Agriculture Ministry, FAO, UNIDO launch Joint Programme on agrifood system sustainability

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), launched a Joint Programme (JP), funded by the Joint SDG Fund, on Transforming Jordan’s agrifood system towards greater sustainability and resilience. 

The Joint SDG Fund’s approach is catalytic, aiming to leverage systemic change through integrated economic, social and environmental policy and strategic investments, which can attract public and private financing to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The JP focuses on developing the capacity of the government to operationalise systems-based programmes and improve the sustainability performance and resilience of the agrifood system in Jordan in light of key challenges, including threats of climate change, food insecurity, and considering the urgent need for inclusion of women, youth and refugees.

The JP is closely aligned with existing high-level plans at the national level, the National Food Security Strategy and Action Plans, in particular, as well as Jordan’s Food Systems Pathway and forthcoming Food Systems Transformation Roadmap. 

Between now and August 2025, the JP will evaluate the current agrifood systems context, as well as implementation of the National Food Security Strategy Action Plan, to identify entry points (value chains, business models or market systems) with potential for upgrading that also address climate resilience and inclusion of vulnerable groups. 

The JP will develop upgrading strategies for three selected entry points, each with a clear vision, action plan, investment plan and financing solution, as well as monitoring frameworks linked to a national system that oversees the performance and impacts of food systems transformation. 

A multistakeholder collaborative approach will be adopted throughout, including training and experiential learning elements to develop institutional capacity among key stakeholders in close collaboration with the Food Security Council.

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat stressed the need to shift towards a more sustainable and resilient agrifood system to ensure food security and enhance the ability to face the growing regional challenges considering the limited natural resources, especially water and the increasing effects of climate change. 

He added that Jordan has made intensive efforts and taken many steps and measures to provide sufficient food for the population by launching the first National Food Security Strategy 2021-2030 and its action plan, in addition to adopting paths to transform food systems into more efficient and sustainable systems.

“This Joint Programme builds on FAO’s stakeholders and enhance capacity, encourage knowledge and experience exchange among stakeholders, and promote policy and effective actions towards development of a sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood system in Jordan,” explained FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf. 

“We are pleased to collaborate with UNIDO on this joint programme, with the Ministry of Agriculture, and with full engagement of the Food Security Council,” Assaf added.

UNIDO Country Representative in Jordan Sulafa Mdanat said: “UNIDO’s intervention will focus on leveraging the power of value addition, brought by food processing, in transforming food systems outcomes towards achieving their full potential. We are keen to support the Government of Jordan in this journey, and FAO remains a natural partner in this regard.”