Page 5 - GUIDELINES

FOREWORD

The guidelines support provincial actors in designing and facilitating food systems
dialogues, as part of the sub-national food systems process to co-develop their Provincial
Implementation Plan (PIP), hereby contributing to the advancement of the National
Action Plan on Food Systems Transformation towards Responsibility, Transparency and
Sustainability (NAP-FST).

The guidelines for sub-national food systems dialogues draw on the experiences of the
Dialogue Co-Convenors and the partners in organizing the national and regional Food
Systems Summit Dialogues in Vietnam in 2021. They have been adapted, refined and
piloted at sub-national levels in Dong Thap and Son La Province between August and
December 2024.

As the first edition, the guidelines are designed to be flexible and adaptable, encouraging
provincial actors to customize approaches according to different local priorities, conditions,
and stakeholder dynamics. We hope to receive further feedback and reflections to
continuously refine and enhance the guidelines throughout the implementation of the
Food Systems Transformation National Action Plan in Vietnam up to 2030.

The guidelines offer facilitators suggestions for employing dialogue-based methods
effectively to communicate core concepts and messages derived from the National
Action Plan on Food Systems Transformation. The guidelines are suitable for both face-
to-face and virtual meetings, but the former are highly recommended as they optimize
interaction between participants and organizers and enhance the overall quality and
outcomes of the dialogue process.