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 ServicesMinistry of Foreign AffairsMinistry 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.