Open-Ended Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
of the Committee on World Food Security

The third meeting of the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was held on 27 April 2016, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), in Rome, Italy. Member countries and multi-stakeholder participants focused on a zero-draft proposal on CFS engagement in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). They also discussed: a letter from Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Oh Joon to CFS Chair Amira Gornass (Sudan), inviting CFS to provide input to the 2016 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF); a mapping document of CFS scope and products in relation to SDG targets; and next steps. A revised draft on CFS engagement in advancing the 2030 Agenda will be considered at the fourth meeting of the OEWG, to be held on 22 June 2016.

The OEWG on SDGs was established by CFS at its 42nd Plenary session held in October 2015. The purpose of the OEWG is to agree on a proposal on how CFS, as a global, multi-stakeholder committee, will support progress in: reaching the SDGs related to sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition; and in advancing the parts of the 2030 Agenda that fall within its mandate.

CFS OEWGs are informal groups open to all CFS members, participants and observers. They review, discuss and make proposals related to the intersessional work of CFS but have no decision-making mandate. The outcomes of their work are conveyed to CFS plenary, which is the decision-making body. Discussions of the OEWG on SDGs focus on CFS’ role to: provide 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 be submitted to the CFS 43rd Plenary session, scheduled to take place in October 2016.