Mandate & Mission
Our overall goal is to enhance the effectiveness of SDC (co-) funded operations by improving the availability and use of individual and general knowledge.
Mandate and activities
SDC’s Agriculture and Food Systems Network is a knowledge exchange platform whose membership consists of about 500 development practitioners with links to the activities of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in the thematic fields of Agriculture and Food Systems.
Our mission is to offer a forum for creating, exchanging and retaining content that supports individuals and agencies in the common endeavour of transitioning to sustainable, resilient, equitable and inclusive food systems which maintain an environmental balance, contribute to social and economic wellbeing and provide for healthy diets for all.
In doing so, we explore a wide range of topics. We do have a special interest in nutrition, agroecology and blended finance/equitable market development, but we also engage in topics such as biodiversity, resilience, humanitarian assistance or seed systems to name but a few, frequently delving into topics which straddle a range of other thematic areas in a quest to maintain a truly systemic approach to what we do.
We use a wide range of knowledge-based tools, be that online seminars, webinars, learning journeys and occasional e-discussions; but we also seek to bring members together in person in the form of regional workshops or global meetings (“Face-to-Faces”). And last but not least, we send out a quarterly newsletter, the content mostly being generated by our members.
We are always on the lookout for good suggestions, and eager to welcome new members to our network. Membership is free, and is open to SDC staff, representatives of SDC partner institutions and anyone with a particular interest in the development of sustainable food systems for healthy diets. See: how to join our Network