Addis ababa: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Executive Director, Lawrence Haddad, has commended Ethiopia for implementing a coherent food systems policy, stressing the need to continue to be a beacon for the rest of the world. The Executive Director is currently attending the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, where he highlighted the importance of coherence among agriculture, trade, climate, and health institutions in achieving improved nutrition and healthy food systems.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Haddad praised Ethiopia for its impressive policy coherence and the projects run by the government and partners in the country. He emphasized the acknowledgment of the private sector's critical role in advancing food systems to make food healthy, accessible, and affordable for everyone. Haddad expressed admiration for the determination of Ethiopian stakeholders to position the country as a leader in food systems within Africa and globally.
Haddad noted the centrality of food in various sectors, including health, education, jobs, environment, and climate. He stressed the importance of collaborative decision-making among businesses, governments, civil societies, researchers, and NGOs to actively improve these areas. Highlighting the significance of food systems, Haddad called for better alignment of climate finance with food systems and urged the inclusion of food systems in national adaptation plans, recognizing Ethiopia as a leader in this area.
The Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) is currently on its third day, gathering representatives from UN Member States, the UN system, international and regional organizations, policymakers, scientists, and the private sector. The summit serves as a platform for discussing and advancing global food systems policies.