Statement by. At the launch of the African Human Development Report May 2012 Dar es Salaam

Transcription

1 Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator.. Statement by United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania Alberic Kacou At the launch of the African Human Development Report 2012 Towards a Food-Secure Future 25 May 2012 Dar es Salaam Page 1 of 8

2 Distinguished Guest of Honor, Hon. Madam Janet Mbene, Deputy Minister of Finance, Honorable Government Representatives, Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Heads of Development Cooperation, Civil Society representatives, Members of the Media, Dear UN Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, We are honored to have such a distinguished gathering at the launch of the very first African Human Development Report. Let me extend a warm welcome to you all. The African Human Development Report 2012, produced by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, looks at food security through the lens of human development. It could not have been launched at a better time, as parts of the region struggle to come to terms with humanitarian crises. Drought and conflict have led to raging famine in the Horn of Africa affecting over 13 million people. The Sahel region is facing a similar food security crisis with over 15 million people requiring emergency assistance. And the issue is not confined to Horn of Africa or the Sahel. It affects all countries in the region time and again. Even here in Tanzania, despite overall food self- sufficiency, several districts remain under threat of food insecurity. Page 2 of 8

3 This report also came ahead of the G8 summit last week where four African Heads of State, including President Kikwete, had the opportunity to discuss food security issues on the continent. One of the outcomes of the summit has been the commitment to launch a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition to accelerate agricultural productivity. The African Human Development Report 2012 also comes ahead of Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which could set the tone and platform for a new global development agenda post- 2015, including making great strides in reducing hunger and malnutrition. Sub- Saharan Africa has ample agricultural land, plenty of water and a generally favorable climate for growing food. With these endowments and important economic and social achievements, the question to ask is: why is the region still food insecure? On the face of things, it looks as if we can put the blame squarely on droughts and conflicts. But this report argues that while drought and crop failure often trigger food crises in Africa, the actual causes of food insecurity go much deeper. To be specific, the report identifies three main causes: i. Low agricultural productivity, which curtails the availability of food, sometimes leading to a reliance on imports and humanitarian aid; ii. iii. Persistent, wide- spread, and extreme poverty which makes getting enough food unaffordable and markets inaccessible for poor people; and, Little policy focus on the importance of nutrition, leading to wide- spread and chronic malnutrition. Page 3 of 8

4 Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Let me be clear: Food insecurity could drag human development backward for generations. It is crippling the current generation in as much as malnutrition and hunger contribute to poor health, reduced worker productivity, and a diminished ability to learn. It also affects future generations through its long- lasting, adverse effects on physical development and cognitive skills of children. Amartya Sen, an architect of the human development paradigm, argued as far back as 1981, that famine is a consequence of poorly functioning institutions, the lack of rule of law, and limited access to markets or affordable food. He also noted that where governments are responsive and inclusive, famines are unknown. Unfortunately these are very true in most countries where misguided policies, weak institutions and failing markets have become driving forces of food insecurity. The African Human Development Report 2012 finds that there has been a longer term urban bias in policy, neglecting rural areas and the needs of subsistence farmers and the landless poor. This has held back the level of investment required in infrastructure, technology, Research and Development, and agricultural inputs - which was so essential to the success of the "Green Revolutions" in Asia and Latin America. The report also identifies bias against women as a critical factor in food insecurity, because it limits the ability of women to provide for themselves and their families, and contribute to the success of measures intended to build food security. Page 4 of 8

5 While the picture of food insecurity painted by the report is complex, it is clear on one issue: Africa can build a food- secure future. Let me highlight some of the main proposals on how: 1) First and foremost is the need to boost agricultural productivity which remains low. High population growth adds further pressure on per capita food availability. Tanzania is a classic case. Poverty levels at the bottom 40 per cent of the population have remained unchanged for the past decade. Hunger and malnutrition are still key challenges in rural areas. Agricultural productivity could be raised by providing small farmers with better access to agricultural inputs, such as improved seeds and fertilizers, extension services, new technologies and innovation, along with better access to markets and credit. Basic water infrastructure is also critical. Smart subsidies subsidies that are effectively targeted, and yield better outcomes without saddling the state with long- term costs can energize food production. It is in this respect that initiatives such as SAGCOT under the Kilimo Kwanza become so important. While the initiative itself is noteworthy, ensuring that small farmers are directly linked to the production process is vital for poverty reduction and food security. Industrial countries could assist this process by facilitating technology transfer. Just as in the pharmaceutical sector, the basic technology in agriculture, which could have multiple positive effects in developing countries, could be made public after a given time period. 2) The second proposal is to prioritize nutrition. The quality of the food we eat matters for our development. But the caloric intake of most poor people is not sufficient for a healthy life. In Tanzania for example, more than 25 per Page 5 of 8

6 cent of the population falls into this category. Nutrition is often a neglected area of public policy improving it needs to take centre stage. Achieving better nutrition requires much more than advocacy about what people should eat. For example, the education of girls is widely regarded as one of the most important factors in improving nutrition for the next generation. Nutrition outreach and education initiatives also need to reach remote areas. 3) The third policy area is building resilience for people and their communities. Resilience is needed to break the cycle of vulnerability and avoid irreversible setbacks in development from adverse events. Policies to build food security should address the sources of the problem, including environmental degradation and climate change. These should be supplemented by expanding opportunities and social protection for the poor. There are many options: Cash transfers for poor households through livelihood empowerment programmes, food for work, or simply an affordable insurance cover, say, for farmers to protect themselves against the risk of drought or excessive rain. Tanzania is yet to have a comprehensive social protection framework and could learn from other countries. Building resilience is also about repairing degraded environments. This can be as basic as replanting trees as windbreaks to protect crops, retain moisture in soil, and draw nutrients to topsoil. 4) The forth policy proposal is on empowering women and other marginalized groups. The argument in favor of empowering women is quite simple. When women are more educated, have control over resources and have a Page 6 of 8

7 voice in decision making, then the availability, access and nutritional level of food consumed is likely to improve. Although women make up almost half of the agricultural labor force in developing countries, they have little control over land and agricultural inputs and finance. Evidence suggests that in situations where women have equal access to such inputs and assets, productivity gaps disappear. This makes women s empowerment critical in increasing small- holder farm productivity in Africa. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Coordinated action across all disciplines and sectors is required for stimulating agricultural productivity, improving nutrition, building resilience and empowering women. We must work together to reinforce our individual efforts. African leaders also need to be proactive not only on the domestic front in putting in place the right policies and effectively implementing them for sustained human development, but also in exploiting global initiatives such as Rio+20 which could define the post global development agenda to their own advantage by actively engaging in negotiations. All these boil down to one clear message: The social costs of inaction could be much higher than the cost of intervening. Agriculture has long been neglected with adverse effects on poverty reduction and food security. State intervention in risky but socially rewarding areas such as agriculture is vital, particularly when other players roles are minimal. The challenges ahead are formidable and the investments required huge. But the potential gains are also immense. Let us not miss this opportunity. Asanteni Sana! Page 7 of 8

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