21 January 2016: Meeting at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), member countries and multi-stakeholder participants of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressed the OEWG workplan for the year and next steps regarding CFS work in support of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of the SDGs.

The OEWG on SDGs was established by CFS at its 42nd Plenary session. Its objective is to agree on a proposal on how CFS as a global, multi-stakeholder committee, will support progress on the SDGs related to sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition, and in advancing the parts of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that fall within its mandate.

Four meetings are scheduled for 2016. At the first meeting, participants heard presentations on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; addressed the OEWG workplan for the year, including its objectives, expected outcomes and activities; and discussed a set of questions prepared by the CFS Secretariat on possible links between CFS and SDG implementation.

The OEWG is scheduled to reconvene on 24 February, 3 May and 22 June 2016. Discussions are expected to: focus on CFS’ role in providing a platform for identifying and sharing achievements and challenges related to SDG implementation; address policy gaps that may impede SDG implementation; and identify opportunities for accelerating progress on particular themes. A proposal will then be submitted to the 43rd Plenary session of CFS, to be held from 17-22 October 2016. [IISD RS Coverage of the OEWG Meeting] [CFS Webpage] [OEWG on SDGs Working Space and Documents] [OEWG Meeting Webcast]