About Us
Since 2012, Food and Climate has operated as an independent, one-person consultancy founded by Magdalena Anna Kropiwnicka. Over the years, Magdalena has come to understand the value of finding the right partners and collaborators, gradually envisioning a global network of expert consultants working on different aspects of food system transformation.
Magdalena and Nadia met in Brussels after years of working independently on food systems and sustainable development across a variety of geographies and institutions. Their collaboration emerged from the meeting of complementary profiles, bringing together expertise in policy and research, project management, and partnership coordination. Together, they offer a balance of strategic insight and practical execution, supported by cross-generational perspectives and strong professional networks.
We understand the deep interconnections between food systems in Europe and globally. As the world shifts away from traditional aid models, organizations increasingly seek agile, mission-aligned partners who can help them navigate complexity, build strategic alliances, and deliver meaningful results. While consultancy services are sometimes misunderstood or underutilized, we believe they are becoming increasingly essential for teams working toward sustainability goals.
Our approach goes beyond delivering technical inputs. We collaborate closely with clients to ensure our support is aligned with long-term strategies, embedded within internal processes, and responsive to evolving needs. We are particularly committed to building relationships that grow over time. Whether support is needed occasionally or intensifies during moments that require trusted collaboration—such as outreach, events, proposal development, or transitions—we are ready to step in, providing continuity and momentum.
We are also actively building a network of independent consultants working across food systems, environmental issues, and sustainable development.
Magdalena Anna Kropiwnicka brings over two decades of global experience, combining high-level multilateral policy expertise at the United Nations and the European Union with extensive fieldwork across four continents. Her professional journey includes direct service with the UN, as well as the management, strategic advisory and co-creation of non-profit organizations.
She is an expert on the Rome-based UN Food Agencies and the European Union, with lived and professional experience in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Magdalena played a pivotal role in the reform of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) following the 2008 global food price crisis. In 2011, she served as EU Spokesperson at the UN FAO and WFP during the Polish EU Presidency and led EU negotiations on the UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests.
Previously, Magdalena opened ActionAid’s Rome office leading on engagement with the UN Agencies and co-coordinating global food security network across 28 countries. Since 2012, as founder of Food and Climate consulting, she has advised the European Commission, UN FAO, non for profit and philanthropic organizations on food and climate policy, sustainable agro-food chains, biofuels, tenure rights, and gender equality. Most recently, she supported the Forest Tenure Funders Group and Wellspring Philanthropic Foundation on advancing gender and tenure rights for the Indigenous People and Local Communities.
An experienced non-profit leader, she was a founding Board Member of the Land Portal Foundation and has served as Secretary of the Board for the Uganda-based Women’s International Peace Center.
Magdalena holds M.A. in International Development and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Law and Diplomacy from St. John’s University, Rome Graduate Center. She earned dual B.A. degrees in Economics and Political Science, both summa cum laude, from Northeastern University at Marymount Manhattan Center. She is fluent in English, Polish, and Italian, with working proficiency in Spanish and French.
When she’s not dreaming up ways to transform food systems and support women’s leadership, you will find her on a yoga mat, raising her two boys and chasing after her Ugandan dog.
Nadia Papasidero is a social impact strategist and project manager with extensive experience supporting international organizations, NGOs, and mission-driven businesses working at the intersection of sustainability, food systems, and social innovation. She specializes in agile project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and partnership development—bringing clarity, structure, and empathy to complex initiatives.
Nadia has led and supported projects across Africa, Central America, Europe, and the U.S., collaborating with institutions including the UN World Food Programme, IFAD, the World Bank, EIT Food, and The Good Food Institute. She has contributed to global convenings such as COP27 and COP28, where she coordinated stakeholder engagement for the Good Food Institute and led the Food Systems Partnerships on behalf of EIT Food. She has also supported Sounds of the Ocean, a climate artivism initiative promoting ocean conservation through immersive musical performances.
Her expertise spans climate resilience, sustainable food systems, alternative proteins, conservation and mental health. Most recently, she coordinated a joint project with IFAD and the World Bank on tracking finance to food systems under the mandate of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, and supported EIT Food’s work on Regenerative Agriculture Market Innovation through workshops and partner coordination.
Nadia is passionate about organizational psychology and wellbeing at work, and has trained in facilitation to increase the value of each interaction she has with clients and team members. She brings cross-cultural fluency, emotional intelligence, and a people-first approach to every engagement—helping changemakers align teams, amplify impact, and move work forward with confidence.
Fluent in English, Italian, German, Spanish and proficient in French, Nadia holds an MSc in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Outside of work, Nadia finds energy and balance through running with her dog, yoga, skiing, and kitesurfing—always seeking connection to nature and movement.