Rome: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed Dr. Jihad Abdullah Al Fadhel, Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, to present the parliamentary report on food security at the 3rd Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition, scheduled for 2026. The report incorporates the outcomes and recommendations from the preparatory meeting held on 9-10 November in Rome, Italy.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the preparatory meeting was attended by parliamentarians, delegations from regional and international parliamentary bodies, senior FAO officials, and representatives from other UN agencies and relevant parliamentary institutions. The gathering aimed to exchange ideas and expertise on developments, challenges, and priorities shaping the agenda of the 2026 summit.
Dr. Al Fadhel stated that her appointment by FAO reflects international parliamentary confidence in Bahraini parliamentary diplomacy, under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and in coordination with the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She expressed hope that the summit would renew global commitment and stimulate joint parliamentary action toward sustainable food security and food justice for all.
Dr. Al Fadhel also highlighted that hunger and malnutrition are not only humanitarian challenges but also developmental and security issues. She emphasized the need for comprehensive approaches based on effective legislation, resource mobilization, strengthened social protection systems, and transformative agricultural and food systems aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
At the conclusion of the preparatory meeting, Dr. Al Fadhel presented a summary of key discussions, underscoring the essential role of parliaments in translating global commitments into national legislation. She stressed the importance of promoting responsible agricultural and social investments and integrating gender equality and women's empowerment into laws and national budgets.
She also noted the need to incorporate adaptation measures within legal frameworks, advance innovation and digital transformation in food systems, and adopt innovative financing mechanisms, including guarantee and climate funds. Dr. Al Fadhel further emphasized the value of regional cooperation and parliamentary learning to enhance the implementation of sustainable food security strategies across countries.
Regional perspectives featured prominently during discussions. African parliaments highlighted the Malabo Declaration and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Arab and North African countries drew attention to challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and high dependence on food imports. Asia-Pacific nations stressed the need to align parliamentary action with regional frameworks to promote responsible investment.
European and Central Asian countries focused on land governance and the digital transformation of agricultural systems, while Latin American and Caribbean countries noted the challenge of achieving full social justice in the fight against hunger. Mediterranean countries emphasized climate change as an urgent issue, calling for integrated policies across water, food, and energy sectors.
Dr. Al Fadhel concluded with actionable recommendations, including launching a Global Parliamentary Network to monitor the implementation of commitments with support from FAO and technical partners. She advocated for the expansion of digital agriculture through unified national platforms and the adoption of national legislation to reduce food loss and waste in coordination with the UN Environment Programme.
She also called for establishing regional food emergency funds to secure strategic reserves, integrating food security into national security policies, expanding school nutrition programs linked to local production, creating regional parliamentary agricultural innovation centers, and investing in parliamentary knowledge and capacity through training programs, technical exchanges, and partnerships with the public, private, and civil sectors to develop scalable local solutions that advance national and regional food security.