Member State Dialogue Convenor (or National Dialogue Convenor)
The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General has requested that UN Member States appoint Member State Dialogue Convenors. This national Convenor will be responsible for organizing a Dialogues programme which focuses on the transformation of national food systems so that by 2030 they are aligned with, and making significant contributions to, the Sustainable Development Goals. The Convenor is responsible for ensuring that the Dialogues programme contributes to a pathway for national food systems transformation through engaging a broad range of stakeholder groups.
At Stage 2 of the Member State Dialogues programme, Member State Dialogue Convenors are able to appoint “Sub-national Dialogue Convenors” who convene Dialogues at the sub-national level. Findings from these sub-national Dialogues are harvested at a national-level Dialogue, also as part of Stage 2.
In countries with UN presence, UN Resident Coordinators and Representatives of UN system entities as well as summit Champions, in-country scientists, and food systems partners (including development partners) are committed to support Member States to develop and implement their Dialogues programme.
Click here to learn about the list of officially nominated Member State Dialogue Convenors.
Independent Dialogue Convenor
Anyone can embark on the process to convene an Independent Dialogue. Independent Dialogue Convenors can be self-nominated or be appointed to convene Dialogues on behalf of an organisation, for example an association, union or company. Convenors commit to enabling Dialogues that respect a healthy diversity of viewpoints, encourage shared exploration and reveal promising new ways of working together. Convenors will consider how best to include:
- People who work to feed a population by growing, harvesting, packing, processing, distributing, selling, storing, marketing, consuming or disposing of food.
- People who work in sectors that shape food systems, including infrastructure, transport, financial services, information and technology.
- People whose work affects other critical facets of food systems, including natural resources, the environment, the economy, culture, indigenous knowledge, policies, politics, trade, regulations and more.
Convenors will create an inclusive and supportive venue for debate, collaboration, consensus-building and shared commitment to making change happen. The role of Convenor can be shared and Dialogues can be “Co-convened”.
