FAO statement at HLPF session on SDG 11: SDG 11 and interlinkages with other SDGs - Sustainable cities and communities

Agrifood systems should be integrated in National Urban Policies and city and territorial planning to enable cities to deliver greener, healthier and more resilient outcomes, linking food security and nutrition, climate action, public health and urban development.

Procurement and market instruments should be used to improve access to affordable healthy diets, especially in low-income and informal neighbourhoods, while supporting local producers and inclusive urban communities.

Multilevel governance should be strengthened by aligning mandates, policies and financing across national and local levels. This enables cities to move beyond fragmented pilots and scale proven agrifood systems solutions.

FAO's Network of Intermediate Cities and Food Systems, which brings together 66 cities from 10 countries, and the FAO Green Cities Initiative provide integrated, sustainable, productive and circular solutions and serve as practical models for this approach.

Investment in city-region diagnostics and disaggregated data systems is needed to identify bottlenecks, manage trade-offs, and target and guide investment in agrifood systems across the urban-rural continuum.

Partnerships for delivery at scale should be mobilized by aligning city networks, governments, UN agencies and financiers around practical implementation pathways and sustainable financing.