Advancing Food Systems Transformation: A Personal View

In his speech, Dr David Nabarro reflects on local and national priorities regarding food systems transformation, an area where Ireland is an acknowledged leader. He will also focus on interconnected challenges such as climate action and sustainable development. Dr Nabarro presents his experience of the catalysing effect of systems thinking and adopting a people-centred approach when tackling inter-connected challenges, such as food systems transformation. He argues that such an approach must be adapted to the interests of people of the lowest incomes and with the least agency. Dr Nabarro concludes that this novel way of thinking and working together will have the greatest likelihood of long-term success.

About the Speaker:

Dr David Nabarro is Strategic Director of 4SD Foundation, Geneva; Professor of Global Health at Imperial College, London; and Special Envoy on COVID-19 for the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Nabarro has served as Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza (2005-2014). He was Coordinator of the UN system’s High-Level Task Force on the Food Security Crisis 2009-2014 and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition and Coordinator of the Scale-up Nutrition Movement (2010-2014). In his early career, he served as Director for Human Development in the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

Development Matters is a well-established lecture series from the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), sponsored by Irish Aid. It explores critical issues in international development, providing a platform for international policy figures and thought leaders to share their insights and expertise, and in doing so to bring development issues to the attention of a wider Irish, European and international audiences.2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Irish Aid, with a series of Development Matters events taking place throughout the year. Further information about the series can be found on Development Matters | IIEA and on the IIEA events page.