Islamabad: The need to change the food system to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2021 to 2030 has been provided by the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS-2021) and the opportunity to achieve UNFSS +2 One Share by 2023. . As healthy, more sustainable and equitable food systems play a key role in achieving each of the SDGs, stakeholders are coming together to address critical gaps in measuring food system change.
The National Stakeholder Workshop, jointly organized by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Pakistan office, has been a success with intense discussions and collaborative efforts focused on transforming the food system in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Food System Dashboard (PFSD) is fully committed to supporting the reform process of partners. Dr. Ghulam Sadiq Afridi, SSD member of PARC, during the inaugural session, along with his welcome speech, emphasized the importance of ongoing work. Mr. Faiz Rasool, Head of Policy and Advocacy, GAIN in Pakistan, provided key insights into the current state of food security and the importance of policy and stakeholder participation in adapting innovative information tools to drive positive change in the food system.
The workshop discussed key objectives, including reviewing indicators and measures related to UNFSS pathways and national nutrition goals in Pakistan, identifying new indicators in underrepresented areas of the food system, and prioritizing new indicators to be developed. Nutritious Food Pathway Program (NFP) by GAIN.
Research Advisor – GAIN Nutrition Pathway Program and technical session by Dr. Elizabeth Graham and other experts enabled participants to engage in productive discussions, review existing indicators, and identify priorities for the development of new indicators.
The results of the consultation include a comprehensive list of new indicators needed to measure changes in the food system in Pakistan. Priorities are missing indicators that reflect the priorities of stakeholders working on food system issues in the country. Raise awareness of data sources supported by PARC & GAIN in Pakistan, including the Pakistan Food System Dashboard (PFSD) and the supporting Food Systems Accounting Initiative. Development, testing and validation of indicators as part of Pakistan’s Nutritional Food Pathway Initiative to 2027 for use in databases such as PARC-GAIN, PFSD and relevant studies.
The results of the workshop will contribute significantly to Pakistan’s national food system dashboard, improving the country’s ability to accurately measure and monitor food system changes.
