Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The food systems movement is gaining unprecedented momentum.
From the COP28 Declaration to commitments emerging from the G7 and G20, to regional frameworks like the Kampala Declaration and the UN Food Systems Summit +4 in Addis Ababa—food systems are now firmly embedded in the global sustainable development agenda.
Today, we mark a key outcome of the Addis Ababa Summit: a strong, country-led pledge to transform food systems for people and the planet.
I’m pleased to welcome this milestone announcement from the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security.
This global partnership—bringing together over 70 development partners—is now supporting food systems transformation pathways across the IGAD countries and Cameroon. It is a vital step forward in advancing food security in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
This pledge also marks the launch of a powerful collaboration: between the Global Flagship Initiative, the Joint SDG Fund, and UN Country Teams, under the leadership of Resident Coordinators.
Together, they are driving the kind of innovation, partnership, and investment needed to deliver sustainable food system change at scale.
This effort is grounded in the Ministerial Communique on Food Security, adopted by IGAD countries in Addis Ababa. The Communique lays out clear priorities: strengthening regional food systems, addressing climate and conflict as drivers of food insecurity, scaling sustainable agricultural technologies, and enhancing policy and cooperation.
With this solid foundation, the partnership is well positioned to translate commitments into real, measurable impact—building food systems that are resilient, inclusive, and able to provide nutritious food for all.
In Cameroon, this momentum began with an investment pitch led by the Food Systems National Convenor and coordinated by the Resident Coordinator. That project, now backed by seed funding from the Joint SDG Fund, will scale further with support from the Global Flagship Initiative.
This is UN reform in action: delivering as one, aligning mandates, and supporting national priorities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Finally, all of this is framed by a growing global alignment. The Convergence Initiative provides a clear path forward—linking food systems transformation with national climate goals, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), accelerating progress toward the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. This is more than coordination—it’s a catalyst for action.
Let us build on this momentum—together.
