Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming food systems as the Ministry of Food, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), IFAD, FAO, GAIN, and other key partners, hosted a National Dialogue in Dhaka.
The event emphasized innovative, inclusive, and climate-responsive strategies to shape sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems, driving progress toward the National Food Systems Pathways.
Government representatives, development partners, academia, civil society, and the private sector discussed five key pillars of food systems transformation, Nourish All People, Nature-Based Solutions; Equitable Livelihoods, Decent Work, and Empowered Communities; Building Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks, and Stresses; and means of Implementation – Governance.
“Transformation towards sustainable, resilient, healthy, and equitable food systems in Bangladesh is both a challenge and an opportunity. By focusing on nourishing all people, boosting nature-based solutions, advancing equitable livelihoods, building resilience, and accelerating effective governance, we can create a food system that is not only capable of feeding our population but doing so in a way that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable,” said Md. Monirul Islam, Additional Secretary (SDG) from the Chief Advisor’s office and Special Guest at the event.
The outcomes from the discussions will shape Bangladesh’s updated National Food Systems Pathways led by the Ministry of Food with support from UN agencies (IFAD, FAO, WFP, WHO, UNDP, UNICEF), GAIN, CGIAR, and IFPRI. The Pathways will align with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), advancing a sustainable and climate-resilient food future.
Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director for Bangladesh said: “We need implementation at scale of transformative solutions that gather all partners from all sectors to join efforts around a common objective of zero hunger and poverty eradication.”
Supported by Denmark through the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the discussion highlights Bangladesh’s global leadership in advancing food systems transformation. Building on its role at the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment in July 2023, Bangladesh continues to tackle hunger, malnutrition, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This dialogue marks a pivotal step in implementing the National Food Systems Pathways by aligning national policies with local plans and strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration.
