Food systems are facing an unprecedented array of familiar and unfamiliar risks, interacting in a hyper-connected world and a changing landscape. To reduce risk and mitigate the destructive impacts of disasters and climate change on food systems, a holistic multi-stakeholder approach is required along the entire system, from production to consumption.

As reflected in the UN Plan of Action, UNDRR is implementing Comprehensive Risk Management (CRM), aiming to strengthen synergies between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation at national and local levels. CRM enhances the capacities of governments to apply a suite of complementary climate and disaster risk management tools in risk analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring.

In support of the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit and the 2030 Agenda, FAO and UNDRR will be collaborating on Comprehensive Risk Management for Food Systems Resilience, which will provide guidance, tools, capacity development and technical support to LDCs and SIDS. The aim is to improve understanding, management and governance of disaster and climate risks, build resilience of agri-food systems to multiple climate- and non-climate risks and their interactions with other socio-economic factors.

UNDRR and FAO will work with governments (NDMOs, Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Planning, etc.), the UN Country Team and other partners to build capacities for CRM in agri-food systems through:

• strengthening governance (planning, programming, capacity building) through CRM for national food systems taking, considering the national FSS pathways processes and results;
• enhancing climate and disaster risk understanding and programming towards averting, minimizing and addressing impacts to agri-food systems, associated with the adverse effects of climate change, disasters, epidemics, trans-boundary pests and diseases and other crises.

The joint programme will:

• Catalyse technical assistance to selected vulnerable countries to operationalise CRM at national and local levels.
• Leverage integrated analysis and planning, including through related CRM guidance tools, to inform national food systems policy, planning and practice in -DRR/M strategies for agriculture and food sectors, in National Adaptation Plans for Agrifood systems, in NDCs and related sustainable development strategies.
• Provide robust systemic risk assessment, normative guidance and integrated risk management tools for capacity strengthening.
• Develop guidance and tools to integrate climate and disaster risk considerations into agriculture and food sector strategies.
• Help Member States develop and implement fully-integrated climate and disaster risk management policies, strategies and investment plans.

This programme will contribute to the achieving the goals of the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and the overarching 2030 agenda.