Ethiopia Taking Decisive Steps to Transform Its Food Systems: UN Food Systems
Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has been taking decisive steps to transform its food systems since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, Coordinator of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub Khaled El-Taweel said. A three-day national convergence workshop on Climate Action and Ethiopian Food Systems Transformation and Nutrition is underway in Addis Ababa, focusing on integrating climate change risks into the country’s food systems transformation.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Minister of Agriculture Girma Amente emphasized that the convergence initiative aims to enhance Ethiopian food systems and nutrition while supporting climate action, aligning with the SDGs and the Paris climate agreement. The minister highlighted the urgency of placing climate action at the core of food systems transformation to ensure resilience, adaptability, and sustainability.
The minister stressed the importance of leveraging indigenous knowledge, advancing agricultural innovation, and integrating climate-smart practices throughout the food
system value chain. Minister of Health Mekdes Daba noted that the workshop’s critical mission is to transform Ethiopia’s food system and nutrition landscape, essential for national growth and development. This transformation aims to ensure food security, promote healthy diets, empower vulnerable households, and improve nutrition.
Mekdes Daba also underscored Ethiopia’s efforts in addressing climate change through collective actions that contribute to the food system transformation roadmap. Khaled El-Taweel commended Ethiopia for implementing the convergence initiative and aligning national priorities with global commitments for an integrated approach to food system transformation, climate action, and nutrition.
El-Taweel mentioned that Ethiopia’s national pathway serves as a roadmap for transitioning towards a sustainable, inclusive, equitable, and resilient food system while addressing climate change impacts. Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute Director General Mandefro Nigussie stated that the
initiative unites diverse actors with complementary knowledge and innovative approaches.
The convergence initiative represents a collaborative effort led by the Ethiopian government, with support from the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, development partners, and national stakeholders, aiming to strengthen the integration of food systems transformation and climate action.