MENA Discussion “2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems After COVID-19”

Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

3:00 pm to 4:30 pm (Cairo Local Time)

*Links to speakers' slides and recorded video are available below!

© Fatma Abdelaziz/IFPRI-Egypt

COVID-19 has upended local, national, and global food systems, and put the Sustainable Development Goals further out of reach. But lessons and momentum from the world’s response to the pandemic can contribute to food system change. In the 2021 Global Food Policy Report, IFPRI researchers and experts explore the impacts of the pandemic and government policy responses to date, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged, and consider what it all means for transforming our food systems to be healthy, resilient, efficient, sustainable, and inclusive.

The chapters in this flagship report explore key requisites for such a transformation in light of the current shock — balancing health and economic policies, promoting healthy diets and nutrition, strengthening social protection policies and inclusion, integrating natural resource protection into food sector policies, and enhancing the contribution of the private sector — and how best to achieve them.

The MENA regional section examines the diverse experiences of countries in the region, highlighting how the pandemic has compounded other serious challenges — including low oil prices, ongoing conflicts, and political transitions, as well as natural disasters — and has tested the resilience of those national food systems that are heavily dependent on food imports. At the launch event, speakers share updates on the post-COVID-19 recovery plans and discuss the way forward for strengthening the food system’s resilience to shocks.

The event took place in English. Arabic simultaneous interpretation was available during the entire event.

*Links to speakers' slides are available below!

AGENDA

 

OPENING REMARKS Clemens Breisinger MENA Program Leader & Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

OVERVIEW FROM THE GFPR Towards more resilient food systems in MENA after COVID-19 Global overview Jo Swinnen Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (see slides) MENA overview Mariam Raouf International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (see slides) One CGIAR and MENA food systems after COVID-19 Aly Abousabaa Director General, ICARDA Q&A Moderator Clemens Breisinger MENA Program Leader & Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

PANEL Country-level experiences and discussions for transforming food systems after COVID-19 Egypt Mouchera Karara Representative of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Egypt Sudan Eddie Rowe WFP Country Representative in Sudan (see slides) Yemen Wesam Qaid Deputy Managing Director, Social Fund for Development, Yemen Private Sector Assmaa Ahmed Khalil Head of Communications, Public Affairs, and Corporate Responsibility, Talabat Egypt (see slides) Q&A Moderator Lina Abdelfattah Senior Research Assistant, IFPRI-Egypt

CLOSING REMARKS Clemens Breisinger MENA Program Leader & Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

 

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Related Link:

GLOBAL LAUNCH EVENT - 2021 Global Food Policy Report: Transforming Food Systems After COVID-19