UN's Panova says Egypt deeply committed to placing food systems, food security, and nutrition at heart of national development priorities

Elena Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt, stated that the launch of the National Operational Plan for Food and Nutrition Systems 2025–2030 and the Roadmap to Accelerate Anemia Reduction in Egypt reflects the country's deep and sustained commitment to putting food systems, food security, and nutrition at the core of its human capital development agenda—and making them an essential component of its national development priorities.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Egypt, Panova described the National Operational Plan as a transformational, evidence-based, multisectoral effort. She emphasized that transforming food systems and improving nutrition outcomes is a shared national endeavor requiring broad collaboration across sectors to maximize impact.

Panova noted that the launch follows a series of major national strategies and investments, including Egypt’s National Food and Nutrition Strategy (2022–2030), the recently launched National Stunting and Malnutrition Prevention Program, the Takaful and Karama Program, the “First 1,000 Days” initiative, and the Egyptian Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes and Baby-Friendly Health Facility accreditation. She called these programs “clear expressions of Egypt’s progress and ambition.”

She described the Anemia Reduction Roadmap as a wise investment for Egypt, noting that every $1 invested in reducing anemia could generate up to $12 in economic returns. The roadmap, she added, will improve the health of pregnant women and their children and could also enhance academic performance among students.

“We view both the National Operational Plan for Food and Nutrition Systems and the Roadmap to Accelerate Anemia Reduction not only as means to improve food and nutrition security but as levers for broader social and economic outcomes,” Panova said.

"Economic prosperity, social cohesion, and national resilience begin with a food ecosystem that is not only nutrition-sensitive but also addresses inequities and reduces gaps by reaching the most vulnerable population groups, including women, children, the elderly, and others,” she added.

Panova presented four critical enablers to ensure the successful implementation of the plan:

1. Strong multisectoral coordination mechanisms to ensure alignment and convergence across all sectors and systems—health, agriculture, education, and social protection.
2. Robust accountability and monitoring frameworks to track progress, promote transparency, and drive continuous improvement.
3. Investment in data systems and evidence generation, enabling timely and informed policy decisions and effective scaling of successful approaches.
4. Sustainable financing and capacity development, ensuring national ownership and long-term resilience of systems.

In conclusion, Panova affirmed the United Nations’ strong commitment to supporting these enablers—whether through technical assistance, policy guidance, institutional capacity building, or innovation and knowledge exchange.