Pursuing food systems transformation despite financial constraints

The question addressed in this brief concerns how can governments pursue food systems transformation in the face of severe financial constraints, financial shocks and food-price crises. Transformation is urgently needed to address long-term goals around addressing hunger and malnutrition, as well as making food systems sustainable and resilient. The brief shows that many important changes to food systems can be implemented which are low cost, or even cost-neutral. These relate to: improving governance of food systems; repurposing and leveraging governmental resources; leveraging resources in the private sector; harnessing the power of consumers to drive change; and improving access to finance by low- and middleincome countries (LMICs). While this brief is primarily intended for policy makers in LMICs, recommended actions are equally applicable to high-income countries (HICs).