Addis Ababa, July 29, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia has urged the international community to strengthen strategic partnerships and adopt innovative financing approaches to fast-track the transformation of food systems, a key priority for global development and climate resilience.
The call was made during a high-level panel on the sidelines of the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa, where Ethiopia’s State Minister of Finance for External Economic Cooperation, Semereta Sewasew, joined global leaders and partners to discuss pathways for accelerating food systems change.
Speaking at a session co-hosted by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), IFAD, and other global stakeholders, the State Minister stressed that food systems transformation is critical to addressing poverty, improving health outcomes, and strengthening climate resilience. She highlighted Ethiopia’s own experience linking food systems reform with broader development goals, including rural market development, job creation, and agricultural exports.
Despite growing recognition of the issue, participants acknowledged that progress remains limited due to inadequate and fragmented investment. Ethiopia proposed the use of blended finance—combining public, private, and philanthropic capital—as a means to bridge this gap and scale up inclusive agribusiness, innovation, and infrastructure.
Semereta also emphasized the importance of aligning investments with national development priorities and fostering multi-actor partnerships to deliver impact at scale. She called on governments to lead with clear policy frameworks, while urging development partners and the private sector to support implementation through financing, technical expertise, and innovation.
Ethiopia’s remarks echoed broader summit discussions, which centered on the need for urgent, coordinated action to build food systems that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. The country has positioned itself as a key advocate for translating global commitments into practical, large-scale interventions.
The summit brought together leaders from governments, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector to take stock of progress since the inaugural 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and to chart a more ambitious course for the years ahead.