3 rd REGIONAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Transcription

1 3 rd REGIONAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION 4-6 November 2013, Tunis, Tunisia Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Cairo, Egypt FINAL VERSION FOR PUBLICATION 1

2 Group photo of workshop participants at the Carthage Thallasso Hotel, Tunis, Tunisia, November 4 th,

3 Contents Introduction... 4 Workshop Structure... 5 Regional Perspectives... 7 Summary of Speeches and Overview... 7 Summary of the Sessions... 9 Food Security... 9 Nutrition Enhancing Agriculture and Food Systems CFS consultative process to develop Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments (CFS-RAI) in the context of Food Security and Nutrition CFS consultative process to develop an Agenda for Action (A for A) for addressing food insecurity in protracted crises Food Losses and Waste Reduction ANNEX 1: Agenda and Timetable ANNEX 2: Speeches ANNEX 3: Participant list

4 Introduction The Near East and North Africa region (NENA) faces many structural constraints in meeting its food security and nutrition requirements. High population growth coupled with high unemployment, rising urbanisation and single-sector economies are exacerbated by scarce natural resources (particularly arable land and water) and climate-change, which have made the Region dependent on imported food. The region has also been impacted by the global financial economic crises, global food price volatility, and the slowdown of economic investment. The ongoing social and political transition also poses several challenges; this includes social and political unrest such as armed conflict, civil insecurity, disruption of economic activities and interruptions to cross-border livelihood movements, as well as the rising costs of subsidies The above mentioned as well as numerous other food security challenges in the region continue to be a source of concern for policy makers. As a result, during the 31st FAO Near East Regional Conference (NERC) held in Rome, Italy, from the 14th-18th May 2012, the Member Countries agreed on the importance of organising a regional food security and nutrition workshop to prepare for the 39th CFS Plenary Session. Building on the successful experiences of the first and second Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshops on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN), that took place in Cairo and Khartoum in 2011 and 2012, respectively, the event s objective was to contribute to a more effective food security and nutrition governance mechanism. The workshop also provided a platform where countries and other participants could provide policy inputs into the Committee on World Food Security s (CFS) consultative process on responsible agricultural investment (RAI) and an agenda for action on food security in protracted crises, a draft technical paper on food security in the NENA region and a draft strategy document on the reduction of food waste and food loss. Key topics of relevance to the region and to the CFS were discussed through a participatory process in order to ensure that the CFS Plenary sessions and inter-sessional activities are based on latest developments on the ground. 4

5 Workshop Structure The following five main topics were discussed, which were deemed crucial to this region: i) Food Security in the Near East Region; The status of food security in the region was presented, and a draft strategy paper was prepared and discussed. ii) Nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems; The status of nutrition in the region was reviewed, and dialogue took place with regards to how to incorporate nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems into policy-making. iii) Responsible Agriculture Investment; An overview of the CFS-RAI consultative process was presented, including its schedule, terms of reference and an introduction to the Zero Draft. iv) Addressing Food Insecurity in Protracted Crises; An overview of the Agenda for Action for Addressing Food Insecurity in Protracted Crises consultative process and overall approach was made, where the pre-zero Draft document was discussed. v) Food Losses and Waste Reduction; The overall latest activities in the RNE region for food losses and waste reduction were summarised, the status of food losses and waste in the region was presented, a strategy paper on food losses and waste reduction for the RNE region, and a Regional Save Food Network was prepared and discussed. Participants The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders with representation from 14 countries consisting of Governments, UN agencies, regional organisations, regional financial institutions, agricultural research institutions, universities, NGOs, civil societies, and the private sector. Background Documents and Presentations A draft strategy paper Food Security and Nutrition in the NENA region: issues and policy options was prepared by FAO, the World Bank, ESCWA and IFAD. In addition, a draft strategy document was formulated on Food Losses and Waste Reduction in the Near East and North Africa Region. Panellist presentations were prepared to support or offer contributory comments into the aforementioned documents. 5

6 Format of the Workshop For each topic discussed there was a facilitator, a rapporteur and panellists representing member countries, international organisations, civil society and the private sector. The facilitator opened the panel discussion and invited the panellists to make their presentations. The floor was then opened for an interactive dialogue with a view to add input into the draft strategies presented, contribute to the consultative process and/or identify the main challenges for the region. The facilitators worked closely with the rapporteur to draft policy recommendations, which were presented to the participants in the closing session. 6

7 Regional Perspectives Summary of Speeches and Overview In an official opening of the workshop Mr. Pasquale Steduto, Assistant Director General of the Near East and North Africa Office in Cairo, Egypt, thanked the Tunisian Government for hosting the workshop and all the participants for attending. He commented on the ongoing transition process, which has presented the region with great challenges in terms of food and livelihood security. Conflict, civil insecurity and political instability are at the core of the ongoing crisis in the region, which has hindered access to adequate and nutritious food items. Referring to the Syrian Crisis, it is clear that emerging challenges such as trans-civilian displacement and the influx of refugees place greater strain on limited resources and social services in host communities. The workshop will create increased awareness about the emerging food security challenges in Member countries and create an environment to enhance collaboration between countries in the region, in order to avert the imminent risks and ensure food security for the people in this region. Opening remarks by the CFS Chair, Ms. Gerda Verburg, stressed the importance of cooperation in tackling the challenge of food insecurity. She applauded the leadership shown in this region by coming together as diverse stakeholders, noting that it mirrors the multistakeholder approach adopted by CFS at the global level. The challenge, however, is to move beyond discussion and negotiation, and to cooperate into putting decisions into action. The example was given of the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security as a tool that represents the cooperation of multiple stakeholders and provides guidance for putting decisions into practice. This workshop creates an annual opportunity to take stock of our actions and discuss the way forward for achieving food security in the region. An opening statement by Mr. Saleh El Shanfari, CEO of the Oman Food Investment Holding Company, representative of the private sector and NGOs, placed high emphasis on the importance of cooperation between the private sector and the government. There is a high level of uncertainty in the region, and hence it is crucial that the private sector and governments work willingly to provide funding initiatives to help contribute to achieving food security in the region. Opening remarks by Ms. Alia Al-Dalli Manager of the UNDP Regional Centre in Egypt highlighted three critical areas for food security and development in the Arab region; legal empowerment of the poor and vulnerable, the important role of women in agriculture, and the potential for agricultural cooperatives in improving food security and strengthening livelihoods. The need for knowledge exchange and partnership was reinforced, among state institutions, the private sector and civil society, as well as the international donor community. 7

8 HE Mohamed Ben Salem, Minister of Agriculture, Tunisia welcomed the participants to Tunis and expressed his gratitude to the FAO and CFS for hosting this event. He stressed the strategic role of food security in national peace and stability, and credits the Tunisian government's emphasis on food security for significant growth in agriculture production in recent years. However, food security is not about production - it is about trade, food quality and safety, marketing and distribution, and most importantly, about livelihoods. Food security also requires close cooperation at the international level, and forums such as this workshop are excellent opportunities to discuss regional programs and projects, and cooperation in areas such as scientific research, knowledge exchange, and investment. 8

9 Summary of the Sessions Food Security Presentation: Introduction and Overview of food security in the Near East and North Africa Region, Mohamed Aw-Dahir, FAO RNE Countries in this region have distinct disparities in terms of levels of development and resource endowment. There are wealthy countries that have a huge food-deficit and there are also poor countries with high potential for food production. The agricultural sector contributes 10% to regional GDP and employs 21% of the population. The key challenges facing the region with regards to food security and nutrition (FSN) are a fragile resource base, double burden of malnutrition, overreliance on food imports and the existence of food insecurity in both chronic and acute forms. There are strengths and opportunities in the region that can be further exploited; proximity to important foreign markets, dynamic private sector and improved value addition and value chains. Importance was placed on the way forward; especially the need for appropriate FSN policies and programs, including building community resilience, also there is a need for stronger political, institutional and financial commitment to address FSN problems and crucially providing evidence-based analysis through joint knowledge products. Presentation: A draft strategy paper, Food Security and Nutrition in the NENA region: issues and policy options, Panos Konandreas, FAO A presentation was conducted highlighting the main points from the draft strategy paper, which was developed by FAO in collaboration with the World Bank, ESCWA and IFAD. The draft strategy paper was developed based on the recommendations of the 31st Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) in 2012, where FAO has been requested to assist in developing a food security strategy and action plan for its implementation. Key problems in the NENA region were summarised with reference to demographic trends; rising populations and urbanisation, nutrition; under nutrition, dietary deficiencies, obesity and the economic costs of malnutrition, while also looking at the prevalence of conflict and food insecurity. The presentation continued to look at consumption and production patterns in the region, focusing on self-sufficiency ratios, commodity trade balances, accelerating import growth, composition of food imports, where cereals constitute 28% of imports, also looking at, trade trends; trade balances and price variability. Moreover, the presentation analysed the trends in cereal yields; comparing the NENA region with the world, and in addition viewed the renewable water resources m3 per capita per year, making a comparison between the countries in there region. Furthermore, the presentation glanced at the heavy burden of food losses and waste along the supply chain, identifying where the majority of loss takes place in the region; which is during consumption, where the commodity mostly experiencing loss and waste is cereals. Saudi Arabia was used as an example, displaying the inputs lost to food 9

10 losses, and compared the food losses and waste to the depth of the food deficit in the NENA region. In addition, policy recommendations were presented at national, regional level and international levels. At a national level the recommendations are as follows: relieving the demographic pressures, creating employment; especially for youth and women, increasing food productivity; especially by smallholders, providing support to farmers and defending against depressed prices, managing water resources, reducing food losses and food waste, managing risks and the role of food stocks, rationalizing land acquisitions, strengthening safety nets and nutrition education programmes. At a regional level the recommendations are as follows: strengthening regional cooperation, consider regional food security stocks and an Arab food security fund, improve market information, coordination and knowledge exchange and cooperate in conflict resolution. Finally, at an international level the paper recommends the following: strengthening food assistance programmes, implementing the Marrakesh Decision and food financing facilities, strengthening WTO disciplines on export restrictions, consider international food stocks and support to manage risks and rationalise biofuel mandates and related policies. Panel Discussion: Feedback on the draft strategy paper, Food Security and Nutrition in the NENA region: issues and policy options Facilitator: Alia Al-Dalli, Manager of the UNDP Regional Centre in Cairo Panellists: Dougou Keita, African Development Bank (ADB) The analysis conducted in the draft strategy paper, confirms the ADB s work on food security and agriculture. The ADB has four priority and key intervention areas: (i) policy; (ii) institutional capacity; (iii) infrastructure; (iv) innovations and techniques. The ADB s FSN strategy rests on two pillars; natural resource management and infrastructure, these are implemented through partnerships, co-financing, analytical work and research. The ADB is willing to support policies and programs of work, directly or through partnerships, with a focus on the two aforementioned pillars. Pascale Micheau, World Food Programme (WFP), Addressing Food Security in the Near East and North Africa: Key Strategic Elements Social safety nets (SSN) are investments that help to build resilience; they can spur economic growth and effectively respond to crises. The presentation summarised the polices of the WFP in the region, looking at the WFP Strategic Plan , WFP Safety Nets Policy Update 2012, WFP policy on Capacity Development 2009, School Feeding Policy 2009, updated in There is a growing demand for SSN in a climate of increasing political instability, and there are many challenges that the region faces such as; the youth bulge, high unemployment, import dependency, price volatility, high inequality, constrained fiscal space leading to painful reforms and massive urbanisation. 10

11 In addition, the SSN constitute a significant proportion of national budgets and hence they are no longer sustainable. The impact and targeting of SSN s is low due to the huge leakage of benefits to the non-poor and they also distort consumption patterns in favour of calorie-rich diets. WFP engagement in the region; includes food distribution, cash and vouchers, and school feeding. Additionally, WFP provides development and technical assistance, through school feeding, food security monitoring, social safety net reform and also food subsidy reform. Vito Intini, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Governance and Food Security in the Context of Political Transition Through multiple assessments it seems there is a direct nexus between governance, food security and violence. There is evidence that suggests that perceived corruption was a key driving force behind popular discontent. Food security in this region is linked to poverty, marginalisation and poor governance, hence where there is good governance this has a significant domino effect on other challenges within a country, and as a result improving governance in countries is an important method to deter the threat of conflict. Oil revenues can be more effectively used in Arab countries, if they were to expand into different sectors. Budget allocation could be more efficiently used to avoid heavy leakages. The reform of SSN s are strongly advised to release the fiscal burden on government budgets, and establishing flexible, better targeted SSN s will aid countries during crisis situations. Finally, government reforms in the judiciary, business environment, service delivery and land administration is crucial to spur business investment in the countries, increase the inflow of capital, facilitate viable migration flows and help address domestic and socio-economic and geographic imbalances. Saleh Al Shanfari, Oman Food Investing Holding Company The private sector has developed alongside the realities of governance, building relationships between governments and investment institutions. But, foreign investors have greater constraints when faced with trade, local communities and local resources. Drawing on examples from Argentina and Sudan, El-Shanfari suggests that countries should invest in their own countries and then should focus on creating partnerships, hence improving trade relations in the region. This is also less provocative and less dangerous for the private sector. Regarding the production-demand gap in cereals, treating the problem of food loss and waste (FLW) can contribute to reducing this gap; this requires investment along the value chain and requires improving logistics, packaging and storing. There is a strong need for an initiative to support investment in this area. 11

12 SUMMARY OF PLENARY DISCUSSION: The relationship between governments and the private sector needs to be strengthened, especially with regards to the private sector investing in methods to reduce food loss and waste. In addition, there should be a forum for dialogue between the private sector, governments and civil society, to discuss the extent of legal protection for the private sector; to foster investment. It is important that the private sector and civil societies are included in the decision-making process for food security and nutrition policy formulation. There needs to be a shift in governance towards responsible agricultural investment, and also look at the role of large scale investments to tackle food insecurity, protecting farmers incomes, the education of girls and the role of women in agriculture as a whole. Incentivise responsible investment in poor areas without contributing to marginalisation. There needs to be an increase in collaboration, where best practices can be shared across the region and among regions; fostering South-South Cooperation; exchange of resources, technology and knowledge. Investment in agriculture, by increasing the availability of micro-finance, in the form of loans and insurance, to help manage the assets of the most vulnerable, generate a consistent income and contribute to poverty reduction. Look at the possibility of co-financing for investment in infrastructure, as a means to develop resilience and assist better management of resources. More thorough monitoring of investments by governments, there should be funds specifically set up to be utilised by CSOs and there should also be greater protection against the misuse of funds. Greater integration between organisations and donors, as a means to encourage co-financing, investment in infrastructure, to help develop resilience and support better management of resources. Developing basic infrastructure in rural areas will have a ripple effect on improving transportation routes, increasing employment and hence contributing to rural development. Look at the possibility of enlarging irrigation areas, as a means to increase productivity. Assist governments in modernising trade methods, to help small holder farmers gain greater access to the market. Advise governments to have staple food reserves, to decrease vulnerability to shocks on the global market. Initiate in-depth analysis of the supply chain, from pre- to post-production, to identify where the food waste and losses are, in order to tackle the problem at different sections of the supply chain; this may contribute to reducing the gap between production quantity and demand. More emphasis needs to be made on food safety and food contamination, and the effects this has on health. Strengthen cooperation with governments in order to upgrade food supply chains. In addition, there should be a section included on this in the draft technical paper, as this is an issue facing the region as a whole. 12

13 Advocate to wealthy people in individual countries to assist the poor; investment from wealthier people in the country can help contribute to eradicating hunger. RECOMMENDATIONS EMERGING FROM THE SESSION ON FOOD SECURITY 1. The workshop supports the draft strategy paper Food Security in the Near East and North Africa: Issues and Policy Options, developed by FAO in collaboration with the World Bank, ESCWA and IFAD. 2. A coordinated multi-stakeholder approach is needed to advocate for political, financial and institutional commitment to address the problem of chronic poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition especially among vulnerable and marginalized groups. 3. In a climate of political transition for which the chance of success is highly linked with the rule of law, improved food security governance is critical. Enabling environment, including legal frameworks to facilitate pro-poor investment policies and programs to improve food security also remains crucial. 4. The workshop noted and welcomed the initiative on Regional Food Security and Nutrition proposed by the FAO Regional Office for the Near East (RNE) and its five thematic focus areas, i) Improving policy, institutions and governance; ii) Supporting the development of efficient FSIS for evidence-based analysis, policy formulation and for FSN decision support; iii) Promoting the development of efficient and sustainable food systems with specific attention to reducing food losses and waste; iv) Promoting sustainable access of households to safe, nutritious and diversified food and; v) Building resilience of vulnerable individuals, households, and communities. 5. Member Governments and other stakeholders are needed to address the following: - Organise strategic dialogue on agricultural investment and rural development, and facilitate sharing of best practices among countries in the region with the aim of assisting countries achieve improved levels of food security and nutrition. - Enhance regional cooperation in agriculture and food trade and in conflict resolution mechanisms to address the problem and root causes of acute food insecurity within the region especially among the conflict affected, displaced civilians and host communities. - Address land issues by reforming land tenure systems supported with legal framework, with due attention to the Voluntary Guidelines for Tenure of land to ensure women and rural landless own their land hence improved access to credit and productive resources. 13

14 - Improve the efficiency of inclusive food systems, throughout the entire food chain from pre and post-harvest, through processing and transport to the market as a means to contribute to improving availability of adequate and safe food and reducing the food gap. Public-private partnerships and co-financing mechanisms are important to improve infrastructure and link rural communities and small producers to markets. - Develop effective food security and market information systems supported by accurate and timely data collection and analysis, by strengthening agricultural extension services. - Social Safety Nets are an investment in inclusive, sustainable and resilient development which ultimately contributes to food and nutrition security. However the untargeted social safety nets programmes in the region, in their current form, are no longer sustainable and should be reformed to improve efficiency and effectiveness through proper targeting and improved supply chain. - Establish a disaster risk reduction fund and agricultural insurance for resilience and mitigate risk against natural and manmade disasters. 14

15 Nutrition Enhancing Agriculture and Food Systems Presentation: Introduction to the session Nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems Fatima Hachem, FAO RNE A summary of the status of nutrition in the NENA region was presented. Although the region s dietary energy supply has improved over time, is has become less diversified; diets have become increasingly energy rich and nutrient poor. The region has not substantially improved the nutritional status of children, with the exception of Tunisia, and there has been deterioration in some countries. Furthermore, the double burden of nutrition remains an issue in all countries, however it varies in scale. The key challenges facing the region were highlighted. Particular attention was given to stunting, which is most significant in Yemen, Sudan, and Egypt. Obesity rates are highest in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Kuwait. Anemia is significant among children below the age of 5 in Mauritania and Sudan, substantial among pregnant women in Egypt and Sudan, and noteworthy among non-pregnant women in Sudan and Mauritania. Panel Discussion: Policies, programmes and interventions for nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems Facilitator: Fatima Hachem, FAO RNE The objective of the session was to discuss how to improve policies, programmes and interventions for making agriculture and food systems more nutrition-enhancing. Presentations were made by a group of panelists who represent international organizations, research institutes and government, followed by a plenary discussion. Panellists: Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition Florence Egal, FAO The presentation started by providing the malnourishment statistics globally and outlining the overlapping burdens of malnutrition. Patterns of consumption are changing, and likewise for the key causes of malnutrition; there is a need for varied diets that will provide a combination of nutrients required for a healthy and active life. Variety of food is linked to food systems, which ultimately determine the availability of food. Food value chains and local food systems contribute to moving towards more sustainable diets; diets that are nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy. Recommendations of how to tackle malnourishment in the region were made, highlighting the need for a multi-sectorial approach. This can involve a shift from supply to demand, where consumers play a key role in reorienting food systems, such as through locally grown products, school feeding programs, and labelling standards. In addition, integrating nutrition education systematically into food security programmes and projects can help increase the supply and consumption of nutrient-rich foods. This can be done through factoring in rural-urban 15

16 linkages, integrating the right to food within the social sector, reviewing subsidies, and through sharing of best practices among member states. The World Bank s Approach to Agricultural Development Yurie Tanimichi Hoberg, World Bank (WB) The global context of agriculture is evolving; increased food price uncertainty is the new normal, agriculture is vulnerable to climate change, and nutrition is becoming a key development issue. The region faces unprecedented challenges within the agricultural sector with a rapidly increasing demand for more food as populations continue to rise. Malnutrition is increasingly becoming a key issue in the region, which brings to light the key linkages between agriculture and nutrition. Nutrition-sensitive agriculture must be embodied in the agricultural sector which should be supported by stakeholders. Key objectives include; investing in women, increasing access to high-nutrient content food, enhancing dietary diversity and incorporating explicit nutrition objectives and indicators. Examples of nutrition sensitive activities to be incorporated into the World Bank s agricultural projects are; raising agricultural productivity, linking farmers to markets and reducing risk and vulnerability. There is a need to incorporate a nutrition-lens in agricultural policy, dialogue and policy-making, as the importance of nutrition is often overlooked. Positioning Nutrition as Central for a Food Secure Arab World Perrihan Al-Riffai, International Food Policy Research Centre (IFPRI) Nutrition should be central for a food secure Arab World, where there are key links between malnutrition and exacerbated poverty and slower economic growth. The main nutritional challenges are; the growth-nutrition disconnect, where agricultural and economic growth is not sufficient for eradicating malnutrition; relatively high prevalence of child stunting throughout the region (an example of Egypt was used to display how the political transition has increased malnutrition); and finally, the double burden of malnutrition, which is most prevalent in Iraq and Egypt. As a means to improve nutrition regionally, member states could be learning from good practice globally. These include the Copenhagen Consensus, where 5 out of 10 top development solutions are directly related to nutrition, and the example of Brazil, where malnutrition was halved in 10 years through large-scale nutrition interventions, investment in drinking water and sanitation infrastructure, and regular process monitoring and evaluation. A promising example is of Yemen s National Food Security Strategy, where 3 out of the 7 points of the Action Plan are related to nutrition; smart transfers, restructure public spending and services, and women s empowerment and awareness campaigns. Additionally, the Action Plan highlights investment areas related to nutrition. Also critical to improving nutrition is better access and availability of data; more and better data and free access to high quality information is crucial. Addressing the double burden of nutrition will require additional research and reviewing the social safety nets in the region. Finally, efficient cost-effective intervention programs are needed. 16

17 Nutritional Status in Egypt in Relation to Agriculture Akila Saleh, Food Security Information Centre, Egypt Egypt faces a number of nutritional challenges; most evident are micronutrient deficiencies such as anaemia, and zinc and iron deficiencies which are more prevalent in Fayoum and New Valley. There is significant child stunting in Egypt - approximately 29% of children under the age of 5 were stunted as of 2008, specifically in the rural areas of Upper Egypt. Rapid assessments have been conducted showing that cereal and sweeteners consist of a large portion of daily diets, most significantly in the various Governorates in Upper Egypt. Moreover, assessments have shown limited diversity in daily consumption of fresh vegetables among families. Together, the evidence suggests that the nutritional status in Upper Egypt is poor and has led to high levels of stunting, underweight and wasting. The coping mechanism for food poverty most commonly adopted by households in Governorates of Upper Egypt is to use useless favourable cheap food as an alternative, followed by obtaining food on credit and eating smaller amounts, amongst others. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has invested in a variety of activities to tackle malnutrition in Egypt, through the establishment of the Food Security Information Centre in 2007 and the establishment of the Food Security Advisory Board in 2010, which aims to support decision makers in providing information on food security and nutrition. For example, one study collected hair samples from parts of the population where an iron deficiency was discovered, and it was recommended to fertilise the soil with micronutrients, especially zinc. The MoA have also invested in income generating projects, such as milk processing units in rural areas, mushroom production and cooking, breeding and keeping small animals and finally, roof gardens to produce vegetables. The MoA investments have been made to address malnourishment of children, such as through school feeding programmes and educational kitchens in schools and youth clubs. SUMMARY OF PLENARY DISCUSSION: A strong political commitment is needed to change customs within member countries; this reinforces the need for a multi-stakeholder platform where member states can learn from best practices in other countries. It is essential to encourage governments to incorporate food security and nutrition into agricultural policy making. Examples were given from Sudan and Egypt displaying programs that have worked for them; the Al Massar movement in East Sudan has worked with NGOs to develop school feeding programs. In Egypt an awareness program involved educating women about wholesome meals and nutritional value meals during pregnancy. Nutrition is a multi-sectorial problem, and thus all stakeholders should be included in the decision making process. Governments of the region need to re-establish connectivity, credibility and open dialogue with their people. There needs to be a more interactive 17

18 decision-making process where decision makers can understand from the people what their greatest concerns and solutions are, and hence solutions can be tailored to needs. There should be a comprehensive and integrated national vision for each country, and for the region. A council should be created that will include the relative ministries, UN agencies, and other stakeholders, where challenges can be presented and effective solutions can be offered. There needs to be greater integration and stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector, so that the government can act where the private sector is not present. Food assistance in countries needs to include locally produced, highly nutritious items for example, food baskets distributed by the WFP. This will not only help improve access to food and improve nutrition, but it will also help small farmers. Furthermore, the focus should be on improving food systems rather than supplementary minerals in foodstuffs, as is recommended or found in many countries. Empowering women through education and training on the importance of nutrition helps improve stunting and wasting among children, including men in this educational process is essential too in raising awareness. Thus, it is important to support institutions and governments in raising awareness about eating behaviours that need to be changed, through initiatives, education, campaigns etc. Improving the status of women and empowering women is very important, hence focus should be placed on women s access to register and own land. There needs to be significant investment in data collection displaying updated nutritional information. Develop a structure for surveillance, consensus and analysis, which can be utilised for effective policy development. Local producers are losing their indigenous seeds due to climate change and genetically modified seeds, the government needs to greater protect and empower these farmers. Health is closely related to diets, therefore there is a need to more closely integrate information and activities with the health and social sector. Strategies to achieve FSN need to include reducing the consumption of sugar and salt. There also needs to be the inclusion of paradigms of production pertaining to the improvement of quality, for example organic production and voluntary standards, such as a certificate of origin. 18

19 MAIN POINTS EMERGING FROM THE DISCUSSION ON NUTRITION ENHANCING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS 1. Policy and governance: The political will is a necessary base upon which to build a strategy to combat malnutrition. Governments need to further open communication channels, create dialogues and build credibility with the people to have a long term vision and come up with integrated strategies that represent them. On the policy level, there is a need to recognise the multi-sectorial aspect of the problem and to create: - Multi-stakeholder committees, including civil society representatives - Well-designed projects that incorporate various aspects - Sustainable solutions on social, environmental and economic levels - Integration of information systems and activities Need to incorporate the right to food in constitutions for the whole population, in particular those who cannot afford it. The right to food involves the right to sufficient, accessible and adequate food. 2. Agricultural practices and crops Diversify agricultural production and to include non-traditional and highly nutritional crops. Focus on local crops and seeds that are well adapted to the environment and the ecosystem capacity and as such incorporate traditional knowledge; crop cycles, local varieties etc. giving special attention to environmental/ecosystem reconciliation. There is a need for a food labeling system (nutrition information). 3. Awareness and education Focus on education of women and raising the awareness of all family members to nutritional issues. Reconcile production to consumption and nutrition needs. 4. Funding bodies and private sector Major funding agents need to and are adapting their policies to include nutrition in their plans: the World Bank has now changed perspective in their most recent Agriculture plan. Private sectors (producers of fertilizers and nutrients) have a role to play in combating malnutrition and providing solutions to nutrient deficiency. Collaboration between various organizations and governments is necessary to generate clear needs and targets. 19

20 Focus on supporting small food producers who need aid/grants etc. to access land, markets and innovative approaches. There is a need for widespread women empowerment through income generating projects, continuous education and awareness. Finally, there needs to be more school feeding schemes that focus on fighting malnutrition. 5. General Nutrition could be considered as an entry point to tackle various issues such as gender, health and environment. Re-address the role of agriculture to encompass nutrition, healthy lifestyle etc. 20

21 CFS consultative process to develop Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments (CFS-RAI) in the context of Food Security and Nutrition Chiara Cirulli, Programme Officer, FAO/CFS Secretariat presented an overview of the new CFS, its mandate, vision and progress made in its policy convergence work since its reform in Christina Blank, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Rome Based Agencies and Chair of the CFS Open Ended Working Group on Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments (CFS-RAI) presented an overview of the CFS- RAI consultative process, its schedule, terms of reference as well as an introduction to the Zero Draft. Participants welcomed the presentations and the fact that CFS is addressing this complex issue. Some participants noted the voluntary and non-binding nature of the principles and the challenge of translating the principles into reality on the ground. Ms Gerda Verburg, CFS Chair, intervened from the floor encouraging participants to engage in this consultative process and emphasizing the value-added of multi-stakeholder consensus in transforming policies into actions. Ms Christina Blank and Ms Chiara Cirulli facilitated a Q&A and feedback session with participants, focused around three guiding questions: (i) What are the main needs for agricultural investments in the region? (i) What are the main challenges to agricultural investments in the region? (ii) Are those needs and challenges reflected in the Zero Draft? (i) What are the main needs for agricultural investments in the region? Key points included the need for investments to: - preserve natural resources, especially land and water - improve infrastructure - increase productivity - upgrade technologies - build the capacity of farmers - promote family farming - improve labour conditions (ii) What are the main challenges to agricultural investments in the region? Key points included: - Political instability 21

22 - Inadequacy of legal frameworks to protect investors - Price volatility - Lack of insurance coverage - Un-skilled labour (iii) Are those needs and challenges reflected in the Zero Draft? Most comments focused on the need for the principles to serve as a practical tool and the need to improve the roles and responsibility section for each stakeholder category. Some participants also emphasized the importance of an adequate monitoring and accountability framework for CFS. Further work to fully integrate a rights based approach into the draft was also encouraged. 22

23 CFS consultative process to develop an Agenda for Action (A for A) for addressing food insecurity in protracted crises Julius Jackson, Technical Officer FAO, provided an overview of the CFS-led consultative process and overall approach. The presentation reflected CFS Members and Participants feedback on the pre-zero Draft version of the document, coming out of the second CFS-A4A Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) which was held on 31 st October, Mariam Al Jaajaa, Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, provided a Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) perspective and expectations on the CFS-A4A process. Mr Jackson facilitated a Q&A and feedback session with participants, focused around three guiding questions. Participants were requested to (i) reflect on their own experiences in the region, and to share any good practices or examples; (ii) to identify any linkages with the parallel CFS initiative to develop Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment (CFS- RAI); and (iii) to consider whether the role of food security and nutrition in peace-building initiatives in the region was adequately understood and integrated. Participants noted the complexity of dealing with food insecurity in protracted crises, and welcomed the fact that this was being addressed by the CFS. Some of the key points raised included: - The importance of reflecting preventative actions in the CFS-A4A in order to avoid protracted crises developing and/or deepening; - The potential role of social safety nets and support to building resilient livelihoods as important programmatic approaches; - The additional burden on host communities absorbing IDPs and refugees as a result of protracted crises, and the concomitant negative impact on food security and nutrition; - The linkages between food security and nutrition and peace-building initiatives is inadequately understood and reflected. Indeed, it was noted that even ensuring that national strategies properly reflect food security and nutrition concerns was a significant challenge in itself; - The need for additional risk-taking by donors, both national and international, in addressing food insecurity in these contexts was recognized. Aid providers need to be prepared to consider risking greater levels of up-stream investment in protracted crisis situations. Reasons for not investing in ex-ante risk reduction to improve food security and nutrition in protracted crises may be compelling, but not doing so makes little sense in the long-term, and can lead to a situation of entrenched humanitarian assistance; - Acknowledgment of the role that agricultural research can potentially play in the context of revitalizing local, rural institutions for sustainable, resilient livelihood solutions, addressing food insecurity and supporting societal regeneration through transfer of knowledge, innovation and technology. 23

24 In summing up the discussion, and thanking the participants for their observations and contributions, it was noted that many of the points raised were closely aligned with the overall tenets of the draft principles currently being elaborated by the CFS-A4A drafting team. In particular, the linking of short- with long-term (in terms of both funding and programming); the importance of community-led partnerships; the need for capacity and institutional development; and designing coherent strategies to address the complexities, contingencies and interdependencies of the underlying causes and consequences of food insecurity in protracted crises. 24

25 Food Losses and Waste Reduction Presentation: Introduction and FAO s work in NENA, Elhadi Yahia Kazuz, FAO FAO RNE reported on work undertaken in support of food loss and waste reduction since the 2012 Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition. Food losses and waste reduction has become a priority area for FAO RNE, following the request of the 31 st FAO NERC. A cornerstone of this work has been the development of the Strategy for food loss and waste Reduction in the Near East North Africa (NENA) Region, which was informed, firstly, by an Expert Consultation Meeting held in December 2012, and secondly, by an extensive review of studies conducted on the issue in NENA. Regional workshops and trainings have been held on topics such as supporting value chain development and finance, increased and improved value addition, quality and safety management systems, and cold chain infrastructure. Projects are in development as well, for example the Integrated Food Security Project in Kassala, Sudan to support value chain development and livelihoods. Several FAO publications were displayed during the presentation, all of which are available from FAO RNE s website. Finally, activities carried out to enhance education; awareness and advocacy include the development of a series of documentary films that were shown to participants as part of this presentation. Presentation: Studies conducted on Food Losses and Waste, Omar al Jabri, Sultan Qaboos University The results of an extensive review of research and work relating to food losses and waste in NENA was presented, including an analysis of current knowledge and data on the issue, and recommended areas for further study. Overall, there remains a shortage of information on food losses and waste in NENA. Important data gaps includes data on losses at individual country levels and by crop; the impacts of food wastage; non-harvested quantities of agricultural production and the reasons for non-harvest; and alternative uses of wasted food in NENA. Much of the research done has focused on pre- and post- harvest losses, to the neglect of losses and waste at marketing and consumption stages. Furthermore, data on the magnitude of food losses and waste are estimates, and the methodologies for data collection are undocumented. Further investigation into food losses and waste was proposed as a key element for developing food supply chains and for assessing supply chain efficiency. In the short run, a common methodology for loss and waste estimation is needed, as are country-level assessments of the magnitude of food losses and waste for each stage of the supply chain and for specific commodity groups such as cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat, milk and dairy products, and fish. Over the longer term, feasibility studies are needed to support project development, and feasible projects implemented. 25

26 Presentation: The draft Strategy for Food Losses and Waste Reduction in the NENA region, Abdallah Omezzine, University of Nizwa The draft FAO Strategy for Food Losses and Waste Reduction in the NENA region is an important milestone in working towards the goal of reducing food losses and waste by 50% over 10 years, as requested by the 31 st FAO NERC in The problem of food losses and waste in NENA can actually contribute to solving food insecurity; reducing food losses and waste will increase food availability, and partly relieve the pressures of growing food demand and limited potential to increase production. However, food losses and waste persist due to weaknesses in awareness; data; policies and incentives; institutions and coordination; and lack of investment. The draft strategy sets out three objectives; increase the efficiency of the food system, make better use of natural resources in the food system; and provide financial savings throughout the supply chain and at the consumer level. The three objectives are achieved through four components, research and development; raising awareness and promoting good practice; policy development, collaboration and coordination; and investment in projects. Under each of these components are a set of actions and activities. Implementation will rely on stakeholders voluntary agreements and commitments, and on public regulatory initiatives to improve supply chain operation and efficiency. Presentation: Linking a Strategy for Food Losses and Waste Reduction in the NENA region to the Global SAVE FOOD Initiative, Robert van Otterdijk, FAO The SAVE FOOD Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction was presented, including its strategic direction, the partnership model, and certain on-going initiatives. The four pillars underpinning the work of the SAVE FOOD Global Initiative are strongly aligned with the four components of the NENA strategy; increased awareness of the impact and solutions for food loss and waste; collaboration and coordination; policy, strategy and programme development; and support to investment programs and projects. By linking the NENA regional strategy to a global platform for food loss and waste reduction, NENA member countries can draw lessons from the other regions and bring its voice to global forums. Lessons drawn from the Global Initiative s work give rise to four key streams of thought on food loss and waste reduction. Firstly, to increase food availability, food loss and waste reduction is in more efficient than increasing food production. Secondly, only the private sector (including farmers) can reduce food losses at a significant scale. Thirdly, the public sector creates the enabling environment, through research and providing guidance, for the private sector to invest and act. Finally, food losses and waste have to be dealt with along the whole food supply chain, in the context of sustainable food systems. 26

27 Panel Discussion: The draft Strategy for Food Losses and Waste Reduction in the NENA region Facilitator: Nasredin Hag Elamin, FAO The main objective of the session on Food Loss and Waste Reduction was to review and discuss the draft regional strategy, in order to finalize the document for presentation to FAO member countries at the upcoming 32 nd NERC. The panel discussion gathered a large group of contributors, who reviewed the strategy from their unique perspective and presented their comments as follows, - Research and Development Component, Tareq Al Ati, Mohammad M. Ajlouni, Alaa Azouz and Mohmud El Tellisi The four components of the strategy are highly interrelated (investment, R&D, Policy and awareness), however it was noted that R&D is cross-cutting and a priority in terms of the sequence of actions. Suggestions were made to enhance the research and development component of the draft strategy. - Raising Awareness and Promoting Good Practice, Indrani Thuraisingham and Ib Knutsen Awareness of food losses and waste needs to be raised among all stakeholders, and suggestions were given for actions targeting each group. For consumers, the panelists emphasized responsible consumption versus cultural or traditional practices, and how these often diverge from one another. Producers need to understand the impact of losses on their livelihoods. Agribusinesses can reduce losses and waste by adopting recognized quality and safety standards. - Policy development, collaboration and coordination, Mohamed Ben Youssef, Hussein Mansour, Akila Saleh, Azimi Pirsoltan Mohammad and Robert van Otterdijk Coordination and collaboration among actors is seen as essential not only for food loss and waste reduction, but also for value chain development and sustainable food systems. Therefore, regional and international networks, and a national authority for food loss and waste reduction were seen as necessary to enhance coordination and collaboration. - Investment Component and Private Sector Perspectives, Zakaria H Mad, Mohammad Al-Munaifi and Saleh Al Shanfari Although food loss and waste reduction lies with private sector actors (including producers), there are many important ways for governments to provide support in terms of coordination, knowledge, and public goods. The panellists delivered a set of recommendations and first-hand experience in agro-investment and agro-industry. - Government perspectives, Ali Abdullah Al Gunid and Hussein Ali Al-Wasiti The essential role of government was highlighted in supporting research and development, investing in market infrastructure, and delivering the national action plans and legislative support for food losses and waste reduction. 27

28 Consultation meeting for the establishment of a Save Food Regional Network A side event was held to consult a group of fifty participants on a proposed regional, multistakeholder network for food loss and waste reduction. The participants acknowledged the importance of such a network, and endorsed the establishment of a SAVE FOOD Regional Network for the NENA region. A presentation of the proposed network structure and knowledge platform was made and received feedback that will be taken into account by a network steering committee. It was agreed that the network shall be multi-disciplinary and inclusive of all stakeholders, including producers, civil society, the private sector, government, researchers and others. The priority for network activities is to share data, information and good practices, and all activities would be complementary to the draft Strategy for Reducing Food Losses and Waste in the NENA region. SUMMARY OF PLENARY DISCUSSION The draft strategy provides a framework and guidance towards reducing food losses and waste by 50% over ten years. It is aligned with the Global SAVE FOOD initiative and builds on the work undertaken in the region thus far. Food loss and waste reduction in the NENA region, in particular, is closely tied with food availability and can play an integral role in national and regional food security. Questions were raised about whether strategies for food loss and waste reduction and food security should be integrated or exist in parallel. The answer depends on the circumstances of each country. However, a regional strategy for food losses and waste reduction can guide national action plans and targeted, feasible initiatives at the national level. Establishing a national office for food losses and waste reduction was deemed to be an important step to augment and focus responsibilities. However, the issue is multi-faceted and involves multiple stakeholders. A national office should therefore be responsible for coordination among the ministries of agriculture, health, education, industry and others in order to implement a national action plan. Equally important is to establish networks among government and the private sector (including producers), civil society, and research institutions, at both the national and regional levels. This would allow for information and knowledge transfer, and foster the coordination essential to tackling the issue. Raising awareness is essential and different information and outreach techniques should be used to target different stakeholders such as producers, consumers, and policy makers. Civil society has a critical role to play in this regards. Namely, in piloting new initiatives, establishing mechanisms for education at the community level and beyond, and enhancing public awareness of food security, nutrition, and sustainable diets. Lessons can be drawn from experience in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Japan. Investment is an important component of the strategy. However, a better understanding is needed of what is currently preventing investment from being made in infrastructure, 28

29 technology and research. Governments can support targeted incentives for investment and encourage the responsibility of investors towards society. Governments can also alleviate investment risk, including for small scale producers and agribusinesses, and provide support in times of natural disaster. The importance of small-scale producers in food loss and waste reduction was stressed. Knowledge and innovation are an important part of the solution, and farmer-to-farming training and best practice sharing should be encouraged. Infrastructure is essential, not only for developing the cold chain, but also transportation and market infrastructure, and these should be inclusive of the needs of small-scale producers. RECOMMENDATIONS EMERGING FROM THE SESSION ON FOOD LOSSES AND WASTE REDUCTION 1. The workshop supports the FAO Draft Regional Strategy to Reduce Food Losses and Waste in the NENA region, which was developed based on the recommendations of the 31st Session of the FAO NERC in 2012, where FAO was requested to assist member countries in reducing food losses and food waste by 50% over 10 years. 2. Taking note of growing uncertainty in global food markets, widening food deficits, and dwindling natural resources especially land and water, the workshop recommends that food losses and waste reduction in NENA be seen as a fundamental pillar for improved food security and nutrition, sustainable food systems, and for easing pressure on fragile ecosystems. 3. The workshop took note and appreciates the efforts of FAO RNE towards assisting member countries in achieving the objectives of food losses and waste reduction, including expert consultations, studies, building awareness and, most importantly the development of a draft strategy. 4. The Workshop recommends integrating the comments and views from the rich discussion among panellists and participants into the final draft version of the Draft Strategy to be presented at the 32nd FAO NERC, to be held in February

30 ANNEX 1: Agenda and Timetable Day One: 4 November Official opening remarks - Ms Gerda Verburg, the CFS Chair, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Rome Based Agencies - Mr Saleh Al Shanfari, CEO Oman Food Investment Holding Co. SAOC - Ms Alia Al-Dalli, Manager, UNDP Regional Centre in Cairo - Mr Pasquale Steduto, Deputy Regional Representative FAO - H.E Mohamed Ben Salem Minister of Agriculture, Tunisia Identification of Workshop Rapporteur: Mrs Nadoua Gmir Dhaou Photo Session & Coffee break Introductory Remarks about the workshop, Nasredin Elamin, FAO Overview of food security in the Near East and North Africa, Mohamed AwDahir, FAO Global and regional food security agenda, initiatives and strategies Addressing food security in the Near East and North Africa: Key strategic elements Presentation by Panos Konandreas Panellists: Alia Al-Dalli, UNDP Facilitator Pascale Micheau, WFP Salah El Shanfari, Private sector, Oman Vito Intini, ESCWA Dougou Keita, African Development Bank Lunch break Nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems Fatima Hachem, FAO - Facilitator Panellists: Akila Saleh, Egypt Florence Egal, FAO Perrihan Al-Riffai, IFPRI Yurie Tanimichi Hoberg, WB Coffee break 16:00-17:00 Wrap up by Rapporteur 30

31 Day Two: 5 November CFS consultative process to develop Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investments (CFS-RAI) in the context of Food Security and Nutrition Introduction Chiara Cirulli Programme Officer, CFS Secretariat Overview on the CFS RAI process Christina Blank - Chair of the CFS-RAI Open Ended Working Group (Switzerland) Feedback from participants Coffee break Feedback from participants (cont.) Lunch break CFS consultative process to develop an Agenda for Action (A for A) for addressing food insecurity in protracted crises Overview on the Agenda for Action Process Julius Jackson Technical Officer, FAO Civil Society Mechanism s perspective Mariam Al Jaajaa - The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature Coffee break Feedback from participants 31

32 Day Three: 6 November 2013 Food Losses and Waste Reduction 9:00: Introduction Elhadi Yahia, Regional Agro-Industry & Infrastructure Officer, FAO RNE 9:15: FAO work on Food Losses and Waste Reduction in NENA since the CFS Consultation in Khartoum, September 2012 Elhadi Yahia, Regional Agro-Industry & Infrastructure Officer, FAO RNE :10 Studies conducted on Food Losses and Waste in the NENA Region: Review, conclusions and suggested actions Omar al Jabri, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman Coffee Break 11:10: A Regional Strategy to Reduce Food Losses and Waste in the NENA region Abdallah Omezzine, Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman 11:50: Linking the NENA Strategy with the Global Save Food Initiative Robert van Otterdijk, Team Leader, Save Food Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, FAO :10: Discussion Lunch Break Panel Discussion: The Regional Strategy to Reduce Food Losses and Waste in the NENA Region Introduction (15 minutes) Moderator: Nasredin Hag Elamin, Senior Policy Officer, FAO/RNE Panellists (75 minutes) Each group of panellists for each component is requested to coordinate and prepare joint feedback, each taking a specific perspective on the components and implementation of the strategy, and selecting 1 presenter (10-15 minutes each) Research and Development Component Mohammad M. Ajlouni, Executive Secretary, AARINENA Mohmud El-Tellisi, General Manager, Libyan National Centre for Standardization & Meteorology Tareq Al Ati, Research Associate, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Alaa Azouz, Director, Food Technology Research Inst., ARC 32

33 Raising awareness and promoting good practice component Indrani Thuraisingham, Head of Consumers International Office for Asia Pacific and the Middle East Ib Knutsen, FAO Communication Consultant Policy development, collaboration and coordination component: Mohamed Ben Youssef, Director General, Arab Industrial Development & Mining Organization (AIDMO) Hussein Mansour, Food Safety Agency Management Unit, Cairo, Egypt Akila Saleh, General Coordinator, Food Security Information Centre Azimi Pirsoltan Mohammad, Senior Expert of International Relations, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture Robert van Otterdijk, FAO Investment component Mohammad Al-Munaifi, Acting Managing Director, Head of Food Security Committee, Kuwait Investment Authority Zakaria H Mad, Director General, Technopark Agrofood Bizerte Saleh Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Co. SAOC Government perspective: Ali Abdullah Al Gunid, General Director of Planning & Monitoring, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Republic of Yemen Hussein Ali Al-Wasiti, Agricultural Advisor of Prime Minister, Prime Minister Office Advisory Commission, Iraq Interaction among panellists (15 minutes) Coffee Break General Discussion of Regional Strategy among all participants Final Comments by Rapporteur: Mohamed AwDahir, FAO/RNE :00 Final wrap up by Workshop Rapporteur and plenary discussion Conclusions and recommendations: The way forward 33

34 ANNEX 2: Speeches Mr Pasquale Steduto, Deputy Regional Representative for the Near East, FAO H.E. Mohamed Ben Salem, Minister of Agriculture Tunisia, Ms Gerda Verburg, CFS Chair, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Rome Based Agencies, Mrs Alia Al-Dalli, UNDP Manager of the Regional Centre in Cairo Mrs Nadoua Gmir Dhaou, Workshop Rapporteur, Honourable Representatives, Guests and UN Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Government of Tunisia for hosting this important Workshop Regional Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition. Our sincere appreciation is also extended to the CFS Secretariat, all the participants, our partners, panellists, facilitators and Rapporteurs, and we are thrilled to have 14 countries present with us today. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this important Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition. The Workshop is organised as a follow-up to a recommendation made by the 31st Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East and North Africa (NERC-31) held in Rome, Italy from the 14 to 18 May, The Conference requested CFS to organize a regional food security and nutrition workshop prior to the 39th Session of the CFS, to address issues on investment in the value chain of agricultural commodities, agro-industries, and food losses and waste, to prepare for the 39th Session of the CFS, as well as set the regional priorities that will be included in the agenda of future CFS sessions. The conference also requested technical support for member countries to address the key challenges of reducing food losses and waste in the region by 50 per cent within ten years. Moreover, the Regional Conference, requested that FAO (and the UN system, for that matter) to help develop a regional food security strategy complemented by an action plan, which could focus on mechanisms for handling food price volatility, investment, creation of strategic grain reserves, and improving food security and nutrition information systems. Based on the above recommendations, the CFS Secretariat, in collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa organized this workshop. Gathered today with us are experts and policy makers from all the countries in the region, as well as representatives from UN agencies, financial institutions, regional organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector, academic and research institutions, and other leaders in the field of food security and nutrition. 34

35 Distinguished Guests, As you are all well aware, the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is undergoing significant transformation including challenging political and social changes, which have great impact on the food and livelihood security of the population. One of the key drivers of food insecurity in the region is the conflict, civil insecurity and political instability in many parts of the region. This has contributed to the problem of access to adequate and nutritious food and hence is affecting the most vulnerable parts of the population. At the essence of this problem is the Syrian Crisis, which has not only hindered agricultural production within Syria, but also led to the disruption of trade routes through Syria and placed heavy strain on the resources of neighbouring countries due to the influx of refugees. In addition, the risks associated with food quality and safety, and threats of trans boundary animal and plant diseases and pests have increased as a result of the informal trade and the changing trade routes, due to the conflict. It is my sincere hope that the workshop will create increased awareness about food security challenges in Member countries and create an environment to enhance collaboration between countries in the region, in order to avert the imminent risks and ensure food security for the people in this region. Distinguished Guests; By virtue of its mandate, FAO in partnership with all the stakeholders is committed to support member countries design effective and appropriate food security policies and programs. This workshop is therefore aimed at sharing and discussing policy options for countries in the region in the areas of (i) Addressing food security in the Near East and North Africa: Key strategic elements; (ii) nutrition-enhancing agriculture and food systems; (iii) responsible agriculture investments (RAI) in the context of food security and nutrition (iv) food security in protracted crises and (v) food losses and food waste reduction. The workshop is intended to create the opportunity to share best practices and facilitate inter-regional dialogue as well as experience sharing among key stakeholders. Finally, I encourage all participants, especially those dealing with different aspects of food security (policies, programs, data and information systems, investments etc.) to engage in constructive debates and exchange of ideas. In our cooperation, we hope that we can provide rigorous analysis, and actionable recommendations including policy options to governments and decision makers of this region. I hope that our meeting today yields sustainable and fruitful cooperation, as well as long lasting partnerships and collaboration. I wish you a fruitful meeting and discussion, Thank you. 35

36 Ms Gerda Verburg, CFS Chair, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Rome Based Agencies Salam Aleikum. Good morning, It is a great honour and blessed pleasure to be here at the 3rd Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition. You are showing leadership by organizing this multi-stakeholder meeting in the region. The position of the CFS is very special; we have on board not only the representatives of governments, but also representatives of science and research institutions, civil society, nongovernmental organizations and, of course, the private sector. I am a farmer s daughter. I was born and I grew up in the Netherlands. The Netherlands, already implied by its name, lies very low. One third of our country is below sea level and some parts are up to 6 metres below sea level. This is not new; this has been the case since the 14th or 15th century. People in the Netherlands have had to work together otherwise they would have been drowned. Until now, we have been successful. But what does this mean? It means cooperation and working together in practice, not only in words or negotiation. Working together in the field to make things happen, that is, to improve the situation of people living in the field who try to maintain their families and produce their food in such a way that they can sell their surplus in the marketplace. It is clear that this can and will happen if you work together. Having said this, I would underline that fact that you are showing leadership by organizing this regional workshop for the 3rd time. Now it is time to set an example. An example in which you not only negotiate or deliberate in Rome, or Geneva, or New York, or Nairobi, but transfer what you have decided into practice, for example in the case of the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. We have to transform words into action, and papers into proactive activities and cooperation at the field level. The governments, of course, have to create an enabling environment. The private sector and civil society organization together with research and know-how institutions must cooperate to make it happen. Otherwise, we will continue to meet and discuss. We have to recognize that as long as we do what we did, we get what we get. Please put words into action, swords into ploughshares. Many of you recognize this within the mandate of the UN. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to stand here in front of you. I was elected three weeks ago and I recognize that in the three years during which you have organized this multi-stakeholder workshop, I am already the third CFS chair in attendance. I will make a promise to be available to meet next year in order to take stock of what has been decided for this region, which we have been told is facing many challenges. I promise that I will be here 36

37 next year, if this meeting is organized, to take stock of the concrete results you have managed to implement in the field. I have had the opportunity to learn and develop. As a farmer s daughter, I have been Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Netherlands for four years. I always have in mind what a woman farmer told me once. She said, Madame Minister, I have only one problem in life and it is here in my stomach. It is mine, but it is also the stomach of my family and children. I am more than happy to take on board all the other problems, such as climate change, land tenure, water, politics, peace, etc. For all of these things, I am available to help. But please let me first solve the problem of feeding myself, my children and my family in a proper way. Then I will bear responsibility for all of the other problems. Let us keep this in mind, ladies and gentleman. It is about the possibility to really bear responsibility. You, as representatives of governments, private sector, and civil society can bear responsibility. However, having this responsibility makes you accountable for making the lives of people in the field better. Let us work together to improve lives, to improve the food security and nutrition, improve tenure to land, support responsible agricultural investments, and respond in better and earlier ways to protracted crisis. Let us work together. Keep in mind that it is all about people in rural areas, who may have only one problem but who take responsibility for all the problems in our common world. 37

38 Mr Saleh Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Co. SAOC His Excellency, Mohamed Bin Salem, Minister for Agriculture, Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for inviting the private sector to this session. I participated in this Workshop in Cairo in 2011 and Khartoum in 2012, and now this important gathering in green Tunisia. In my meeting with His Excellency, Mohamed Bin Salem, Minister for Agriculture a short while ago, we talked about the importance of cooperation between governments and the private sector. Mr Ben Salem stressed that the government s role of is for planning; governments cannot implement, but rather who can is the private sector. A conference was recently held in the Sultanate of Oman, entitled Conference on Food Security for the Arab Gulf Countries, with governmental and private sector participation. The working papers presented spoke of the importance of food security in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which are rich countries with enough financial resources to achieve food security, but who produce no more than 20% of their food needs and estimate the need to feed about 50 million people by the year This represents a challenge for countries with high population growth. Furthermore, types of consumption are transitioning quickly from a society dependent on certain staple foods to greater consumption of proteins such as red meat and white meat. These countries are still importing, almost all of its requirements of cereals and vegetables. A number of initiatives have been launched to achieve food security, most of it investing abroad. Investment abroad involves governmental initiatives to enable the private sector to establish companies and investment funds and search for appropriate investing opportunities. When governments back the private sector in its external investments, they are confronted by a host of challenges based on the misunderstanding in many local communities that the governments or companies have come with money to take the lands. Local communities have the absolute right to protect their interests. A further challenge for private sector are issues of political and social instability, which affects legislations, laws and taxes and creates an environment of uncertainty. This has the opposite effect of stimulating investment, and leaves the private sector wondering what will happen? Dear colleagues, The private sector works according to a profit system and value for its investors. Invested money can be public or private, but the board of directors of any company will seek outcomes in form of profits and distributions. In countries that have a high level of uncertainty, the private sector often fails in achieving these outcomes and closes down, dismisses workers and leaves. The challenge of uncertainty requires understanding between governments and the private sector, and a system of common ethics and principals which protect the rights of local communities, as well as the those of the 38

39 state and the private sector. This is what has led international organizations such as FAO, IFAD, UNDP and the World Bank to launch a set of principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment. Most of these principles focus on protecting the rights of local communities and integrating them into the investment process. It is not logical that a private sector company invests in sugar cane production, for instance, which requires great areas of land equal to this city or bigger, without considering the local community. A few months ago, I visited the farm of a friend in Tanzania which is 70km length and 40km wide. This colleague managed to integrate all citizens of the local community, mindful of their ethical and religious views, and provided them with schools, transportation, health services and training. He even stopped using mechanized harvesting processes in order to create work opportunities for some of the 4,000 people living in this area. It has become a great village. Even herdsmen have places for grazing and dealing with their animals. His Excellency, Mohamed Bin Salem, Your Excellency may recall in our meeting in Hamamat 5 months ago, my request to your Excellency as a representative for Arab governments that governments may provide facilities for private sector for investment. Today I am here as a representative of the private sector, to express our willingness to cooperate and partner with the FAO to create an integrated system and moral contract for responsible private sector investment. Responsible investment is a group of systems, legislations and agreements that could adapt to governance and social responsibility principles. Some of the companies for which I am involved on the board of directors have launched local initiatives. For example, one of the companies launched a fund for development and caring of trees, and it has had great feedback. A board of directors for this fund was formed consisting of citizens from the area. Some companies in the Sultanate of Oman, which I come from, provide money for training, education and rehabilitation for citizens of local communities in which they operate, as well as provide employment opportunities with the companies. This is the form of responsible investment that we believe international organization and governments call for, and the principles being developed come at an appropriate time. I add my voice, on behalf of the private sector, to the support for these principles. The private sector in this region is a responsible sector and a sector that takes a high degree of responsibility. We will continue to engage in consultations to achieve goals related to poverty eradication, combating hunger, and achieving food security in the region. 39

40 Mrs Alia Al Dalli, Manager, UNDP Regional Centre in Cairo Ms Verburg, Chair of the Committee for World Food Security, His Excellency, Minister Ben Salem, Mr Saleh Al Shanfari, Chairman of Omani Foundation for Food Investment, Mr Pasquale Steduto, Deputy FAO Regional Representative Ladies and gentlemen, It honours me to represent the close collaboration between United Nations Organizations and to thank FAO for inviting me to attend and contribute in this workshop and generate more cooperation and coordination on the international, regional and national levels. Deep-rooted changes are being witnessed in the Arab Area, which started here in green Tunisia and spread quickly in many countries. They express the people s needs and aspirations for a better future. It is our duty to look into the chronic problems afflicting the region from a perspective that differs from our traditional view, as we attempt to delve deeper into our work methods and the issues that have been marginalized or excluded during the past decades. I will focus on three such issues in my speech. Legal empowerment of the poor and vulnerable. The meaning of this phrase and concept is the effect of legal empowerment on improving and increasing crops, nutrition and trade, and thus increase farmers income and improve family health and nutrition. Let us take some examples that illustrate this relationship: First, we find that 50% of the population in the Arab region lives in rural areas, however agricultural production only reaches 15% of GDP of the Arab States. Water consumption is over 84% in this region, which is one of the most water scarce areas in the world. Most poor people who make their living from the land by producing crops do not have papers certifying their possession of the land, which limits their ability to finance projects through loans or access banking facilities. This keeps them under the influence of poverty and does not enable them to develop agriculture, food processing or access to markets. When we delve deeper into the study of land possession papers and apply it to women farmers, we find that even when rural women have papers her control over the land is weak. This is because the men in the family manage the land and make decisions about what is to be cultivated, what is to marketed, sales and purchase operations, and distribution of profits. Furthermore, studies indicate that a large proportion of rural women are not enrolled with concerned authorities at birth, which leads to their inability to access finance and markets. 40

41 This compounds the weakness of their economic position and forces them to stay in the informal and parallel economies. Any campaign that enables women to record their births and get formal identification cards could enable women to get ownership of their land as well. Some people may question why we discuss the issue women at a meeting on food security and why it is important. Studies show that women make up half of world s population yet produce 60% 80% of the food. Their responsibilities increase in the rural areas as men increasingly migrate from the countryside. In addition, we find that the work of women, especially in rural areas, remains in the informal context and there is no real knowledge about involvement of women in the economy and their contribution to family income. Reports for the Arab region defines the contribution of working women as up to 10% of the labour force, but this does not take into account daily work in field, transporting water, care of elderly and disabled people in the family, in addition to her tasks in cleaning, cooking, caring for the children, housekeeping, and her responsibility for the family s health. Girl s education has a positive impact in improving child nutrition. One important study that assessed education and its impact on child mortality in 175 states between the years , found that half of the decline in child mortality rates over the forty years is due to improvements in education of women. The study goes to show that each additional educational year for a woman of childbearing age leads to a 95% reduction in children mortality. This has significance for productivity, family health, economy and human development. Knowledge exchange between countries of the region, as well as globally, and sharing best practice in empowering poor farmers to improving their livelihoods and economic positions, particularly through South/South cooperation. One of the problems faced by small scale farmers is the matter of land fragmentation, which some groups of farmers overcome by establishing agricultural cooperatives. These groups of smallholder farmers set up irrigation networks, combine production and engage in trade, and then distribute profits according to each member s percentage of ownership. The experience of cooperatives in Tafellet, Morocco is a pioneering experience in this field. It should also be mentioned that FAO s World food Day, 16 October 2012 was dedicated to agricultural cooperatives and their role in feeding the world. The importance of partnership between state departments and the private sector, in addition to international developmental institutions, international banks and donor states on issue of food security This challenge goes beyond the sectorial concerns to the national development agenda. As workers in this field, we have to improve our capability in humanitarian aid, which is closely linked with the development process, with aim of strengthening and enhancing the capacity of communities and individuals to overcome the severe crises affecting many countries in the region at the moment. The UNDP is committed to joint effort and a cross-sectorial approach 41

42 to facing the challenge of nutrition in this region, in the context of increasing populations, especially among children and youth, and chronic and severe crisis. 42

43 H.E Mohamed Ben Salem, Minister of Agriculture, Tunisia Ms. Chair of the Committee for World Food Security, Mr. Deputy FAO Regional Representative for the Near East, Ms. Director of the UNDP Regional Centre in Cairo, Mr. Chairman of the Omani Foundation for Investment in Food Industries Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to greet you all today and express my happiness in inaugurating this regional workshop for food security and nutrition that FAO has organized in Tunisia, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. I wish all distinguished guests a good stay in their second home, Tunisia. I also take this opportunity, to express my gratitude to the FAO Regional Office for the Near East for choosing Tunis to hold this important regional gathering. I appreciate the prominent role played by FAO in developing the agricultural sector and working to achieve world food security, and for the close cooperation with our country. Ladies and Gentlemen, In Tunisia, food security is strategic. It is an important element of long term development, since it guarantees stability and social peace and provides a basis for national sovereignty. Given the importance of the agricultural sector in achieving these goals, food security is a pillar of our national policies for agricultural development. The sector has achieved growth in production levels over the years, evident through the variety of agricultural commodities in supply and their availability throughout long periods of the year. The sector has kept pace with domestic consumption needs in terms of quantity and quality, as well as export requirements in both competitiveness and adherence to global standards of food safety. This has had a positive impact on achieving and securing national food security. Internal production meets national demand for many commodities such as vegetables, fruits, dairy, and poultry, and nearly all of our requirements of meat (98%). Additionally, an important surplus is generated for export. Agricultural exports now comprise 9% of total national exports. However, the continued growth of Tunisian agriculture hides many of the vulnerabilities which appeared following the global financial crisis, the food price hikes that ensued, and the January 14 th revolution. This includes the deterioration of social conditions in rural areas where agriculture sector is the main economic activity, and often the only source of income. 43

44 There is no doubt that food security in our country is still threatened and exposed to food price fluctuations in global markets, given low local production in some basic commodities and the government s support in supplying up to 82% of soft wheat, 32% of solid wheat and 28% of animal fodder including all the needs of the poultry sector. The increase in global food prices since mid-2007 have had a negative impact on the food trade balance, with an average coverage ratio during the last five years ( ) of 75% as compared to 88% during the period This has also affected the cost of subsidies for staple foods, distributed through the Public Fund for Compensation. In light of this, the coming period requires us to make new strides in strengthening food security, ranging from providing food in sufficient quality and quantity, to enabling sustainable and affordable access to food at reasonable prices, and managing risks and enhancing preparedness. Ladies and Gentlemen, There exists great potential to improve production among many commodities to levels similar to large scale farming. These opportunities require us to improve the enabling environment for the agricultural sector, create suitable land to stimulate investment, and promote agricultural activity through: - Redefining priorities in the mobilization and utilization of water resources. A balance is needed between developing new facilities, and the maintenance and upkeep of existing facilities. Also, support for investment in non-traditional water resources, such as refining sea water and recycling used water, in order to secure future water resource requirements especially in areas which suffer from severe water shortages. - Developing rural infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, markets, health and educational institutions to improve living conditions of farmers and attracting investors. - Improving water resource productivity, by creating new irrigated areas and by rehabilitating old irrigated areas and reintegrating them into production. Improving irrigation productivity and intensification will help reduce annual fluctuations in production levels. - Stimulating private investment in agricultural activity through financial sector development and by promoting agriculture microcredit and insurance. - Increasing national production by focusing on comparative advantage, in the context of natural resources conservation and sustainability. Take into consideration the principles of sustainable development and its three dimensions (economic, social and environmental) in light of the growing phenomenon of climate change. - Organizing farmers into effective professional associations to enable them to defend their interests, and improve their access to inputs and their ability to market their products. 44

45 Ladies and Gentlemen, Ensuring food safety is essential for food security, with modern techniques of intensified production requiring more quality control. Greater care in post-harvest phases is needed to reduce rates of loss and damage. Losses can be reduced by providing the necessary storage and transportation, and by using appropriate handling methods. Distribution is an important phase of post-harvest, and future plans include the modernizing and rehabilitation of distribution systems for agricultural and marine fish products. Better organization of marketing systems is needed for more equal distribution of profits and more bargaining power for farmers, who have tended to benefit the least from contract farming. Agricultural production is the source of income for an important segment of the population whose food security is linked to agricultural yields. The sector consists of over 516,000 farms (75% of them do not exceed 10 hectares), which amounts to 2.5 million people. Organizing farmers into professional associations will unify their efforts and help them manage production costs. To ensure regular supply, markets should continue to work to diversify production and implement storage systems to protect farmers' income from falling prices during periods of abundant production. In spite of development in the food industries sector, food processing remains limited. More investment and creativity is needed to improve value addition of agricultural products. Agricultural exports are considered a foundation for policy development and for achieving a favourable food trade balance. Exports are currently limited to a few traditional products, such as olive oil, sea products and dates. Therefore, efforts will focus on diversifying production, taking into account economic opportunity and comparative advantages with respect to domestic and export markets in order to widen the export base. It is also expected that competitiveness of traditional exports will improve as new export markets are accessible following bilateral agreements, such as the outcome of current negotiations with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Additionally, there are opportunities for value addition through packaging and processing for export markets. Imports remain linked to internal market requirements for direct consumption or for processing. Due to limited production capabilities, it is expected that imports will continue to be necessary for staple commodities such as wheat, sugar, vegetable oil, legumes and soybean. In this context, we draw on our experience and seek new ways of engaging with global markets in order to secure regular supplies for the country and benefit from low prices during periods of increases in world stocks. Ladies and Gentlemen, Enhancing food security and securing its sustainability cannot be isolated from global developments in agricultural markets. We should not lose sight of globalization which has led to liberalization of trade, opening of markets, and integration of national economies. 45

46 For this, coordination between the countries of the region can be leveraged to coordinate a vision for food security, take into account different dimensions, especially technological development and modern farming methods. There is no doubt that this requires us to develop sound national strategies. It also requires close collaboration at the international level. This gathering represents an excellent opportunity to lay the basis for cooperation and promote the aspirations of our people. Accordingly, we propose to develop integrated regional programmes and projects to support investment for enhancing our region s food security, as well as to enhance the exchange of knowledge and experience especially in priority areas such as scientific agricultural research, seeds, transplants and producing new adapted seeds varieties. I am also calling on you to think about ways to develop and modernize cooperation mechanisms in the region. Through cooperation we can increase the effectiveness of our efforts and benefit from each other s experience in this field. Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, In conclusion, allow me to renew the warm welcome to all attending guests and to extend my gratitude to all who contributed in organizing this workshop. I wish you all success in your work and in reaching the outcomes which support our cooperation and contribution to progress. Thank you all for your attention. 46

47 ANNEX 3: Participant list Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition Tunisia Tunis 4-6 November 2013 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS COUNTRIES EGYPT Adel Mostafa Al Gizawi Director of International Organizations Dept. Foreign Agricultural Relations Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reclamation Cairo, Egypt Tel: Mobile: Mohamed Soliman Director of Field Crops Research institute Field Crops Research Institute, ARC Cairo, Egypt Tel: Mobile: JORDAN Fu ad AlMuhaisen Secretary General Assistant for Projects Ministry of Agriculture Amman, Jordan Tel: Mobile: Talal El Fayez Administrative Asst/Agricultural Engineer Ministry of Agriculture Amman, Jordan Tel: Mobile: talalalfayez@yahoo.com LIBYA Abdlsalam Salem Adam Hamad Production Manager Al Kufra Agricultural Project Ministry of Agriculture Tripoli, Libya Tel: Mobile: khaledramadan30@yahoo.com Mohamed Basheer Abdou Al Kufra & Sarir Area Agricultural Authority Ministry of Agriculture Tripoli, Libya Mobile: khaledramadan30@yahoo.com MOROCCO Hassan Kordass Charge De Mission Conseil General Du Développement Agricole Rabat, Morocco Tel: Mobile: kord.hassan@gmail.com PALESTINE Riyad Shahed Director of Agricultural Statistic Department Ministry of Agriculture Ramallah, Palestine Tel: Mobile: riyad.shahed@gmail.com 47