Food Summit Dialogues open in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: A series of dialogues aimed at marshalling public participation in food systems opened in Jubbaland on Monday in buildup towards the UN Food Systems Summit Slated for late this month.

The approach enables Somali participants to contribute to the Summit by building on efforts already underway, working together on pathways that lead to sustainable food systems, and setting out intentions and commitments in the run-up to the Global Summit.

The dialogues which opened through virtual means in Jubaland Monday run on the theme ‘ Digital Revolution’ are an approach for enabling systematic, inclusive opportunities for people from all walks of life in Somalia to be engaged in food systems.

According to a statement from FAO, the dialogues will take place in six regions in Somalia closing with a national summit ‘culminating in a report that identifies a pathway to addressing food systems challenges in Somalia.’

“These seven dialogues will help us to explore regional aspects of food systems in Somalia to further inform how they are shaping national pathways to sustainable food systems,” said Dr. Mohamed Abdi Farrah, National Food Systems Dialogue Convener and Somalia SUN Focal Point. “The findings and solutions from these dialogues will be taken from Somalia to the Global Food Systems Summit as we work to ensure Somalia is not left behind in the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

FAO Representative in Somalia Etienne Peterschmitt said the dialogues provided an opportunity to address perennial food shortages in Somalia. Findings from the dialogues which conclude on September 9 will be presented by a delegation of the Somali Government to the Global Food Systems Summit on September 23 in New York.