REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN THE CARIBBEAN

building governance for food and nutrition security

ANTONIETA SURAWSKI

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDAAUGUST 1 and 2, 2013

Why is FAO talking about governance?

What is FAO’s commitment to governance?

What is governance for FAO?

How does FAO approach governance?

What is FAO’s experience in building governance?

1. WHY IS FAO TALKING ABOUT GOVERNANCE?

Background and context

Commitments and resources: something is not working

Recognition of political and social factors to achieve FNS

Focus on governance and human rights approach

2.a WHAT IS FAO’S COMMITMENT TO GOVERNANCE?

FAO has reformulated its vision through five new strategic objectives, all of which address governance at the sectoral level or from an FNS approach

The first strategic objective is to “contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition” with focus on improving governance for FNS

◦ Political commitment of countries through PFH formed, strengthened and articulated with civil society (legislation, work at supranational level)

◦ Development of FNS initiatives through regional integration bodies (CARICOM, UNASUR, SICA, CAN) in articulation with CELAC and CFS

◦ Countries are better prepared to address the intersectoral nature of FNS through alliances, partnerships and south-south cooperation

2.a WHAT IS FAO’S COMMITMENT TO GOVERNANCE?

Restructured Committee on Food Security

Theoretical and operational development of Right to Food and its realization

Resources are being oriented to working with countries in governance and political issues around FNS; to promote the participation of civil society and different stakeholder groups in FNS processes

3.a WHAT IS GOVERNANCE FOR FAO?

What are governance issues?Governance at the national, regional, global

levelsEvolution of the concept of governance

- Governance for FNS refers to “formal and informal rules, organizations, and processes through which public and private actors articulate their interests and make and implement decisions at the local, national, regional, global levels”

3.b WHAT IS GOVERNANCE FOR FAO?

Sector level governance and governance for FNS◦Refinement of the concept at the sector level◦Sector governance is required for FNS

governance

Governance and human rights◦development objective or process◦Normative vs action-guiding tool

4.a HOW DOES FAO APPROACH GOVERNANCE?

No one model of governanceNo one operational definition

BUT we still need

An analytical framework for understanding the context, give guidance to diagnose, assess, monitor governance for FNS in a specific country context

4.b HOW DOES FAO APPROACH GOVERNANCE?Do not look for an ideal state of

governance

FOCUS ON CONTEXT:

Understand current reality of governance for food security (gaps, opportunities)

Identify and analyze actors/ interests

4.d HOW DOES FAO APPROACH GOVERNANCE?

Governance matters….but the main goal is to improve food and nutrition security

Cross cutting dimensions or principles should be defined/qualified by each country and put in perspective

Lack of evidence on which governance principles/dimensions lead to better FNS outcomes

IN WHICH GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLE SHOULD WE INVEST?

4.e HOW DOES FAO APPROACH GOVERNANCE?

Learn from analytical work which principles lead to increased food security

Go from anecdotal evidence to solid knowledge

Get a feel for the weight of governance principles

5.a WHAT IS FAO’S EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING GOVERNANCE?

Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative

A common goal for the countries in the region

Reaffirmed at the FAO Regional Conference in 2012

Regional outcomes relate to political and social aspects of FNS

5.b WHAT IS FAO’S EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING GOVERNANCE?

What does the HFLAC Initiative pursue?

Countries to reaffirm their political commitment to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutritionParliamentary Front Against Hunger for legal frameworks and

budget allocationFPH consolidated in the framework of supranational parliamentary

structures (PARLATINO)

Stronger dialogue between governments, parliamentarians, civil society, dev. Partners

Countries improve institutions, strategies and programmes to address the intersectoral nature of FNS through alliances and partnerships

AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORTH TOWARDS FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN THE CARIBBEAN

The Caribbean region and Member States have made a commitment to improve FNS Regional FNS Policy and Action Plan based on RtoF National policies and action plans

FAO is committed to addressing political and social aspects of FNS through its renewed vision and goals – focus on governance

Experience in strengthening governance in the rest of the LAC region: lessons to share and knowledge to build upon

AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORTH TOWARDS FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN THE CARIBBEAN

ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TOGETHER!!!

THANK YOU