Launch of the 2015 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) 27 October 2016 Freetown Contents Joint Press Release... 2 Links to news coverage... 4 Highlights from the keynote address, Professor Monty Patrick Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security... 5 Statement by Ambassador Peter Versteeg, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone... 6 Statement by Ms Nyabenyi Tito Tipo, FAO Country Representative... 8 Statement by Mr Peter Scott-Bowden, WFP Representative & Country Director... 10 10 Facts about Food Security in Sierra Leone... 16
Joint Press Release 27 October 2016 NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS FRAGILE STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN SIERRA LEONE AFTER EBOLA OUTBREAK FREETOWN The State of Food Insecurity in Sierra Leone report launched today by the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows more than half of the population over 3.5 million people are food insecure, without access to a sufficient amount of safe and nutritious food. Of these, about 600,000 are severely food insecure, eating significantly less food and less varied and nutritious food, and unable to cope with new shocks such as drought, floods and fluctuating food prices. The number of severely food insecure people has increased by 60 percent since 2010. The report is the culmination of a Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) of over 34,000 households across Sierra Leone s 149 chiefdoms and 18 urban wards, making it the largest food security assessment of its kind in the country. In his keynote speech at the launch ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), Professor Monty Jones, said the government was committed to doing what it takes to transform the agriculture sector into an engine for socio-economic growth. The findings of the CFSVA will assist my ministry to design, target and implement programmes that will improve agriculture production and productivity, enhance commercial agriculture, create employment and enhance skills of farmers in a number of areas. We will encourage private sector investment and involvement to improve access to inputs and markets for our farmers. The government and development partners have a key role in designing sound agricultural policies and programmes to effectively meet the priorities of the Government s National Ebola Recovery Strategy, he said. The districts of Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, Pujehun, and Tonkolili have the highest levels of food insecurity. Levels of food insecurity at least doubled from the 2010 CFSVA in the districts of Bombali, Bonthe, Kailahun and Kenema. Out of 149 chiefdoms and 18 urban wards surveyed, 110 chiefdoms had food insecurity levels above the national average of 50 percent. While the Ebola outbreak accounted for the decline in food security in some districts, notably Kailahun and Kenema, in the majority of districts, food insecurity is a chronic problem, caused by structural factors that affect the food production system and limit the ability of households to produce or buy enough food. 2
The results confirm that drivers of food insecurity are low agricultural productivity, poverty and a lack of resilience, poor road and market accessibility, gender inequality and a lack of income generation diversification. The negative socio-economic impacts of Ebola further exacerbated food insecurity. While the majority of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods, the report shows that only 4 percent are growing enough rice to meet their needs for the whole year, and rice production has decreased nationwide by 15 percent over the last five years, said Nyabenyi Tipo, FAO Representative in Sierra Leone. The analysis shows that on average, only 4 percent of farmers use chemical fertilizer, 10 percent have access to improved seed varieties, and 99 percent use manual tools. Very few households are engaged in fishing or livestock rearing. To sell or buy food, households in rural areas have to travel almost eight miles, or one and a half hours, to reach the nearest market. Sierra Leone now has unprecedented insight into its food security situation, with data available at the chiefdom level for the first time. This allows the humanitarian and development community to zero in on the most vulnerable, allowing us to use our resources more efficiently to improve food security, strengthen livelihoods and build resilience to recurrent shocks, said Peter Scott-Bowden, WFP Country Director in Sierra Leone. With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the findings also provide accurate baseline data for government and development partners to gauge progress in achieving SDG 2 ending hunger, he added. WFP and FAO are supporting the Government of Sierra Leone to bridge the gap between local food production and national demand. The recommendations of the CFSVA underscore the urgent need for an increased investment in sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods. The 2015 CFSVA was financed by the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank. Thirteen local and international NGOs provided technical assistance, inkind and cash contributions to support the exercise. # # # About FAO FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It helps countries to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. FAO focuses special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world's poor and hungry people. About WFP WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries. 3
Follow WFP on Twitter @wfp_media @wfp_africa For more information, please contact: Francis Boima, WFP/Sierra Leone Francis.Boima@wfp.org Jordan Sisson, WFP/Sierra Leone Jordan.Sisson@wfp.org Jaward Keita, FAO/Sierra Leone Keifa.Jaward@fao.org Links to news coverage International New York Times Reuters Relief Web The Globe and Mail WFP website Xinhua News Agency (New China) TVC interview with WFP Representative and Country Director, Peter Scott-Bowden Local The Sierra Leone Telegraph Premier News (in print 28 October 2016) Access to online version of the report is available for download at the following link: http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wf p288316.pdf 4
Highlights from the keynote address, Professor Monty Patrick Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Professor Monty Patrick Jones, Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security outlined five priority areas for the agricultural sector: 1. Pursue a sustainable increase in production and productivity. This includes total factor productivity for efficient farming, promotion of profitability and transitioning from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. 2. Provide predictable increase of shareholder farmers income. This can be achieved through increasing access to markets and linking farmers to formal markets to meet the food demands. 3. Move away from conventional agricultural practices. This requires innovation and buy-in from the private sector. 4. Increase investment in agricultural tools, inputs, machinery and maintenance. 5. Invest in women farmers and provide equal access to inputs, knowledge and resources. The launch of the State of Food Security in Sierra Leone report provides a window of opportunity for the Ministry and key stakeholders to align to the nationwide targets set out in the President s Recovery Priorities and the Agenda for Prosperity. Moreover, the country should endeavour to meet the objective of Zero Hunger by 2025 set out in the Malabo Declaration. 5
Statement by Ambassador Peter Versteeg, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), Distinguished Representatives of the WFP and the FAO, development partners, invited guests and the media: Let me start by congratulating the Government of Sierra Leone and the WFP and FAO, who with the backing of key donors have once again produced an updated Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis for Sierra Leone. The traditional high quality standard has been maintained despite having been conducted at the tail end of the Ebola outbreak and the EU is proud to have been one of the sponsors. The recommendations come at an opportune moment as we turn the page on recovery and renew our joint efforts to combat the scourge of food insecurity which affects no less than 50 per cent of Sierra Leoneans. I should also add that the critical support provided to the Government of Sierra Leone by WFP and FAO and other UN Agencies during the Ebola outbreak, most of which received strategic additional EU funding, deserves much greater recognition. I am pleased to report that the recently launched EU funded Boosting Agriculture and Food Security programme (BAFS), which targets smallholder farmers will make a strong contribution towards the reduction of poverty and food insecurity in Sierra Leone through better governance and increased agricultural productivity and diversification. It is fully aligned with the recommendations validated by Government and Stakeholders in April 2016 as outlined in the 2015 CSFVA. More specifically, its objectives are threefold. Firstly, it will contribute to increase institutional capacity, with the formulation-implementation of food security strategies by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and related institutions. Secondly, the programme aims to promote productivity in the cashew, cocoa and coffee cash crops and livestock sector, generating income and exports and thirdly, it will support environmentally sustainable agricultural diversification while at the same time promoting agribusiness investments along added value chains. Furthermore, the overall 11 th EDF EU support addresses other critically related sectors including improving access to markets (bridge and road rehabilitation) access to both primary and technical and vocational education among others. 6
Let me also take this opportunity to praise the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture in terms of the effective mobilisation and coordination donor support to the agriculture, forestry and food security sector. He is setting the standard for other sectors. The agricultural sector not only forms the backbone of the Sierra Leonean economy, but it also constitutes the essence of Pillar No 1 of the Agenda for Prosperity, aimed at achieving the objective of diversified economic growth. In this context the effective coordination and division of labour coupled with necessary strategic policy reforms are vital to overcoming food and income insecurity in Sierra Leone and assuring prosperity for all. In conclusion, once again a big 'thank you' to all of those persons involved in preparing the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis. Now is the time to deliver on its recommendations. 7
Statement by Ms Nyabenyi Tito Tipo, FAO Country Representative Honourable Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security Representatives of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and of bilateral cooperation agencies; Representative of UN agencies Representatives of the Civil Society Members of the media Distinguished guest Ladies and gentlemen I am honoured to be here today to give some highlights of food security status in Sierra Leone. Globally, more than half the world s population today suffer from one or more forms of malnutrition, 80% live in the rural areas, and Sierra Leone is no exception. The situation of food security in Sierra Leone is concerning, results of CFSVA inform us that 49.8 percent of households (3,186,187 people) are food insecure, i.e. 5 percent increase in food insecurity since 2010, when the total was 45.0 percent (2,586,040 people). A total of 8.6 percent of households (545,957 people) can be categorized as severely food insecure, an increase of 6.5 percent (373,539 people) from 2010, this group should be the focus of urgent attention. The districts of Kambia, Port Loko, Tonkolili and Pujehun showed higher rates of food insecurity and are to be watch closely. We need identify and address the underlying causes of food insecurity in the country, and the recommendations in this document provide a list of valuable options to that effect. FAO will continue its support on technical and policy advice to the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security to improve Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture in the country. A policy officer under the EC funded FIRST program will soon be seated in the Strategic Advisory Unit at MAFFS. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the donors who funded this exercise, the EC, African Development Bank and the World Bank. 8
I appreciate and thank the Government of Sierra Leone especially MAFFS in the person of Hon Monty Jones for his able leadership and commitment to advance the agricultural sector in Sierra Leone. 9
Statement by Mr Peter Scott-Bowden, WFP Representative & Country Director Honourable Minister, Deputy Minister, Ambassador, Distinguished colleagues, Members of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to join the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, along with the Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in launching The State of Food Security in Sierra Leone, which is based on the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis. I would also like to recognize the European Union, and thank Ambassador for all his support with this important process. As you have heard this morning, an unprecedented level of work went into producing the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis, which provides the most extensive data available to date on food security in Sierra Leone. We are all aware that both the people of Sierra Leone, as well as its economy, are in a state of recovery, and for that reason, the urgency of this data and analysis cannot be overstated. The report outlines the key drivers of food insecurity in Sierra Leone. These include impacts from the Ebola crisis, low agricultural productivity, limited infrastructure, low incomes, and limited access to public services. 10
Since the decline of the Ebola virus earlier this year, many people continue to struggle with the impact the disease had on their families, their livelihoods and their communities. The Ebola crisis has reversed the progress that Sierra Leone previously made to combat food insecurity. The data shows us that more than 49 percent of the population is food insecure approximately three and a half million people do not have access to safe and nutritious food. Within these food insecure communities, more than 600,000 people are severely food insecure meaning they eat less food and consume less food groups, and thus reducing their ability to cope with new shocks. The number of severely food insecure people has increased by more than 60 percent, from 374,000 people in 2010, to approximately 608,000 today. The Ebola crisis also left a longer term impact on various sectors in Sierra Leone, particularly agriculture. Gaps in labour availability and increased worker absenteeism resulted in lost harvests. Markets and trade were disrupted. For farmers, who make up more than 70 percent of workforce outside our urban centers, this was devastating. And while Ebola has played a significant role in the state of food security and the increased level of vulnerability of communities, other challenges remain. Since the last comprehensive food security analysis in 2010, we continue to observe limited use of productive agricultural inputs such as improved seeds and new farming technologies. We also know that food is frequently lost or wasted at various stages of the food supply chain, from initial production down to final household consumption. This occurs during harvesting, storage, packing, transport, or in markets. 11
Limited infrastructure also impacts the ability of farmers and consumers to access markets. Poor road conditions make it difficult for farmers to work with Agricultural Business Centers and the private sector. Limited processing and storage facilities prevent farmers and farming cooperatives from managing surpluses and sales. The report also examines the impact that other sectors play on food security. Limited access to education, health services, clean water and sanitation, and other public services are drivers of food insecurity. More than 45 percent of the heads of households that were surveyed for this report are illiterate. Children that can read and write will earn more as adults than those that cannot. Clean water will prevent illnesses among children and adults, and allow for greater absorption of nutrients from the foods they are eating. The recommendations of the CFSVA are the result of a consultative process which examined all of these challenges --- and others and came up with a consolidated set of actions to address the findings of the report. During this process, stakeholders recognized the need to think big but to act strategically and to focus our interventions. Various partners will play a role in their respective areas, and recommended actions were developed with a view to ensure that targets can be set and progress is measureable. We have provided a copy of the full report to everyone here today. As you go through the detailed findings and recommendations later, I would ask that you consider the follow three issues: food access, food availability and food utilization. 12
When we talk about access, we are asking whether households have the physical and economic access to food for their families. Food access also looks at distance to markets. We know that on average, a mother in Kambia takes a bus for 10.5 miles to the nearest market to buy food. In Tonkilili, a father walks 8.5 miles to buy food. It is no wonder, then, that most households are spending two-thirds of their income on food and transport costs. And we should note that having money to pay for transport is a luxury in many communities. Food availability addresses the supply side of food security food production, stock levels and trade. When you arrive at a market, is food available to buy? We know that most districts have regular access to imported rice with the exceptions of Kono and Koinadugu. Outside of Freetown, locally produced rice is available in less than 50 percent of markets. The third dimension we look at in the report is food utilization. Is food properly processed and stored? Do families have an adequate knowledge of nutrition and is this knowledge applied to care and feeding practices for children in particular? Do adequate health and sanitation services exist? With these dimensions of food security in mind access, availability and utilization the recommendations seek to address the drivers of food and nutrition insecurity, and were developed through a consultative approach which included Government ministries and institutions, United Nations agencies, NGOs and civil society, academic institutions and donor partners. To be brief, the recommendations are divided into the following key strategic areas: 1. Boost production and transform the agricultural sector from subsistence farming to commercial production; 13
2. Expand social protection programmes and safety nets, and invest in livelihoods diversification to reduce vulnerability and improve food access at the household level; 3. Adopt a preventative approach to address undernutrition; 4. Improve access to primary and secondary education, and increase opportunities for vocational training; and 5. Strengthen the policy and institutional framework to support growth in agriculture. Within these five strategic areas, you will find a number of actionable recommendations many of which the Government and partners have already begun implementing. Our challenge moving forward, I believe, will be to ensure that we are working under the leadership of the Government to prioritize and coordinate our work within each of these strategies. I look forward to the Minister s keynote address, and anticipate that he will underscore his vision as we look forward. The World Food Programme will continue to do its part, working with the Ministry, FAO and partners to scale up food assistance activities that provide the highest impact, while continuing to provide critical safety nets for the most vulnerable and food insecure communities. Based on the results of the report, WFP is scaling up its own livelihoods programme, supporting farmers with tools and training, providing asset creation opportunities in highly food insecure areas, and supporting farming cooperatives with skills development and leadership training. WFP is also working with farming cooperatives to reduce post-harvest losses, and to purchase surpluses from farmers. WFP is also working with private sector companies in Sierra Leone that purchase rice grown in-country. 14
WFP will also continue to work with the Ministry and FAO to engage stakeholders that will drive agricultural production and improved post-harvest management. This will not only help to increase the availability of food in markets, but to ensure that local food commodities are safe and meet high quality standards. We must also promote the development of rural infrastructure investing in farming cooperatives, roads and other mechanisms that enable local food systems to develop and thrive. We have the tools to help improve production and food management, but we must continue to advocate for support from various sectors to manage demand, invest in infrastructure and increase market access. As we implement the President s Ebola Recovery Plan, and implement the recommendations of the report we launch today, WFP and our partners will continue to provide a lifeline to severely food insecure and vulnerable communities. We must ensure that the most vulnerable are not excluded in the national recovery process. Again, allow me to extend my thanks to the Ministry and FAO for their collaboration in this important survey, to all of you for joining us today. I would also like to recognize the WFP Vulnerability and Mapping team, led by Mr Sahib Haq, who played an important role in managing this process, and unfortunately could not join us here today. He sends his greetings from Pakistan. With those remarks, I will hand over to the moderator. 15
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