Collective action across over 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar. World Food Day is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and takes place annually on 16 October, which is the anniversary of the founding of FAO. Each year a special theme for World Food Day promotes a particular aspect of the need to raise awareness of hunger and act for a better future with food security, with better lives for people, and the planet.This year, the theme of World Food Day spotlights access to foods as a human right. The campaign raises awareness worldwide about the need for everyone to have access to a variety of nutritious, affordable, safe, and sustainable foods. We talk about “foods” in the plural because diversity is essential to proper nutrition, as well as food availability, accessibility and affordability for all.Smallholders and family farmers are the backbone of food production and ensure the persistence of traditional food cultures. World Food Day is an ideal occasion to celebrate the hard and diligent daily work of farmers who help us keep Montenegro’s flavours alive by preserving centuries-old culinary traditions and attracting the agritourists to rural regions.Even though the world’s farmers produce more than enough food to feed the global population, data in the latest Global Report on Food Crises shows more than 280 million people experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2023 – and many of the crises that caused hunger last year are still ongoing in 2024. The war in Ukraine and the aftermath of regional floods, droughts and earthquakes have disrupted food production and distribution. Additionally, where food supply is severely restricted, people may consume food that is unsafe, frequency of meals may be reduced, and portion sizes may be smaller. The costs of a healthy diet are rising and are an increasing obstacle for people to maintain health and food security. Over 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet that supplies the necessary diversity of food and of micronutrients required for well-being. Those people who are unable to get the nutrients they need are more likely to get sick, face a higher risk of chronic illnesses or lack the stamina to lead an active lifestyle. The time is now for action to end food insecurity and malnutrition.  The Government of Montenegro recognizes and prioritizes the importance of the food security and adequate nutrition – this is reflected in the key strategic documents, namely the national Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Areas for 2023–2028.  According to 2022 data from FAOStat, the statistical repository of FAO, Montenegro has a prevalence of 12.3 percent of low-to-moderate or severe food insecurity in its population, giving it the lowest rate in the Western Balkans. Another important food availability metric is the average dietary energy supply adequacy (ADESA) which measures the dietary energy supply in a country as a percentage of the average dietary energy requirement for the total population. That is, it measures the adequacy of food supply in terms of calories in the country. It discerns whether undernourishment is mainly due to an inadequate food supply or unequal distribution of food among the population. Again, FAOStat data shows that in Montenegro the three-year average ADESA score has increased from 141 to 145 between 2018–2020 and 2021–2023, which indicates adequate and improving food availability.To commemorate World Food Day in Montenegro the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, Podgorica municipality and Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro with the support of the FAO Office in Montenegro organized a Food Fair, which was attended by high-level representatives and partners from embassies, international organizations and national institutions, and that brought together more than 25 organic food and traditional food producers and vendors.  De facto Head of the FAO office in Montenegro and FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Nabil Gangi spoke at the Fair, saying “Today’s Food Fair aims to demonstrate the unique role which smallholders and family farmers play as the backbone to producing variety of foods while preserving traditional food cultures in Montenegro. As a follow-up to the “Summit for the Future” pledge, I would like to use the opportunity of celebrating this World Food Day with our friends and partners to renew the collective commitment to building efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that guarantee everyone’s right to nutritious foods. Together, we can get back on track to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by transforming agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life—leaving no one behind.”The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, Vladimir Jokovic, also spoke. He recognized the larger importance of the country’s food heritage as a marker of national identity. “We decided to organize the food and agricultural products fair to focus on organic production, traditional production of agricultural products, as well as producers who are successful entrepreneurs today and who, thanks to IPARD support, can supply the Montenegrin market with agricultural products. The Government of Montenegro has a clear direction and commitment to join the European Union market. It is very important that we all participate in creating a recognizable Montenegro, as a country with a rich tradition in agricultural production, but also in creating the most favourable environment for the business of our agricultural producers while respecting European values." Some of the fair’s attractions included traditional folklore dance and music performances, and a demonstration of food preparation with fresh local ingredients by a skilled local chef. For younger visitors, special animations and games were organized to help children learn about healthy food in a fun and interactive way. The students and teachers of the Secondary Mixed School in Andrijevica and the Secondary Vocational School "Spasoje Raspopović" in Podgorica also celebrated World Food Day. Thematic discussions and lectures on the topics of the right and access to nutritious, diverse and safe food were organized, and other interactive activities included food preparation and creation of artwork.  Fourth grade students at Andrijevica school understood the meaning of World Food Day and generated their own messages to promote the day. "Hunger is not solved by words, but by actions!""To someone, a little can mean a lot, and as humans, we should always support one another.""Young and old alike, let’s create a world without hunger together!""Let’s promote volunteer work and humanitarian projects to help one another and prevent hunger in our communities."Their words capture the true spirit and call for action of World Food Day to be carried forward every day of the year.

 New York, USA - 22 September 2024The Pact along with its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, was adopted by consensus, despite a last-minute proposal for an amendment by some countries, including Russia, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Syria.The amendment sought to incorporate text calling for non-intervention in any issue of national sovereignty, and the primacy of intergovernmental deliberation, in effect, downplaying the role of the civil society or private sector interests. It was rejected after the 193-member Assembly decided not to act on the proposal.Click here for UN News’ live coverage of the meeting and here to download the resolutionPact for the FutureThe Pact’s five broad focus areas include: sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance.This has become an urgent pivot, as multilateral financial institutions and even the United Nations itself have come up short seeking solutions to 21st century problems, the pact lays out.By endorsing the Pact, UN Member States pledged, among other things, to:Turbocharge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change, two landmark 2015 agreements that have seen halting progress and missed milestonesListen to young people and include them in decision-making, at the national and global levelsBuild stronger partnerships with civil society, the private sector, local and regional authorities and moreRedouble efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflictsProtect all civilians in armed conflictAccelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and securityGlobal Digital CompactThe Global Digital Compact marks the first truly worldwide agreement on the international regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and is founded on the idea that technology should benefit everyone.It outlines commitments to ensure that digital technologies contribute to sustainable development and human rights, while addressing risks like digital divides, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.The Compact aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure AI technologies are used responsibly, fostering global cooperation on both AI capabilities and security threats. Governments are also obligated to form an impartial worldwide Scientific Panel on AI and start an international conversation about AI governance inside the UN.Declaration on Future GenerationsThe Declaration on Future Generations focuses on securing the well-being of future generations, also highlighting the need to include their interests in decision-making processes.It also underlines the importance of protecting the environment, promoting intergenerational equity, and ensuring that long-term consequences of today's actions are considered.New opportunitiesSpeaking after the adoption, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the Pact for the Future and its annexes, “open pathways to new possibilities and opportunities.”“People everywhere are hoping for a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity. They are crying out for global action to solve the climate crisis, tackle inequality, and address new and emerging risks that threaten everyone,” he said.“They see the United Nations as essential to solving these challenges,” he continued, adding “the Summit of the Future sets a course for international cooperation that can meet their expectations … now, let’s get to work.”Months of negotiationThe adoption was the culmination of months of negotiations co-facilitated by Germany and Namibia.Speaking after the adoption, Philémon Yang, President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, urged nations to move forward, together, in a spirit of solidarity and multilateral cooperation.“The path we choose must lead to a future where human dignity is respected and human rights are upheld. A future where peace transcends the mere absence of conflict and is grounded in justice, inclusion, and equity.”

With just about six years to go for our 2030 milestone, the world is severely off-track to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even as we race to make the most impactful decisions for a sustainable future, data and evidence continue to be our backbone, informing policies, investments and spurring us to improve our effectiveness. The journey to making data accessible and usable for the SDGs has been a significant one. In 2016, when the global indicator framework was first established, reliable data was available for only about a third of the indicators, and many lacked established methods for collection. Today, the number of indicators with good data coverage (meaning data is available for more than 50 per cent of countries) has nearly doubled to 68 per cent. Furthermore, since 2020, all 231 indicators now have internationally accepted methodologies.  Yet, this exercise of collecting, monitoring and reporting SDG data is a titanic effort, which extends beyond just the statistical bodies in every country. It requires a collaborative partnership among governments, international organizations, data producers and users.In Montenegro, under the leadership of the RCO, the  UN supports the national SDG dashboard, that helps track progress on the implementation of the SDGs  Since its establishment towards the end of 2022, the availability of SDG indicators considerably increased  from below 30 per cent to current 63 per cent, with significant progress in measuring SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and Infrastructure), closely followed by SDG 4 (Quality education) and 6 (Clean water and sanitation).  The increase in public availability of collected indicators was also evident through the improved SDG index score (as per the Sustainable Development Report) from 68.8 in 2022 to 73.05 in 2024.Key indicators from this dashboard are also used to report on the National Sustainable Development Strategy and are integrated into the Action Plan for the implementation of National Commitments delivered by the President at the SDG Summit 2023. This SDG monitoring is being institutionalized through the national Sustainable Development Office, with the RCO-led and specific agencies' consultancy and technical assistance. The initial establishment of the dashboard was supported by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), while the inter-agency Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) group coordinates further work to enhance dashboard functioning and longer-term sustainability.The dashboard has also evolved into a crucial platform for knowledge exchange, featuring publications and offering access to analytical work by the UN that aligns with the strategic priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, thus further ensuring buy-in and more in-depth engagement of Government partners.

 On 1 September 2024, Diego Zorrilla of Spain took the position of the UN Resident Coordinator (ad interim) in Montenegro.“I am pleased to join such an efficient UN Country Team in a country which is globally recognized as a very active UN member state and an example of effective cooperation of UN organisations, government and other partners. I look forward to further strengthening One UN and SDGs acceleration in Montenegro,“ said Zorrilla upon taking up the post. Mr. Zorrilla comes to Montenegro from Yemen where he served as the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, overseeing one of the world's largest humanitarian operations. He also served as UN Resident Coordinator in Tunisia (2017-2020) and Ecuador (2012-2017). With over 31 years of experience working for the United Nations, Mr. Zorrilla worked in fourteen different countries but also at the UN Headquarters in the UN Secretary-General’s team. He covered leadership roles in peacebuilding, peacekeeping, political mediation, development, and humanitarian response.Zorrilla holds a law degree from Madrid's Autonoma University and a master's in Law from the Instituto de Empresa. He is fluent in Spanish, French, English, and Italian.