FAO-Türkiye Office hosts UN Convergence Initiative Working Meeting

The FAO-Türkiye Office hosted a working meeting under the framework of the United Nations (UN) Convergence Initiative, which integrates the UN Food Systems and Climate Action agendas. The meeting aimed to discuss the next steps of the initiative, which seeks to align food systems transformation with climate action under common objectives, and to strengthen Türkiye’s role in this process as one of the selected pilot countries.

The meeting brought together high-level representatives from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – General Directorate of European Union and Foreign Relations, which also oversees the UN Food Systems National Coordination Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – General Directorate of International Economic Relations, the Climate Change Presidency, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Türkiye and the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

In her opening speech, FAO -Türkiye Deputy Representative Ayşegül Selışık emphasized Türkiye’s pioneering role in food security and climate resilience. She explained that Türkiye is not only a key actor in regional and global food security, but also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Selışık further noted that extreme weather events threaten agriculture, water resources and rural livelihoods, stressing the importance of the sustainable transformation of food systems in building resilience against these threats. She added:

“This initiative contributes to long-term strategies under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals by integrating food systems transformation with climate action. We must work together to make our food systems resilient.”

UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, Babatunde Ahonsi, stated that the initiative strengthens multi-stakeholder collaborations and remarked that:

“The Convergence Initiative is of great importance in aligning Türkiye’s national policies with global goals. The transformation of food systems and the integration of climate strategies are crucial steps toward a sustainable future.”

H.E. Ambassador Aylin Sekizkök, Director General of International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the efforts of the FAO-Türkiye Office in both Türkiye and the Central Asia region:

“The FAO-Türkiye Office continues to produce sustainable solutions in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. We believe that the Convergence Initiative presents a critical opportunity in this regard, and we wish all stakeholders success in their efforts.”

Ferhat Çolak, Director General of European Union and Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and UN Food Systems National Coordinator, emphasized the ongoing development and continuity of the Convergence Action Plan:

“Our first meeting was held in Istanbul on 10–12 December 2024, where we established the main framework of the Türkiye Convergence Action Plan with all stakeholders. We had previously developed our National Roadmap for Food Systems Transformation in 2021. The Convergence Action Plan will serve as a key supporting document for this roadmap. Additionally, the agricultural sector is among the most affected by climate change. Therefore, updating the Convergence Action Plan according to evolving needs and implementing it in mainstream policies is of great importance to us.”

About the Convergence Initiative

The Convergence Initiative is a UN-led programme that aligns food systems transformation with climate action. It aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and long-term climate strategies under the Paris Agreement by integrating agriculture and food sector policies. By bringing together global UN-managed food systems and climate action agendas, it fosters more integrated and sustainable solutions. Türkiye has been selected as one of the four pilot countries worldwide for the Convergence Initiative.

Türkiye’s Role in the Convergence Initiative

In addition to being a key actor in regional food security, Türkiye is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events pose significant threats to agriculture, water resources and rural livelihoods.

To address these risks, Türkiye has taken significant steps to integrate food systems transformation with climate action.

• The updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and 2053 Long-Term Climate Strategy set ambitious new targets to enhance climate resilience.
• The National Roadmap for Food Systems Transformation reaffirms Türkiye’s commitment to the global agenda for sustainable food systems.

In this context, the UN Convergence Initiative, launched after COP28, presents a critical opportunity for Türkiye to align its sustainable food systems and climate action policies, creating strong synergies between them under shared objectives.