About us
About us
Global Action Network on Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition was founded following a series of important global initiatives (CFS/GFS, ICN2, SDG) The United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed 2016 to 2025 to be the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition. A FAO/WHO work programme (2016-2025) has been issued to follow up the Nutrition Decade. Sustainable, resilient food systems for healthy diets is one of the six action areas. The programme encourages member states to create action networks, and the Global Action Network was the first action network established under the Nutrition Decade.
Our History – Initiation of the Global Action Network
The initiative of the Global Action Network was launched by Norway at the UN Ocean Conference 2017.
Our Vision and Mission – Global Action Network Documents
A Concept Document, a Mission Statement and an Action Plan were developed.
Our People
Global Action Network Structure
Global Action Network TaskForce and Working Groups 2022
The Global Action Network receives valuable input from an international TaskForce.
The 2022 TaskForce is composed of participants from the Global Action Network, including country representatives from Norway, the Netherlands, and Iceland, as well as UN Nutrition, WorldFish, IFAD, and the University of Ghana. In 2022, The network had working groups on One Food System and IYAFA.
Anita Utheim Iversen
Head of Global Action Network,
Specialist Director,
Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
Stineke Oenema
TaskForce member,
Executive Secretary,
UN Nutrition
Shakuntala Thilsted
TaskForce member,
IYAFA Working Group member,
Global Lead in Nutrition & Public health,
WorldFish
Stefán Jón Hafstein
TaskForce member,
Special Envoy on Ocean Affairs,
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Matilda Steiner-Asiedu
TaskForce member,
Professor,
University of Ghana
Johanne Nordby Fremstad
TaskForce member,
IYAFA Working Group leader,
Adviser,
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Nicole Franz
IYAFA working group member,
Fishery Planning Analyst,
FAO
Francisco Mari
IYAFA working group member,
Advisor,
Bread for the World
Molly Ahern
IYAFA working group member,
Food Security and Nutrition (Fisheries),
FAO
Peter Haugan
TaskForce member,
Policy Director,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Bridging the Decades Working Group leader
Andreea-Laura Cojocaru
One Food System working group member,
Post-doctoral researcher,
University of Stavanger
Maria Wik Markhus
TaskForce member,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Secretariat Lead
Livar Frøyland
TaskForce member,
Program Director,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Rita Hannisdal
TaskForce member,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
The Norwegian Global Action Network Leadership and Secretariat Team
The Global Action Network is currently led by Norway. The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries chairs the Global Action Network with secretarial and scientific support from the Institute of Marine Research in Norway.
Anita Utheim Iversen
Head of Global Action Network
Specialist Director
Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
Maria Wik Markhus
Secretariat lead,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Rita Hannisdal
Secretariat,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Livar Frøyland
Secretariat,
Program Director,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Mike Yiou Zhu
Secretariat,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Marian Kjellevold
Secretariat,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Anne-Katrine Lundebye
Secretariat,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Nina Liland
Secretariat,
Researcher,
Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Norwegian Working Group
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, who has the lead of the Global Action Network, receives input from a national working group with cross-sectorial expertise, including the Ministry of Health and Care Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Norwegian Environment Agency, Norwegian National Council for Nutrition, the Institute of Marine Research, and the Norwegian Food Research Institute (Nofima).
Join us! – Global Action Network Participants
This informal network provides a platform for countries, and other actors, to link and learn to generate food security The Global Action Network is constantly developing based on inputs and ideas from participants at network meetings. In addition to open meetings, TaskForce meetings, and working groups, the Global Action Network arranges digital and physical events to bring attention to the importance of aquatic foods for food security.