FAO appoints Deputy Speaker to present food security report at 2026 Global Parliamentary Summit
Rome, Nov. 11 (BNA): The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed Dr. Jihad Abdullah Al Fadhel, Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, to present the parliamentary report on food security to the 3rd Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition, scheduled to be held in 2026. The report incorporates the outcomes and recommendations of the preparatory meeting held on 9–10 November in Rome, Italy.
The preparatory meeting was attended by broad representation from parliamentarians, delegations of regional and international parliamentary bodies, senior FAO officials, as well as representatives from other UN agencies and relevant parliamentary institutions, to exchange ideas and expertise on developments, challenges, and priorities shaping the agenda of the 2026 summit.
Dr. Al Fadhel emphasised that her appointment by FAO reflects the international parliamentary confidence in Bahraini parliamentary diplomacy, under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and in coordination with the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
She expressed hope that the summit would serve as a platform to renew global commitment and stimulate joint parliamentary action toward sustainable food security and food justice for all.
Dr. Al Fadhel also highlighted that hunger and malnutrition are no longer merely humanitarian challenges, but also developmental and security issues requiring comprehensive approaches based on effective legislation, resource mobilisation, strengthened social protection systems, and transformative agricultural and food systems aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
At the conclusion of the preparatory meeting, Dr. Al Fadhel presented a summary of key discussions, highlighting the essential role of parliaments in translating global commitments into national legislation. She emphasised the importance of promoting responsible agricultural and social investments and integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment into laws and national budgets.
She also noted the need to incorporate adaptation measures within legal frameworks, advance innovation and digital transformation in food systems, and adopt innovative financing mechanisms, including guarantee and climate funds.
Dr. Al Fadhel further emphasised the value of regional cooperation and parliamentary learning as a means to enhance the implementation of sustainable food security strategies across countries. She highlighted the creation of parliamentary networks and centres for agricultural innovation to promote applied research and knowledge sharing.
Regional perspectives were also highlighted during the discussions. African parliaments underscored the importance of the Malabo Declaration and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Arab and North African countries drew attention to challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and high dependence on food imports.
Asia-Pacific nations emphasised the need to align parliamentary action with regional frameworks to promote responsible investment.
European and Central Asian countries focused on land governance and the digital transformation of agricultural systems, while Latin American and Caribbean countries noted that achieving full social justice remains a key challenge in the fight against hunger. Mediterranean countries highlighted climate change as an urgent issue, calling for integrated policies across water, food, and energy sectors.
Dr. Al Fadhel concluded with a set of actionable recommendations, including the launch of a Global Parliamentary Network to monitor the implementation of commitments with support from FAO and technical partners, the expansion of digital agriculture through unified national platforms, and the adoption of national legislation to reduce food loss and waste in coordination with the UN Environment Programme.
She also called for establishing regional food emergency funds to secure strategic reserves, integrating food security into national security policies, expanding school nutrition programmes linked to local production, creating regional parliamentary agricultural innovation centres, and investing in parliamentary knowledge and capacity through training programmes, technical exchanges, and partnerships with the public, private, and civil sectors to develop scalable local solutions that advance national and regional food security.
