Hanoi (VNA)♏ - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with other UN agencies, has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Vietnam in ensuring national food security and building efficient food systems, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This information was shared at a consultation workshop on the Draft Project Implementation Plan (PIP) for the National Action Plan on Food Systems Transformation in Vietnam towards Transparency, Responsibility, and Sustainability by 2030, jointly organised in Hanoi on June 24 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP, and relevant stakeholders. According to the ministry, the workshop marks an important step in formalizing the tasks for the implementation of the National Action Plan, in the context of the ministry leading the development of Vietnam's third version of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) while promoting the country’s SDG fulfilment. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the Ministry’s Department of International Cooperation, said that food security and nutrition, natural disasters and climate change, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation have become more urgent issues than ever. Therefore, now is the time for Vietnam to act to safeguard existence and that of future generations. However, Tuan emphasised that achieving sustainable production and consumption and transforming the food system towards sustainability require joint actions and close inter-sectoral and multi-level coordination, in order to contribute to the realisation of all 17 SDGs. Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Vietnam, stated that the consultation workshop serves as an opportunity for dialogue on how to integrate detailed action plans into Vietnam’s national strategies. It is also a chance for delegates from provinces to contribute ideas and promote mechanisms for private sector investment in line with Resolution 68-NQ/TW. “The Detailed Implementation Plan (PIP) must be tailored to Vietnam’s context, accurately reflecting baselines and priorities, clearly defining responsibilities and timelines, and ensuring the most effective use of available resources. Importantly, the PIP should also identify mechanisms to mobilise private investment and innovation, in line with the Government’s resolution on promoting private sector-led economic development,” he recommended. During the event, participants exchanged international experience on food systems transformation, and discussed progress in implementing the National Action Plan at both national and local levels. They also contributed feedback on the draft PIP and priority actions across five interdisciplinary technical working groups: policy and institutional reform, agro-ecology, nutrition and local food diversification, food loss and waste, and sustainable distribution and consumption. In addition to the plenary discussion, the participants also engaged in breakout sessions with the five technical groups to review ongoing activities and propose priority actions from both domestic and international partners. These inputs will support the finalisation of the Detailed Implementation Plan covering 37 specific tasks under the National Action Plan on the transformation of Vietnam’s food systems toward transparency, responsibility, and sustainability by 2030. The event underscored the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and 47 domestic and international partners under the Food System Transformation Partnership contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, food and nutrition security, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and climate change adaptation in the country./.