The 49th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) convened online and considered the 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition report, its policy implications and the role of CFS in the context of COVID-19. It also focused on the uptake of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition, the CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work and other ongoing CFS workstreams and priorities.

CFS is an international and intergovernmental platform that develops and endorses policy recommendations and guidance on a wide range of food security and nutrition topics. It usually holds an annual Plenary session every October in Rome, Italy, although the last two sessions were held virtually with altered scheduling, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Forum on the uptake of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition, which took place during the Plenary session, provided an opportunity to discuss and mobilize political commitments for further promotion and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines that were adopted on 10 February 2021.

CFS Members also considered the CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work to: review its implementation and agree on any needed adjustments; and provide an update on the preparation process towards the development of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment, including the next steps in the policy convergence process.

Funding for Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of CFS 49 has been provided by the CFS Secretariat.