Brussels Briefing n. 30Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Crises and
Shocks4th March 2013
http://brusselsbriefings.net
The EU approach to resilience: learning from food security crises .
Philippe Thomas, Head of Sector, Food Crisis, DG DEVCO, European Commission
The EU Approach to Resilience:
Learning from Food Security Crisis
An increasing fragile World
Food crises
Food and nutrition insecurity
Poverty and limited access to productive assets
Inappropriate land tenure systems
Environmental degradation and desertification
Climate change
Pressure on natural
resources
Demography and urbanization
Exposure to natural hazards
Exposure to economic shocks and political conflicts
Food prices fluctuation
Resilience - Definition
Resilience is the ability of an individual, a household, a community, a country or a region to withstand, to adapt, and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks.
Resilience at different levels, with various dimensions
International
National
Local/communities
Individual/householdS
ocia
lPo
litics and in
stitutio
ns
Hu
man
Educa
tion, H
ealth
Ph
ysic
al
Infra
structu
re
Natu
ral
wate
r, land, fo
rest
Econ
om
ic
Areas of resilience improvement
Strengthening CapacitiesAvailability•Improved inputs (e.g. resistant varieties)
•Sustainable agriculture
•Good practices of DRR
Access• Social protection (e.g. social transfers)
• Alternative incomes• Food self-production
Stability• Food and agri-input stocks• Food assistance• Strengthening of local markets
• Insurance schemes
Utilization•Hygiene and nutrition education
•Diet diversification and food quality improvement
Food Crises
SHARE and AGIR: 2 pilot initiatives
Sah
el re
cu
rren
t d
rou
gh
t AGIR Initiative• Environmental crises
• 18 million affected people• Major agricultural losses• Food crisis
• end hunger and malnutrition• achieve a substantial and durable
improvement in the resilience of the most vulnerable populations
Global Partnership between West Africa countries and regional organizations (ECOWAS UEMOA and CILSS) and their international partners, civil society and private sector
500 m € for the EU Action Plan
Horn
of
Afr
ica
pro
tracte
d c
rises SHARE Initiative
• Political, economic and environmental crisis• 12 million affected people• Soaring food insecurity and
undernutrition• Food crises
• treatment of severe malnutrition in infants
• improved management of natural resources, livestock health and trade, agriculture
• alternative income generating activities
• basic services (water, sanitation)
• DRR
Partnership with IGAD- Global Alliance
260 m € for the recovery
Resilience supported by EDF- Regional ProgrammesRéserve régionale de sécurité alimentaire pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest
(pilot phase: 56 millions €, à partir de 2013)« Répondre efficacement aux crises alimentaires aux côtés des Etats et des acteurs, tout en contribuant à la mise en œuvre de l’ECOWAP/PDDAA dans une perspective de sécurité et de souveraineté alimentaires régionales »
Three level of intervention:- Local stocks (at local community level)- National reserves (managed by each country)- Regional reserves (managed through regional institutions)
Sites of storage:1. North Nigeria/south Niger2. South Mali/South Burkina/North Ghana3. Senegal 4. Guinea/ Liberia/Sierra Leone
Mobilization of the stocks done on the pay back principle!!!
Sustainable agriculture
o Improved and more resilient agricultural techniques and practices
o Seeds varieties resistant to pests and extreme weather
o Sustainable use of water and other natural resources
o Improved positive interaction between agriculture and natural
resources
o Better management of waste and reduced post-harvest losses
o Reduce dependence from energy and non-renewable resources
(fossil fuels, mineral fertilizers)
o Sustainable intensification of agriculture
What is the Commission proposing? (1)
1. Resilience as a priority for EU funding: support to partner countries' own resilience strategies
2. A new strategic approach - Address root causes of vulnerability - Long term commitment
- Strengthening capacities at all levels – from individual to regional institutions
- Coordinated planning and programming between humanitarian and development actors
- Flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances
- Local ownership and working in partnership
What is the Commission proposing? (2)
3. Developping a deeper understanding of risk reduction and management (methodologies+ replication of successful approaches)
4. International advocacy
5. Developping new instruments: innovative approaches to risk reduction and management, use of trust funds…
?
?
LDC LMIC
??
UMIC & Graduated
?
Way forwards: Geographical evidence - lack of resilience to food crises
Next steps:
- Action Plan in 2013
- Council Conclusions
- EDF / DCI 2014-2020 & AGIR
Political commitment should be translated into practice ! …
Package for 2013: overview of EU policy initiatives
Food security policy (2010) +
Council Conclusions
Nutrition policy (2013)
+ Commission Action Plan to achieve 2012
commitment to reduce stunting in 7 million
children by 2025 (annex)
Resilience approach (2012)
Food and nutrition security implementation plan (2013)
Joint undertaking: Commission and Member States
Thank you !