Harnessing trade policy and transport and logistics to build sustainable and resilient food supply chains in the Caribbean and the Arab region

The project aims to address the challenges arising from the triple crises of food, energy, and finance, accelerated by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, heighted geopolitical risks, intensified climate risks and growing financial constraints and debt burdens in developing regions.

Given the importance of these interconnected issues for countries highly dependent on food imports including small island developing states (SIDS), the project will focus on selected target countries in the Caribbean (Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago) and Arab region (Lebanon and Morocco), with high exposure but also a significant potential to enhance food security through sustainable and resilient agricultural production, trade and logistics.

UNCTAD will implement the project in partnership with ECLAC and ESCWA and in collaboration with regional and national institutions and academia. The project will greatly benefit from this inter-agency collaboration as well as the collaboration under the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) , a platform of six UN agencies: FAO, ITC, UNECE, UNCTAD, UNEP and UNIDO. UNCTAD is the secretariat of UNFSS.

Objective of the Project

To strengthen the capacities of selected countries in the Caribbean and the Arab region to leverage trade policy measures and harness transport and logistic to be better prepared for and respond to supply chain disruptions and build sustainable and resilient food supply chains.

Activities

The project will enhance national actions and policy coordination by supporting the development of policies and plans that promote food security and inclusive and sustainable economic growth through sustainable and resilient food trade and food transport and logistics systems. The project will be deployed across three main phases:

Phase 1 will assess the current state of play regarding food trade and food transport and logistics systems. It will also help to identify needs and gaps as put forward context specific recommendations and solutions.

Phase 2 will focus on implementing the recommendations and solutions identified in Phase 1.

Phase 3 will aim to expand regional cooperation in the field of sustainable and resilient food trading and food transport and logistics system. This will ensure wider dissemination of the project benefits within the target regions and beyond. Outreach and dissemination activities will include dedicated collaborative platforms, consultation mechanisms, and distance learning.