CL 127/10

Council

Table of Contents

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

II. ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

A. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

B. RECOMMENDATIONS

III. FOLLOW-UP TO THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT: REPORT ON THE PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WFS PLAN OF ACTION

IV. (a)  REVISED REPORTING FORMAT FOR THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION

IV (b)  ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SPECIAL FORUM FORESEEN IN THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION: OBJECTIVE 7.3(g) AND ITS EFFECTS ON OBJECTIVE 7.3 (h) OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION – FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

V. REPORTS ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH SESSIONS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP (IGWG) FOR THE ELABORATION OF A SET OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY (IGWG-RTFG)

VI. INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER

VII. OTHER MATTERS

A. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SESSION

B. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

APPENDIX A - AGENDA

APPENDIX B - MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY

APPENDIX C - COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE SESSION

APPENDIX D - LIST OF DOCUMENTS

MATTERS REQUIRING ATTENTION
BY THE COUNCIL

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

1. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) held its Thirtieth Session from 20 to 23 September 2004 at FAO Headquarters in Rome. The Session was attended by delegates from 106 out of 118 Members of the Committee, by observers from 10 other Member Nations of FAO, the Holy See, by representatives from 6 United Nations Agencies and Programmes; and by observers from 8 intergovernmental and 29 international non-governmental organizations. The report contains the following annexes: Appendix A - Agenda of the session; Appendix B - Membership of the Committee; Appendix C - Countries and organizations represented at the session; Appendix D - List of documents. Council document CL 127/10 Sup.1 constitutes the Final Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group for the Elaboration of a Set of Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security. The full list of participants is available from the CFS Secretariat.

2. The Session was opened by Mr Adisak Sreesunpagit (Thailand), the outgoing Chairperson of the Committee, who highlighted the extremely close working relations between the CFS Bureau and the Secretariat. He thanked all the countries for their support during his tenure and suggested that the Committee concentrate on the format for the follow-up to the World Food Summit Plan of Action so as to enhance the quality of the Mid Term Review in 2006.

3. The Committee elected by acclamation Mr. Salif Diallo, Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries of Burkina Faso as Chairperson and Mr Soren Skafte (Denmark), Mr Yahya Al Araimy (Oman), Mr Anton Kohler (Switzerland) and Mr Alvaro Aguilar Prado (Guatemala) as Vice Chairpersons for the 2004-2005 biennium. As Mr. Salif Diallo was unable to attend the current Session, Mr. Soren Skafte was appointed as the Acting Chairperson for the Session.

4. Mr David Harcharik, Deputy Director-General, delivered the opening statement on behalf of the Director-General. On behalf of His Excellency, Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, His Excellency Chaturon Chaisang, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand delivered the Keynote Address.

5. The Committee appointed a Drafting Committee composed of the delegations of Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Republic of Congo, Finland, Iran, Japan, Mauritania, The Netherlands, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sudan and the United States of America under the Chairmanship of Ms. Hedwig Wogerbauer (Austria).

6. The second FAO Distinguished Lecture on Food Security was delivered by Prof. Norman Borlaug, (USA), President, Sasakawa Africa Association and 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. He highlighted the importance of agricultural research in ensuring food security both in the past, now and for the future in his comprehensive lecture on “The Green Revolution – An Unfinished Agenda”.

II. ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

A. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

7. Particular attention was called for an immediate international response to the worsening locust crisis in Africa. The damage and loss of lives caused by Hurricane Jeanne in Haiti was also highlighted and an appeal made for urgent assistance from the international community, especially UN bodies.

8. The Committee noted the uneven progress in the fight against food insecurity amongst countries and regions and within countries themselves for a variety of reasons which threatens the attainment of the goals of the World Food Summit and the Millennium Declaration by their target date. In that sense, it reaffirmed that strategies aimed at poverty and hunger reduction have to be considered in the broader context of development.

9. The Committee welcomed the special coverage of trade in the document and the recent consensus reached in the WTO negotiations. It recognized that serious and timely work was now needed to give substance to this. It was noted that the least developed countries could benefit significantly from capacity building through investments in institutions and human resources that would enhance their ability to take full advantage of the multilateral trading system.

B. RECOMMENDATIONS

10. The Committee made the following recommendations:

For Governments:

• provide an enabling economic, political and social environment for the eradication of hunger;
• define clear national targets, deadlines and administrative mechanisms for progressively reducing food insecurity;
• accord priority to food security through agriculture and rural development in national development plans and strategies and national budgets; and
• directly address food insecurity of the most vulnerable populations through appropriate and innovative safety nets.

For FAO:

• include an Agenda item on immediate threats to food security in the CFS;
• analyse the causes of persistent food insecurity worldwide, especially in Africa and some countries in South Asia, with a view to identifying key components for hunger alleviation and development programmes in support of the attainment of the goals of the WFS and the Millennium Declaration by the target date;
• analyse the underlying causes of natural and human-induced food emergencies with a view to improving the design of appropriate prevention and response strategies in short, medium and long term contexts;
• consider trade as one of the on-going elements of analysis in the assessment of world food security
• analyse the HIV/AIDS dimension of food security and integrate the findings into national food security strategies at different levels;
• expand the scope of the crop and food supply assessment missions to cover cereals as well as non-cereal crops, livestock and fisheries;
• develop better tools to assess food security in livestock-based economies and fishing communities;
• include aspects of access to assets, land, capital, information and political voice when reviewing the access aspects of food security;
• address sustainable natural resource use and management issues;
• assist developing member countries in maximizing the benefits from trade liberalization by building up their capacity to exploit new opportunities;
• address the implications of indebtedness of countries in their food security;
• give more emphasis to gender issues, including gender-disaggregated data on trade and other topics;
• continue to enhance FIVIMS and cooperation among its partners; ensure that food security issues are adequately addressed in PRSPs and similar national documents and strategies; and
• increase the analytical and strategic function of the assessment document by providing information on successful countries that may be transferable and replicable.

For all concerned parties:

• provide appropriate support to fight the invasion of locust through urgent international action to strengthen the campaign conducted by African countries against the plague and ensure timely monitoring of the food situation for those populations whose food security is seriously threatened;
• provide appropriate humanitarian and development assistance to tackle the crisis caused by recent hurricanes affecting Haiti and other countries in Central America and the Caribbean;
• enhance the allocation of resources, including ODA, to agriculture and rural development, including the rural non-farm sector with a view to enhancing purchasing power and employment of the neediest groups;
• improve the allocation of official development assistance (ODA), in particular to the most food insecure countries towards the achievement of the goals of the Millennium Declaration;
• promote social safety nets to protect the vulnerable in natural and human-made crises, including economic shocks;
• adjust food security policies and programmes to enhance resilience to HIV/AIDS - by incorporating HIV prevention, nutritional care for people living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS mitigation measures into food security and nutrition programmes to help reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS; and
• promote better preparedness and response to complex emergency situations, especially through capacity building and improved access to crucial food security information.

III. FOLLOW-UP TO THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT: REPORT ON THE PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WFS PLAN OF ACTION

11. The Committee reviewed the progress in the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action on the basis of document CFS:2004/3. It noted that the document was based on information from reports of 33 countries, the European Union (EU) representing its 25 Member States, 3 UN agencies and 2 international organizations, using the Revised Reporting Format approved and recommended by the FAO Council, at its Hundred and Twenty-fifth Session. The committee underscored the need to improve the reporting rate to make the synthesis report more representative of all countries.

12. The Committee re-iterated its concern that the progress in reducing the number of the undernourished remained very slow at the global level. It recognized that the on-going efforts to fight hunger were important but insufficient. It also called for an adequate response to the challenges of poverty and hunger reduction and display of strong political will so as to ensure the achievement of the goals of the WFS and Millennium Declaration.

13. The Committee was informed by the Brazilian delegation that Representatives from several countries, including Head of States and Government, and International Organizations were meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 20 September 2004,at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil in a “Summit of World Leaders for the Action Against Hunger and Poverty”. The Committee was also informed by the Brazilian Ambassador that the purpose of the meeting was to mobilize international attention and political will to the challenges of combating hunger and poverty and searching for innovative financing mechanisms for development.

14. The Committee expressed concern that the performance of countries in tackling poverty and hunger and their progress towards internationally agreed targets was uneven. It noted with satisfaction that most countries with sound policies and well developed institutional and physical infrastructure have succeeded to attain economic growth and reduce poverty and food insecurity. The Committee regretted that there has been no progress towards the goals in some countries, and that in others poverty and hunger were even deteriorating. In this context, the Committee re-emphasised the overriding importance of an enabling political, social, economic and sustainable natural resource environment, conducive for economic growth and poverty reduction.

15. The Committee stressed that the success in improving food security is contingent upon improved economic conditions in general and agricultural growth in particular, and agreed that to be successful the fight against hunger needs to follow a broad based approach involving all stakeholders. In this connection, the Committee stressed the importance of a holistic approach in implementing the seven commitments in the WFS Plan of Action. The Committee stressed that the primary responsibility for the fight against hunger rests with national governments. The Committee pointed out that good governance and a conducive policy environment at national level are essential for accelerated development and reduction of poverty and hunger. It also noted that progress in these areas should be supported by a conducive international environment. The need for enhancing ODA, reducing export subsidies, and trade distorting domestic support to agriculture and reducing the debt burden of developing countries was also underscored. The Committee underlined the importance of food aid particularly under emergency situations, but stressed that hunger cannot be sustainably eradicated by food aid alone. The Committee also emphasised the importance of strengthening co-operation at sub-regional and regional levels in the struggle against hunger. The Committee stressed the need for renewed attention to strengthen south-south co-operation.

16. Pointing out that the Heads of State and Government at the World Food Summit (WFS) and the Word Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) have identified rural development as essential to sustainable development and poverty eradication, several delegates stressed that sustainable agriculture in itself is not sufficient to tackle all the underlying causes of rural poverty, hunger and environmental degradation. They expressed concern that food security and rural development issues were not adequately reflected in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers of many countries, and that there was a lack of interface between policies and programmes for agriculture with those of water management and biodiversity. In this connection, the Committee emphasised that monitoring should not only focus on the progress of hunger reduction but also on the impact of policies and of a wide range of development efforts in the form of projects and programmes at country level.

17. The Committee made the following recommendations:

For follow-up by FAO:

• undertake analytical studies on the countries which have succeeded in reducing poverty and food insecurity so that lessons could be drawn for the benefit of other countries;
• assist developing countries build their capacity to benefit from the opportunities provided by a liberalized trading environment; and
• increase its efforts to liaise with other UN Organizations and international financial institutions in order to better address the complexity of food insecurity, mainly education, health and other related social aspects.

For follow-up by countries:

• provide, in future reports on the follow-up on the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action, information on the impact of policy and specific projects and programmes on poverty reduction and food security; and
• strengthen national agriculture, rural development and food security policies and strategies and accord high priority in budget allocation to rural and agricultural development with the view to fostering economic growth and development and reducing poverty and food insecurity.

For the follow-up by donors and international organizations

• give preference, where appropriate, to local and regional purchase in the provision of food aid to developing countries for emergency assistance and for development programmes.

IV. (a): REVISED REPORTING FORMAT FOR THE FOLLOW-UP OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION

18. The Committee considered the revised reporting format for follow-up of the implementation of the World Food Summit Follow-up, based on the recommendation by the Council, at the Hundred and Twenty-fifth Session, held in November 2003. A number of delegations expressed concern that the reporting format puts an additional burden of reporting on developing countries. The Committee noted in particular that completing the list of indicators was difficult for many countries and therefore the quantity and quality of the reports were insufficient. It also noted that many of the indicators were available in databases of other organizations such as the UNDP, World Bank, WHO and FAO.

19. Delegates put forward a number of proposals to improve the format, including reducing the frequency of reporting, avoiding duplication of information on indicators by using the above-mentioned databases and formulate a set of key indicators, the need to focus on priority issues and to include indicators on water and other natural resources. The Committee took note of these proposals and agreed that the Secretariat should convene a regionally balanced working group of experts to review various options. Following such review, the Secretariat should prepare a revised format for consideration by the Bureau.

20. Delegates recommended that FIVIMS work should contribute to the development of an appropriate analytical methodology and selection of food security indicators for the WFS reporting process. Also, the CFS Secretariat should work more closely with the FIVIMS Secretariat in that regard.

IV (b). ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SPECIAL FORUM FORESEEN IN THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION: OBJECTIVE 7.3(g) AND ITS EFFECTS ON OBJECTIVE 7.3 (h) OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT PLAN OF ACTION – FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

21. The Committee on World Food Security decided:

1. To reaffirm the decision contained in Objective 7.3 (h) of the Plan of Action of the World Food Summit (1996) to convene a Special Forum within the 32^nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security, in 2006, and within available resources, in order to undertake a major broad-based progress assessment of the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action and a mid-term review of achieving the target of reducing by half the number of undernourished people no later than 2015.
2. To undertake, within available resources, during the 31^st Period of Sessions of the CFS (2005) a multi-stakeholder dialogue on the Agenda item dealing with the preparatory process of the 2006 Special Forum, following the precedent of the UN Committee on Sustainable Development, involving active participation from governments, relevant international organizations and actors of civil society relevant to the mandate of the Committee in the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action. This dialogue should also include the discussion of future actions to improve dialogue, consultation and understanding.
3. Only State Members will be able to take decisions.

22. Criteria for inviting civil society organizations:

• International NGOs¹ whose work is relevant to the mandate of the Committee in the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action, among organizations with formal relationship with ECOSOC or FAO, taking in consideration a balanced geographical representation, as usual and in accordance with:
1. ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 (Consultative relationship between the United Nation and Non-Governmental Organizations);
2. FAO Policy Concerning Relations with International Non-Governmental Organizations.²

V. REPORTS ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH SESSIONS OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP (IGWG) FOR THE ELABORATION OF A SET OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY (IGWG-RTFG)

23. The Chair of the IGWG-RTFG, Mr Mohammad Saeid Noori-Naeeni (Iran), introduced the Reports of the Third and Fourth Sessions of the IGWG-RTFG held 5-10 July 2004 (CFS 2004/5) and on 23 September 2004 (IGWG RTFG 5/1) at FAO Headquarters. He recalled that the IGWG-RTFG had been established as a subsidiary body of the CFS by the 123^rd Session of Council, and that the WFS:fyl and Council had mandated the IGWG-RTFG to finish its work in a period of two years.

24. The Chair summarized the conduct and process of negotiations of the Voluntary Guidelines and presented the text of the Voluntary Guidelines as adopted by the IGWG.

25. The CFS commended the work of the Chair, the IGWG Bureau and the Members, which had negotiated in a constructive manner. The CFS took particular note of the important role that other stakeholders had been able to play in the development of the Voluntary Guidelines. The CFS also expressed its appreciation for the work of the Secretariat.

26. The CFS endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines as submitted and decided to transmit them to Council for final adoption. The Final Report of the Chair is appended to this Report as document CL 127/10-Sup.1.

VI. INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER

27. The Committee noted and welcomed the progress report regarding the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH). It was informed that some eighty countries had developed or expressed their interest in developing a national alliance. The Committee acknowledged the involvement of the Secretariats of the Rome-based agencies (FAO, IFAD, IPGRI and WFP) and the NGOs; the appropriate use of information technology; and noted that a strategy paper for the alliance was also nearing finalization.

28. The Committee called on governments, and on all others concerned with combating hunger, to continue to use all means possible, including National Alliances in their countries, to fight hunger but cautioned against duplication of efforts and proliferation of meetings. The Committee recalled that CFS is a forum of the UN system which deals with world food security, with clear rules of procedure for its work, which will need to be followed in consonance with general and evolving relationship between UN agencies and all other stakeholders. The CFS is a forum of the UN system dealing with world food security; the IAAH complements the activities of and reports to the CFS. Many countries stated that CFS should be the main forum for the International Alliance Against Hunger.

29. The Committee found the interactive website and register of IAAH member activities to be efficient ways to make connections and share information among food security stakeholders.

30. The Committee agreed on the voluntary nature of the Alliance and favoured a cost-effective operation.

31. Some delegates requested more information on the cost of the proposed IAAH annual meeting.

VII. OTHER MATTERS

A. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SESSION

32. The Committee agreed to hold its Thirty-first Session at FAO Headquarters in Rome at a time to be determined by the Director-General in consultation with the Chairman.

B. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

33. The Committee welcomed the presentation of a brief report on the IAAH side event: “A High-Level Dialogue with Civil Society Leaders and Member Countries’ National Alliance Leaders on the development of The International Alliance Against Hunger as a Leading Global, Political and Moral Force to End Hunger”. A panel discussion on the G8 commitments to Africa with a special focus on increasing agricultural productivity through capacity building was organized by the US delegation. A seminar on Actions and Initiatives for Food Security was held as an Informal Panel event, with no official records of the proceedings as in the past Sessions.

_____________________

¹ The civil society representatives are to be encouraged to adopt arrangements for coordination and interaction in providing inputs to the session.

² For the work of the CFS, the term NGO is understood to cover all forms of civil society or private sector organizations.

APPENDIX A

I. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

1. Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons
2. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable
3. Statement by the Director-General or his Representative
4. Keynote Address
5. CFS Distinguished Lecture on Food Security
6. Membership of the Committee

II. ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

III. FOLLOW-UP TO THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT: REPORT ON THE PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN OF ACTION

IV. FUTURE REPORTING FORMAT AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR A SPECIAL FORUM

1. Future Reporting Format for World Food Summit Follow-up
2. Arrangements for the Special Forum foreseen in the World Food Summit Plan of Action: Objective 7.3(g) and its effects on Objective 7.3(h) of the World Food Summit Plan of Action – future developments

V. REPORT ON THE IGWG FOR THE ELABORATION OF A SET OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY

VI. INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST HUNGER

VII. OTHER MATTERS

1. Arrangements for the Thirty-first Session
2. Any Other Business
3. Report of the Session

APPENDIX B

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY

(as at 23 September 2004)

APPENDIX C

COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE SESSION

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATED COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD

CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS

CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL

FOOD FIRST INFORMATION AND ACTION NETWORK

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION IUS PRIMI VIRI

INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC RURAL ASSOCIATION

INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF FISHERIES ASSOCIATIONS

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HOME ECONOMICS

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN IN LEGAL CAREERS

INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

INTERNATIONAL JURIDICAL ORGANISATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF LATIN NOTARIES

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

RÉSEAU DES ORGANISATIONS PAYSANNES ET DES PRODUCTEURS DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL

VIA CAMPESINA

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

WORLD CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

WORLD ORGANIZATION OF THE SCOUT MOVEMENT

WORLD UNION OF CATHOLIC WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS

APPENDIX D