PLATFORM TOPICS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture and rural development constitute highly complex systems which require long-term strategies. With the rising importance of new actors such as private sector, the growing trade and climate change communities, the SDGs’ call for sustainability and universality presents additional challenge to the coordination amongst actors and of their political agendas. The increased focus on approaches which capture these complexities, for example nexus and food systems approaches, may bring opportunities for broader policy coherence and concerted action. The road to the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 promises to generate a diverse and fruitful dialogue amongst a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including the Platform’s members.

The Platform has always recognised the importance of knowledge sharing amongst development partners and of appraising the impact of the new global agenda on the member organisations’ modus operandi. The members agree that a higher level of donor coordination and exchange will be required to achieve joint action towards rural transformation and ultimately the implementation of Agenda 2030 in a holistic, but still measurable way. The most recent effects of the corona virus pandemic on food security and nutrition, as well as in the mid- to long-term, re-emphasizes the important role the Global Donor Platform has to play in facilitating information and knowledge sharing within the donor community and with our development partners.

The Platform focuses on several political entry points that can directly contribute to a more comprehensive approach to sustainable development of the rural space, namely inclusive rural youth, agribusiness and trade, land governance, climate change and gender. With the cooperation with strategic partnerships, members and partners are getting a direct insight into the needs and priorities of development partners.