different actors, including UN agencies, must be coherent and tailored to the specific context. This requires an understanding of the local situation and the active engagement and coordination of multiple people, institutions and sectors, in all their diversity.
QUESTION 4
Common bottlenecks include misaligned policies, the impact of large-scale national projects, insufficient finance, and capacity gaps in public institutions and civil society that hinder food systems transformation. To address these common bottlenecks, the UN development system has identified the four "enabling actions" listed below (a b c d), as priority areas for collective efforts to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. These enabling actions require you to identify windows of opportunity or entry points as an initial step to propel change. However, it is vital to acknowledge that not all entry points have a multidimensional impact.
QUESTION 5
Integrating a systems approach into CCA and UNSDCF processes entails understanding the interplay of the key components covered in the key questions in this guide: this section provides you with key elements for consideration in integrating food systems into CCA and UNSDCF. Learn how each of the UNSDCF phases present opportunities and serve as entry points for integrating food systems.
QUESTION 6
Part of your role is to champion advocacy efforts for transforming food systems. Effective advocacy requires articulating the urgent need for change with compelling evidence. Emphasizing the detrimental effects of current practices, and highlighting the benefits of sustainable food systems, can help you influence policy, mobilize resources, raise awareness, and promote integrated reforms.
How can this guide best support you?
QUESTION 1
Recognizing that food is part of an interconnected system highlights the need to adopt a systems approach. This involves taking actions that connect the different components and outcomes of food systems and interrelated systems to achieve and sustain better outcomes across multiple SDGs. A fragmented, siloed approach limits the lasting impact of current efforts in food systems and hinders transformative change.
QUESTION 2
Transforming a system without understanding its structure and interrelationships can lead to unintended consequences and fail to achieve long-term impacts. Food systems involve a network of interconnected components, from production to disposal or reuse, involving many elements beyond food and agriculture. Understanding the system's state enables teams to navigate trade-offs, identify synergies, and drive progress towards desired outcomes and broader SDGs. Additionally, understanding the system includes recognizing the national prioritization process and the government's motivation and commitment to transforming the food system toward sustainability.
QUESTION 3
Engaging relevant stakeholders and facilitating their collaboration is essential for implementing a systems approach and achieving transformative change. Given the complex and interconnected nature of food systems, transformation necessitates synchronized efforts across multiple fronts, for example through portfolios of interventions that include combinations of policies, actions, innovations and investments. These interventions, carried out by different actors, including UN agencies, must be coherent and tailored to the specific context. This requires an understanding of the local situation and the active engagement and coordination of multiple people, institutions and sectors, in all their diversity.
QUESTION 4
Common bottlenecks include misaligned policies, the impact of large-scale national projects, insufficient finance, and capacity gaps in public institutions and civil society that hinder food systems transformation. To address these common bottlenecks, the UN development system has identified the four "enabling actions" listed below (a b c d), as priority areas for collective efforts to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. These enabling actions require you to identify windows of opportunity or entry points as an initial step to propel change. However, it is vital to acknowledge that not all entry points have a multidimensional impact.
QUESTION 5
Integrating a systems approach into CCA and UNSDCF processes entails understanding the interplay of the key components covered in the key questions in this guide: this section provides you with key elements for consideration in integrating food systems into CCA and UNSDCF. Learn how each of the UNSDCF phases present opportunities and serve as entry points for integrating food systems.
QUESTION 6
Part of your role is to champion advocacy efforts for transforming food systems. Effective advocacy requires articulating the urgent need for change with compelling evidence. Emphasizing the detrimental effects of current practices, and highlighting the benefits of sustainable food systems, can help you influence policy, mobilize resources, raise awareness, and promote integrated reforms.
How can this guide best support you?
QUESTION 1
Recognizing that food is part of an interconnected system highlights the need to adopt a systems approach. This involves taking actions that connect the different components and outcomes of food systems and interrelated systems to achieve and sustain better outcomes across multiple SDGs. A fragmented, siloed approach limits the lasting impact of current efforts in food systems and hinders transformative change.
QUESTION 2
Transforming a system without understanding its structure and interrelationships can lead to unintended consequences and fail to achieve long-term impacts. Food systems involve a network of interconnected components, from production to disposal or reuse, involving many elements beyond food and agriculture. Understanding the system's state enables teams to navigate trade-offs, identify synergies, and drive progress towards desired outcomes and broader SDGs. Additionally, understanding the system includes recognizing the national prioritization process and the government's motivation and commitment to transforming the food system toward sustainability.
QUESTION 3
Engaging relevant stakeholders and facilitating their collaboration is essential for implementing a systems approach and achieving transformative change. Given the complex and interconnected nature of food systems, transformation necessitates synchronized efforts across multiple fronts, for example through portfolios of interventions that include combinations of policies, actions, innovations and investments. These interventions, carried out by different actors, including UN agencies, must be coherent and tailored to the specific context. This requires an understanding of the local situation and the active engagement and coordination of multiple people, institutions and sectors, in all their diversity.
QUESTION 4
Common bottlenecks include misaligned policies, the impact of large-scale national projects, insufficient finance, and capacity gaps in public institutions and civil society that hinder food systems transformation. To address these common bottlenecks, the UN development system has identified the four "enabling actions" listed below (a b c d), as priority areas for collective efforts to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. These enabling actions require you to identify windows of opportunity or entry points as an initial step to propel change. However, it is vital to acknowledge that not all entry points have a multidimensional impact.
QUESTION 5
Integrating a systems approach into CCA and UNSDCF processes entails understanding the interplay of the key components covered in the key questions in this guide: this section provides you with key elements for consideration in integrating food systems into CCA and UNSDCF. Learn how each of the UNSDCF phases present opportunities and serve as entry points for integrating food systems.
QUESTION 6
Part of your role is to champion advocacy efforts for transforming food systems. Effective advocacy requires articulating the urgent need for change with compelling evidence. Emphasizing the detrimental effects of current practices, and highlighting the benefits of sustainable food systems, can help you influence policy, mobilize resources, raise awareness, and promote integrated reforms.
Further information
For further support, please contact:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2025
