The Power of Joining Forces for Policy Coherence, Optimized Efficiencies and Nutrition Impact

Organizer: UN-Nutrition

The opening session of Rome Nutrition Week 2025 highlighted the central role of nutrition in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasized the power of collective action and policy coherence. The UN-Nutrition Chair called for deeper collaboration across sectors and within the UN system to support countries more effectively. Permanent Representatives to the RBAs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras and Indonesia shared national experiences integrating nutrition into development strategies, with a focus on alignment, cooperation, and coherence—even in fragile contexts. Reflections from high-level speakers, including the SUN Movement Coordinator, the N4G Paris Secretary-General, and Brazil’s Representative, showcased global momentum around coordinated action and opportunities offered by SUN 4.0 and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The Representative of Ireland closed the session by stressing the need for aligned international support to reinforce national nutrition governance. The session set the tone for the week, reinforcing that coherent policy and collective leadership are vital to driving impact.

 

Speakers: 

  • Anna Horner – UN-Nutrition Senior Coordinator
  • Najat Mokhtar – Deputy Director General, IAEA; Chair of UN-Nutrition
  • Moïse Manyabe Esangela – Minister Counselor and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo to FAO, IFAD, and WFP
  • Maria del Pillar Aguilar Guerrero – Deputy Permanent Representative of Honduras to FAO, IFAD, and WFP
  • Tika Wihanasari Tahar – Chargée d'Affaires and Alternate Permanent Representative of Indonesia to FAO, IFAD, and WFP
  • Brieuc Pont – Ambassador of France; Secretary-General of the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, Paris
  • Afshan Khan – Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations; Global Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement
  • Carla Barroso Carneiro – Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Brazil to FAO, IFAD, and WFP
  • Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile – Ambassador, Permanent Representative of South Africa to FAO, IFAD, and WFP; Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
  • Peter Cleary – Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to FAO, IFAD, and WFP