MENA Climate Week | Partnerships & food systems

Jointly convened by Community Jameel and the Office of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Special Envoy for Climate Change, ‘Scientific partnerships for building resilient food systems’ is an official affiliate event at the inaugural United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week, ahead of COP27 in Egypt.

The event will be held in Dubai at 3pm on March 28, 2022, at Atlantis, The Palm and online. It brings together a panel of speakers from the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Office of the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Art Jameel, together with Save the Children and CGIAR (both founding partners of the Jameel Observatory).

Global food systems are under significant threat from climate change, with yields of specific crops and livestock at immediate risk. The consequences of food shortages and higher food prices will inevitably hit the most vulnerable hardest, leading to malnutrition and severe hunger. The MENA region, which is highly dependent on food imports, is at heightened risk to global market price shocks and harvest failures.

Community Jameel and the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change are coming together during MENA Climate Week to host a affiliate event highlighting the role of global scientific partnerships to help spur innovation and breakthroughs within the food systems space. The affiliate event will discuss current issues regarding food systems in the MENA region, as well as the importance of science and evidence in tackling threats to food systems, and policy and creative responses these challenges, including:

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) initiative between the UAE and US governments,
The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action in Kenya, a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, Save the Children, the CGIAR International Livestock Research Initiative, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Community Jameel, that seeks to predict, prepare for and overcome climate-related food security and malnutrition challenges in dryland areas,
J-WAFS's ongoing work to assess the food security implications of climate change on food imports of key food commodities, and
Exploring pathways for how scientific research can inform policy change and change public habits, including through partnerships with creative communities.

The panel discussion seeks to spur attendees to understand the importance of rigorous scientific evidence, strengthening Global North-South collaborations and ensuring there are concrete pathways for research to effect change and spur innovation.

Background on MENA Climate Week

The MENA Climate Week 2022 (MENACW 2022) is a regional event attracting global attention and recognition. It will help build momentum on climate change following the adoption of COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact and ahead of COP27 scheduled to be held in the region.

MENA Climate Week offers an opportunity to advance regional and local climate action, taking regional priorities into consideration. The week also provides an avenue to engage regional stakeholders in efforts taken to integrate climate action into economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.