All information related to food and nutrition security in the country has been digitized and maintained by the Bangladesh Food System Dashboard . It will provide information on key food system indicators at the national and local levels. According to sector stakeholders, there is scope for positive change in food management through informed decision-making through dashboards and advancement of SDG goals as well as Bangladesh’s National Pathway Document.
On Sunday (May 12) Bangladesh Food System Dashboard was inaugurated by Food Secretary Md. Ismail Hossain.
While speaking as the chief guest the Food Secretary said that, through the food dashboard, the picture of food management can be easily seen from anywhere in the country. Apart from this, division and district figures will also be known separately which will be useful for food research and making decisions regarding food. At the same time the dashboard contains various information related to food availability and nutrition which will facilitate rapid policy formulation and research activities.
Director General of FPMU Md. Shahidul Alam presided over the event while Dr. Rudaba Khandkar, Country Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) delivered her welcome address.
Dr. Rudaba Khandkar said, data is important in making policy and decision making in various branches of food management. The Food System Dashboard is one of the most effective tools for demonstrating Bangladesh’s progress towards transforming a sustainable, equitable and resilient food system. She applaud the government and partners for prioritizing data-driven decision-making as promised by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
PKSF Managing Director Dr. Namita Halder, Food and Agriculture Organization Bangladesh Deputy Country Representative Dr. Dia Sanau, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Executive Director Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Additional Secretary of the Office of the Minister of Education SDG Monirul Islam and Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional Director General Food Directorate spoke as special guests.
It was informed in the event that the Bangladesh Food Systems Dashboard is being managed under the guidance of the Ministry of Food and BBS. Similar dashboards have been developed in six countries around the world, including Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Pakistan and Indonesia. The Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the Ministry of Food, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) jointly worked to develop the Bangladesh Food Systems Dashboard. This process has been accelerated in partnership with Columbia Climate School and FAO and with the cooperation of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, various ministries, departments, agencies, IFAD, WFP and other development partners, educational institutions and the private sector.