Food Security and Nutri0on Monitoring Systems and the Food Crisis: Lessons from the Last Three Decades

Transcription

1 Food Security and Nutri0on Monitoring Systems and the Food Crisis: Lessons from the Last Three Decades Suresh Chandra Babu Interna0onal Food Policy Research Ins0tute (IFPRI), Washington, DC Presented at the Cornell Workshop Honoring Per Pinstrup- Andersen

2 Outline Introduc*on and mo*va*on Brief history A conceptual framework FSNM and the food crisis Lessons for informed policy making Conclusions

3 Introduc0on and mo0va0on Policies and programs to achieve development goals Policies oben made without evidence high human cost Research informa*on - policy linkages Informa*on use in the policy process Poli*cal economy of policy making Strengthening ins*tu*ons for evidence genera*on NEPAD CAADP policy process and Knowledge systems Food crisis and policy making

4 FSNM: Historical background and Evolu0on Event/ Approaches World Food Conference (1974) Surveillance of nutri*onal status Joint Expert CommiRee of FAO, UNICEF, WHO ( ) ACC/SSN, Cali Colombia review of the status Cornell Nutri*onal Surveillance Program/ USAID/UNICEF (1982) Nairobi Social indicators FAO- Famines in Ethiopia, Sudan, Botswana regional early warning system - SADC Na*onal early warning system ( ) several SSA countries Nutri*onal surveillance ( ) to include food security indicators Food security and nutri*on monitoring review of experience ( Malawi lessons workshop) Nutri*onal surveillance in Asian financial crisis Indonesia Sen*nel nutri*onal surveillance (LQAS; FANTA II) (UNICEF) (1995- present) Development of CAADP - JSR ReSAKSS Country level SAKSS (2003- present) Food crisis monitoring of food prices and impact of high food prices ( ) Rapid short message services : use of ICT for loca*ng the food insecure and malnourished

5 Evolu0on of types and objec0ves of food security and nutri0on monitoring Type Program management and evalua*on Objec0ves To ra*onalize and maximize the effec*veness of food security, health and nutri*on programs Development planning and policy design To enhance food security and nutri*onal effects to develop policies Early warning and interven*on To prevent short- term cri*cal reduc*on in food availability and access and nutri*on Problem iden*fica*on and advocacy (food crisis) Monitoring effects of specific policies and strategies (structural adjustment) To assess and monitor indicators of nutri*on as a basis for alloca*ng resources towards par*cular problem To monitor food security and nutri*onal status of the poor to provide feedback to policy makers on the effects of structural adjustment policies

6 General methodology of food security and nutri0on monitoring Situa*on assessment and diagnose the causal factors of food insecurity and malnutri*on Iden*fy the constraints Analysis, policy decisions and program prescrip*on Planning interven*ons and plans of ac*on Implementa*on of interven*on policies and programs Evaluate interven*ons for improvements in food security and nutri*on

7 Stages in implemen0ng food security and nutri0on monitoring Situa*on Analysis (problem iden*fica*on, informa*on needs, demand and poten*al clients) Organiza*on of Ins*tu*ons (agencies for data collec*on, processing, analysis and ac*on) Designing Informa*on Genera*on (conceptualiza*on and analy*cal methodology) Informa*on to data Data collec*on (sources and methods of collec*on) Data Processing and Analysis (ins*tu*on and capacity building) Data to informa*on Results and Policy Discussions (interpreta*on and transfer) Review the Monitoring System (use of informa*on for interven*on and impact)

8 Conceptual framework for analyzing household food security and nutri0on Technology availability/ adop*on Resource use land, irriga*on Livestock produc*on Crop/food produc*on Selling markets/ output prices/ wages Strategies/exchange for food/cash Household income Local/private food traders Buying market/ food prices Household food security Input availability (fer*lizer, pes*cides) use Food availability in market Intra household alloca*on of food Labor availability Employment off- farm/non- farm Strategies exchange/ wages in kind Health, water, sanita*on Household characteris*cs Storage technology Nutri*onal status

9 Figure 1. A conceptual framework for evalua0ng food security and nutri0on monitoring systems. Capacity for data processing, Capacity for research and analysis Timely communications Quality of data collected Commitment for using information Organizational structures for information gathering FSNM Systems Cost-effectiveness User-driven objectives Impact of information on decision making Institutional capacity development

10 Review of FSNM in Selected Countries In response to Food Crisis organize food policy systems to generate and use informa*on effec*vely Strengthen capacity for policy analysis Strengthen use of informa*on in food policy making Organized series of consulta*ve na*onal and regional workshops Studying the policy process Role of actors and players in informa*on genera*on and use

11 Summary of policy responses to the food crisis and informa0on needs Country & Policy problem triggered by the food price crisis Bangladesh: Sharpe rise in food prices in domes0c markets. Significant number of households sliding into poverty. Increased vulnerability of marginalized groups. Ethiopia: Chronic food insecurity and low produc0vity of agriculture accentuated by the food price increase. India: Food price increase at the interna0onal level had li[le direct influence on domes0c prices. However, high domes0c food infla0on was cri0cized by opposi0on par0es and civil society organiza0ons; structural change in demand for high value commodi0es combined with poor supply response Kenya: Food prices began steadily increasing since Policy distor0ons and under provision of public goods were iden0fied as major causes of food insecurity and reinforced by high food prices. Malawi: Export of maize forging ahead with input subsidies during the crisis. Media cri0cized the government. Mozambique: Domes0c food prices con0nued to rise even aaer the interna0onal prices started to decline resul0ng in demonstra0ons on the streets of Maputo by the end of Nigeria: Droughts in some parts of the country; growing food shortages in many parts of the country. Vietnam: Although a major rice exporter, increase in interna0onal prices was seen not as an opportunity to increase the income of rice farmers. Poor consumers in rural and urban areas became vulnerable to food price increases. Example of food policy responses and informa0on needs Long- term food security goals such as price support, fer*lizer and fuel subsidies maintained. Net- impor*ng, yet 4 th largest rice producer in the world. Increased alloca*on of funds for social safety nets. Built higher food stock and reduced import tariffs on food for open market sales in urban areas. Banned rice exports and eliminated import duty on rice and wheat. Imposed export ban on all cereals crops. Released grain stocks to distribu*on centers and to grain mills. Targeted food distribu*on to affected popula*on. Ban on common rice and wheat exports. Addi*onal procurement of wheat was doubled in 2008/09. Government proac*vely increased the support price for major cereals, increased the food subsidies, released the food stocks in open markets, and increased the fer*lizer subsidy. Policy responses were slow. Policy responses included producer support policies and other supply side interven*ons. Increased importa*on of food grains to build up domes*c stocks. Reduc*on of wheat import tariff and suspension of maize import tariff. Ban on export of maize. Restric*on on private domes*c trade. Commitment to produce addi*onal maize through fer*lizer subsidy. Export commitments not kept; strategic grain reserves. Reduced import tariffs in early 2008, cut the tariffs of maize, wheat, and rice from 25 percent to 2.5 percent. Trade policy measures were generally effec*ve in reducing the interna*onal price shock impact. Released stocks of food grains and increased rice imports. Emergency mee*ng of governors. Increased fer*lizer subsidy and other subsidies for small scale machines. Implemented guaranteed minimum price, commercial agricultural credit program, and na*onal food crisis response program Export ban on rice preceded by lowering the rice export quota. Domes*c food grain market was fully liberalized. Fulfilling domes*c demand for rice became the prime policy objec*ve of the government. Procured rice from farmers and built up food stocks.

12 Country Bangladesh Ethiopia India Kenya Malawi Characteris0cs of FSNM systems during the food crisis Type of monitoring system Food policy monitoring system in the Ministry of Food Various systems, both na*onal and interna*onal Various systems in agriculture, food, and nutri*on FEWS NET provided regular informa*on on food prices Various approaches, including famine early warning system Key objec0ves Monitor food produc*on, prices, and stock levels Monitor food prices, produc*on, vulnerability Monitor food produc*on and consump*on Informa*on price and produc*on trends Food security vulnerability assessments Infrastructure for data collec0on Data from the districts, food controllers, and household surveys Regional offices mandated to collect informa*on Highly developed infrastructure for data collec*on Mostly data on price and food products; household level data collec*on was maintained Good infrastructure to collect data Capacity for data processing, analysis, and interpreta0on At the na*onal level through externally funded projects Weak capacity in government NGOs fill *me capacity gap High capacity for data processing and analysis Capacity in government ministries is weak, some capacity in think tanks Capacity con*nues to be limited Timely genera0on of informa0on Regular joint sector reviews allow for sharing of informa*on with policymakers Timely informa*on is produced by interna*onal agencies Regular bulle*ns on price and food availability Policy research think tanks provide informa*on for decision making but was not systema*c Regular collec*on of data helps update informa*on Commitment of decision makers Impact of informa0on on decision making High level commitment to Na*onal level policymaking use data for determining benefits from macro systems; the extent of food challenges prevail on assessing emergencies and the need the impact of various for data. interven*ons and refining them High commitment of decision making to use informa*on; high role of poli*cs High commitment to policy responses but low level engagement with evidence/ informa*on use Opposi*on party played key role in raising concerns and increasing the commitment of the government Strong commitment and leadership of policymakers Informa*on used by donors to guide decision makers Analysis of informa*on leb to researchers who have limited access to policy makers Food security steering groups help in use of informa*on for policymaking Donors support groups that regularly met and demanded informa*on for decision making Mozambique No na*onally organized monitoring system; FEWS NET FEWS NET monitors prices and food produc*on Weak infrastructure for data collec*on Some capacity exists but needs strengthening Informa*on from filed delays due to poor capacity Policymakers are commired but do not have capacity Systema*c use of informa*on for decision making Nigeria Vietnam No func*oning food security monitoring in place Well established food price monitoring systems in the Ministry of Agriculture No well- defined objec*ves exist for monitoring Informa*on on trends and varia*ons in food prices and food availability in the regions Data collec*on infrastructure exists but is poorly used Data collected through the exis*ng channels of regional and district administra*on Capacity for data analysis weak in government agencies Capacity for regular analysis of the data and connec*ng the food prices to the household indicators remains low Policy think tanks generated informa*on but it was not *mely and government did not use it Food price data was available on *me; but sharing with public was limited Na*onal food crisis response program but was not successful Decision makers were highly commired but over reacted to price increase, hur*ng small scale producers Implementa*on challenges faced due to lack of informa*on sharing among agencies Informa*on was not effec*vely used due to limited analysis and poli*cal pressure

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14 Key Message Seasonal Progress Short-Term Forecasts

15 Status of FSNM in responding to the food crisis Limited investment in FSNM system Few na*onal FSNM systems func*onal Quality of informa*on Producing *mely and usable informa*on Choosing appropriate indicators Informa*on at the household and community levels Decentraliza*on of monitoring systems Experienced cycles of support and neglect

16 Bridging data policy capacity External dependence Data collec*on Less processed Much less analyzed Key Even Message less is reported and used Seasonal Progress Local capacity of the ins*tu*ons Short-Term Forecasts Low credibility and trust in local analysis Trained individuals needed to bridge informa*on to policy

17 Research on Informa0on Policy Linkages Research impact on policy Improving informa*on gathering infrastructure Improve the effec*veness of the system Key Message Seasonal Progress Short-Term donor dependency) Forecasts Increase the cost effec*veness (reduce Making it sustainable Check the relevance meet the changing needs (food crisis)

18 Lessons from FSNM in responding to the food crisis Connec*ng na*onal systems to regional and global systems Increasing informa*on and decision making linkages Cross- country learning Well- developed na*onal systems contribute to global informa*on

19 Lessons from FSNM in responding to the food crisis Increasing the commitment of country governments Reorient donor funding towards capacity development Poli*cal economy of policy making and informa*on use Streamlining the informa*on base and crea*ng synergy among duplica*ve efforts

20 Conclusions Early warning systems are able to help policy decision making the most Externally driven and funded Not yet mainstreamed Polices con*nue to be developed and implemented on an ad- hoc basis Strategic investment in monitoring systems Increasing the resilience of food systems Mul*disciplinary capacity needed