At the UNFSS Stocktaking Moment (STM+4) in Addis Ababa, the Coalition of Action on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for Children and All (HDSFS) reaffirmed the central role of healthy diets in food systems transformation and advanced dialogue on how the nutrition and climate agendas can be more effectively aligned and connected. Momentum around nutrition was stronger compared to STM+2, with healthy diets gaining greater prominence throughout discussions and commitments - signaling continued progress toward embedding nutrition at the heart of global food systems.
The Coalition contributed actively to the Summit by convening discussions, elevating country-led initiatives, and engaging partners in multiple spaces to highlight practical pathways for aligning nutrition and climate action. These engagements showcased shared learning, and strengthened collaboration towards more integrated and nutrition-focused food systems transformation.
The UNFSS Stocktaking Moment served both as a space for reflection and an opportunity to reaffirm commitment to the HDSFS Coalition vision of healthier, more sustainable diets for all.
More information about the Summit can be found on the UN Coordination Hub webpage here.
The following sections highlight the HDSFS Coalition’s participation and contributions.
Facilitating dialogue for food systems transformation through nutrition-climate action
The HDSFS Coalition co-organized a side event together with the Government of Madagascar, UN-Nutrition, and the SUN Movement, titled Breaking Silos and Fueling Change: Aligning Nutrition and Climate for Food System Transformation. The session brought forward perspectives from Member countries Madagascar, Brazil, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Cambodia, with additional contributions from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and Pakistan. Country representatives shared national experiences on linking nutrition and climate agendas through measures such as food fortification, integration of food systems into Nationally Determined Contributions, and multisectoral planning. The discussion emphasized the importance of coherent governance, adequate financing, and the role of multi-partner platforms - including HDSFS, I-CAN, ATACH, and SUN - to break sectoral silos and deliver co-benefits for health, resilience, and sustainability. Read the concept note here and outcome article here.
Spotlighting country and partner work on healthy diets at HDSFS Coalition booth
Throughout the Summit, the Coalition also hosted an exhibition booth that attracted strong interest from a wide range of stakeholders. Many visitors engaged with the materials and case studies submitted by Coalition countries and partners in advance of the meeting, which highlighted practical solutions and policy innovations from different regions. The steady flow of participants - from governments, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector - reflected the growing relevance of healthy diets within the global food systems agenda. The booth served as a valuable space for networking, peer exchange, and strengthening partnerships, while generating broad support for the Coalition’s objectives and collective action.
Strengthening collaboration through inter-coalition dialogue
In the lead-up to UNFSS+4, Coalitions of Action hosted a series of online preparatory workshops that fostered peer-to-peer learning, identified opportunities for collaboration, and refined shared messaging and priorities. These discussions directly shaped the in-person inter-coalition session in Addis on 27 July, where the HDSFS Coalition joined others in reflecting on progress since 2021 and clarifying the Coalitions’ role within the broader UNFSS architecture. Mr. Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, attended the session and highlighted the importance of the Coalitions, noting that they are integral to the Hub’s structure and work. He also acknowledged challenges raised by colleagues and proposed a two-year workplan to strengthen engagement and operational frameworks. The session provided a platform to review collective impact, share lessons, and identify opportunities to better support country-led food systems transformation.
Coalition perspectives at Rockefeller’s regenerative school meals event
On 26 July in Addis Ababa, ahead of the UNFSS+4 Summit, the Rockefeller Foundation convened a full-day event on Regenerative School Meals, bringing together partners and stakeholders to explore how school meals can drive healthier diets, resilient food systems, and climate action. As part of the programme, a dedicated panel discussion featured three Coalitions - the School Meals, Agroecology Coalition, and HDSFS Coalition - who shared perspectives on their current work in this area and opportunities for collaboration. The HDSFS Coalition emphasized the centrality of healthy diets within school food systems and the importance of policy standards, while highlighting the upcoming FAO-WFP global methodology for designing, implementing, and monitoring nutrition guidelines and standards for school meals. More information about the overall event can be found here.
Presenting the Coalition’s mandate, activities and partnerships
On Tuesday, 29 July, the HDSFS Coalition Secretariat delivered a dedicated presentation on its focus, membership, activities, and plans ahead. This was part of a session hosted by the UN Food Systems Hub that provided a platform for all Coalitions to present their contributions to food systems transformation. The HDSFS presentation highlighted how the Coalition serves as a global platform for policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and country engagement. It reinforced the Coalition’s role as a connector between global frameworks and national action. The presentation can be found here.
High-level recognition of Coalitions of Action in the Summit’s closing session
The importance of the Coalitions of Action was recognized in the Summit’s closing session. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed referenced the Coalitions twice in her remarks, emphasizing that they “demonstrated that they are dynamic vehicles for food systems transformation, mobilizing diverse stakeholders across sectors… aligned with national priorities.” This affirmation highlighted the role that Coalitions have to play in shaping the food systems agenda, bringing together diverse communities of stakeholders united around shared priorities, in the case of HDSFS, advancing healthy and sustainable diets for all. The full speech can be viewed here.
Key reports launched parallel to UNFSS+4 by the UN Coordination Hub
Several important publications were released ahead of and during the UNFSS+4 Summit, underscoring the role of the Coalitions, including HDSFS, within global food systems transformation efforts:
Coalitions of Action - Survey Summary Reports 2024 & 2025: Present findings from annual Coalition surveys, documenting activities, achievements, and lessons learned, including the work of HDSFS Coalition. 2024 report | 2025 report.
UN Secretary-General’s Report to UNFSS+4: Calls for scaled-up, coordinated action to transform food systems by 2030; reviews progress and gaps across national pathways; and highlights the role of the Coalitions of Action - referencing HDSFS activities among others. Read the report here.
Implementing National Food Systems Pathways: Emerging Practice: Highlights Coalitions of Action as part of the Ecosystem of Support, recognizing their integral role in advancing transformation of food systems through peer engagement, technical cooperation, and knowledge exchange. Read the report here.
