The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has been invited by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) to an international conference titled "Living Territories for Sustainable Development." The event was held on the 22nd to 24^th of January 2018, in Montpellier, France.

The invitation was extended due to UNCDF’s longstanding partnership with the least developed countries (LDCs), a UNCDF-OECD-FAO joint publication on territorial approach to food security, and the organization’s experiences on local development and place-based approaches in building local resilience.

The global objective of the conference was to discuss the contribution of territorial approaches to sustainable development. The event focused on three key points related to: i) methods and scientific knowledge on territorial approaches to rural development, ii) showcasing successful place-based innovations and projects, including organizational and institutional reforms and iii) analyze the conditions of success for territorial development, especially within the context of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Discussions were articulated on the views about the emerging trends, in terms of rural transformation and their consequences for policymaking; opportunities and constraints of place-based approaches, particularly with regard to food security, livelihoods and poverty alleviation; identification of main obstacles to the adoption of place-based policies, and particularly the potential of localization of the food system for a more balanced spatial development, providing local opportunities in terms of activities/job creation and a more effective natural resource management.

The sessions consisted of present country experiences, discussion on concepts and methods, and on lessons learned for policy support and implementation.

The UNCDF Finance For Food Programme (F4F) presented the local food system approach including a territorial assessment, M&E framework of food security investments and the necessary financial instruments for the promotion of territorial policies.

Based on UNCDF’s experience on implementing the Local Food System approach with countries, the governments of Niger and Mali have been invited to present their experiences on territorial approach to food security and policy advice on its implementation.

The High Commission to Food Security of Niger was called to present the evidence on territorial development policies and their direct or indirect impacts on food security, and highlight the role of institutions, inclusion, innovation, information and investments in the process of territorial development.

The Commission to Food Security of Mali provided, based on the UNCDF food security programme implemented in Mali, a forward-looking perspective to promote territorial approach to food security at scale by reflecting its potential for development, the obstacles to its adoption and main challenges in the implementation.

In terms of perspective, UNCDF has been perceived as one of the players in the realm of food security, particularly on the role of local institutions, food security funding mechanism and M&E methodology.

Caption for image: Interview by International Media of the Deputy Commissioner to Food Security of Mali, Mme Dicko Bassa Diané, talking about the role UNCDF played in mainstreaming Territorial approach to Food Security.