Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice: BDN Members Champion Vietnam's Food Systems Transformation at SUN CSA Learning Visit

On April 13, 2026, the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hanoi hosted the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance (SUN CSA) Learning Visit on Closing the Gender Nutrition Gap and Fostering Climate-Smart Food System Transformation. The event brought together government officials, development partners, researchers, and civil society representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange experiences and explore practical pathways toward more inclusive and resilient food systems.

Tuyen Huynh, Country Coordinator, CGIAR Science Program on Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN) and Research Team Leader for Food Environment and Consumer Behavior (FECB) in Asia, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, shared the work on food systems transformation for healthy diets in collaboration with national partners including NIN, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, and others in Vietnam.

A Platform for Vietnam's Integrated Food Systems Vision

The Learning Visit showcased Vietnam's ongoing transition from a nutrition-focused agenda toward a broader food systems transformation approach that integrates agriculture, nutrition, health, education, and local governance.

Since 2021, the Alliance has worked closely with the SUN CSA Vietnam network to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination, generate evidence for decision-making, and support implementation of the National Action Plan for Food Systems Transformation (NAP-FST). Through the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation (SHiFT) and now BDN, the Alliance has contributed to building institutional capacity, supporting provincial planning processes, and facilitating the Food Systems Transformation Partnership platform, which brings together more than 40 national and international organizations.

From Evidence to Action

One of the highlights of the event was the panel discussion, “From Policy to Practice: Operationalizing Integrated, Climate-Resilient Nutrition and Health Systems in Vietnam.”

Tuyen Huynh joined Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director, NIN, and Dr. Nguyen Duy Son, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF, to discuss a critical challenge facing many countries: how to translate policy commitments into effective action on the ground.

Drawing on the Alliance's experience in Vietnam, Tuyen shared practical examples of how multi-sectoral platforms have helped align stakeholders from health, agriculture, and education around common nutrition objectives. She highlighted the cascading Training of Trainers approach as a successful model for strengthening local capacity, noting that by late 2024 more than 300 experts had been trained and that knowledge and skills are increasingly embedded within national institutions.

At the same time, she emphasized several persistent challenges, including fragmented governance structures, limited coordination across administrative levels, separate financing mechanisms, and institutional challenges at the period of restructuring stage. Addressing these issues requires sustained political commitment and long-term investment in systems strengthening.

Tuyen also stressed the importance of ensuring that food systems transformation reaches those most vulnerable to malnutrition and climate-related shocks, including ethnic minority communities in remote mountainous areas, women, and children.

BDN's Growing Footprint in Vietnam

The Learning Visit also highlighted the broader contribution of the BDN program in supporting food systems transformation across Vietnam.

Working closely with national and provincial partners, the Alliance has supported food systems planning and implementation in Son La and Dong Thap provinces, co-developed the Provincial Food Systems Policy Documenting Framework, and produced a range of knowledge products, including Mekong food systems profiles and practical training materials for local stakeholders.

The participation of BDN’s country coordinator in Vietnam reflected BDN's commitment to supporting transformation efforts at multiple levels—from national policy dialogue and evidence generation to local implementation and capacity development.

Looking Ahead

As delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered to learn from Vietnam's experience, one message emerged clearly: successful food systems transformation depends on strong partnerships, institutionalized coordination, and the ability to translate evidence into action.

The lessons shared during the Learning Visit closely mirror the principles that have guided the Alliance's work in Vietnam—strengthening cross-sector collaboration, building local capacity, and ensuring that decision-makers have access to practical and actionable scientific evidence.

As Vietnam advances implementation of its National Action Plan for Food Systems Transformation toward 2030, through the BDN program, the Alliance remains committed to supporting this journey through research, partnership building, capacity strengthening, and knowledge sharing—helping create more sustainable, resilient, and healthy food systems for all.