Again this year, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) joined the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, from Tuesday, July 7th, to Thursday, July 16th 2020, to reiterate that farmers, men, women and youth, are the most powerful actors to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

The theme was “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and expected limitations on in-person meetings and international travel, all meetings were held virtually, including all side and special events.

Here’s our round-up of the events and activities WFO has been involved in during the two weeks of the virtual HLPF.

Ending hunger and achieving food security – HLPF Session

7 July 2020, 3-4 PM (NY Time)

WFO was actively engaged in the preparation of this session and contributed to shaping the background document (Click here to download the HLPF 2020 Session: Ending hunger and achieving food security for all – Background Note)

Transformative pathways to realize the 2030 Agenda: a whole of society approach taking into account the impact of Covid19 (stakeholder perspective) – HLPF Session

7 July 2020, 4-5 PM (NY Time)

WFO attended the session as a member of the Steering Group of the Major Group and Other Stakeholders (MGoS) Mechanism.

Lessons from a new Disaster: National and Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in Action – Side event of the Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism

8 July 2020, 8 – 9 AM (NY Time)

WFO, as a member of the Advisory Group of the Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM), joined the task group for the organization of this side event. The meeting aimed at enhancing the understanding of the value of effective DRM strategies to Covid19 response as well as increasing the awareness of the global target E of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and its relevance in the context of Covid19.

Protecting the planet and building resilience – HLPF Session

8 July 2020, 2 – 3 PM (NY Time)

The WFO President addressed, as Lead Discussant on behalf of the Farmers’ Major Group, the official meeting “Protecting the planet and building resilience” of the 2020 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Read more

Furthermore, WFO was actively engaged in the preparation of this official meeting and contributed to shaping the background document (Click here to download HLPF 2020 Session: Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience – Background Note)

Click here to learn more about the WFO contribution to the session.

COOPs 4 Climate Action – Webinar

9 July 2020, 3 – 4.30 PM (Brussels Time)

The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) hosted the webinar “COOPs 4 Climate Action” to celebrate the 2020 International Day of Cooperatives.
As a member of the COPAC Board, WFO was represented by Ms Meena Pokhrel, Deputy General Manager of NACCFL (WFO member organization from Nepal). She addressed the audience sharing her perspectives on climate action within the agricultural sector and its relation with women and youth empowerment as well as domestic resource mobilization.

Covid19 pandemic: a worldwide response from the global farmers’ community. Stories from the field – Side event of the Farmers’ Major Group

14 July 2020, 8 – 9 AM (NY Time)

WFO and IFOAM – Organics International co-hosted the Farmers’ Major Group Side Event. Farmers’ leaders from global and regional farmers’ organisations across the globe convened virtually to discuss the devastating effects of the pandemic outbreak on the livelihoods of farmers and shine a light on the way the global farming community has been reacting resiliently. Read more