Forum global sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (Forum FSN)

Dear All,

Please find below the contribution of the Food and Nutrition Security National Council (Brazil’s Presidency of Republic), based on template for the call for inputs on the VGRtF.

Yoursfaithfully,

Thaís Lopes Rocha

Secretaria Executiva do Conselho Nacional de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional Presidência da República Palácio do Planalto, Anexo I, Ala A, sala C2, Brasília-DF

Title of the experience

Brazilian Experience and its Good Practices in the Voluntary Guidelines for the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security

Geographical coverage

National Coverage

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Brazil

Your affiliation

Food and Nutrition Security National Council (Consea): a national council composed by civil society and govern with a consultancy character to the Republic Presidency.

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

Brazil has published several legal and institutional bases that respect, protect, promote and provide the right to adequate food. In 2006, the country – ruled by the VGRtF of 2005 and its Guideline 7 – developed its most important legislative framework on the Right to Food. It was published the Food and Nutrition Security Organic Law (Law nº 11.346, September, 2006), which creates the National Food and Nutrition Security System (SISAN). The Sisan is an instrument that allows government and civil society organizations to act together in regard of the formulation and implementation of policies against hunger as well as actions to promote food and nutrition security. Society and the public power (municipal, state and federal governments) should also act jointly in the following up, monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition situation of the population, defining rights and obligations of public power, families, companies and society in general. The participation in the system must obey principles and guidelines defined by the Food and Nutrition Security Interministerial Chamber (Caisan).

Furthermore, still within the context of guideline 7, in February 2010, the National Congress approved Constitutional Amendment nº 64, which included the right to food among the social rights. The approval of this amendment has an important meaning for the guarantee of this human right in Brazil, since becoming a constitutional right requires the State to review its actions related to the food and nutrition security and to social security policies. This reaffirms the right of each person to be the "holder" of public policies aimed at achieving food and nutritional security. That is, people who have, for any reason, difficulty accessing the right food have a constitutionally guaranteed right, in this context the government can be held responsible if this right is accomplished.

Another very important brazilian legislative framework was the reinstitution of the Food and Nutrition Security National Council (Consea), Law nº 10.683, May, 2003. The Council has a consultancy character and advises the Republic President on the formulation of policies and the definition of orientations for the country to guarantee its human right to food. Due to its consultancy and advisory character, the Council is not, and cannot be, an administrator nor an executor of programs, projects, policies or systems. Inspired in the resolutions of the Food and Nutrition Security National Council, Consea follows up and proposes different programs, such as the “ Programa Bolsa Familia” (Family Allowance), School Meals, Family Agriculture Food Acquisition and Food and Nutrition Vigilance, among many others. Consea stimulates society’s participation in the formulation, execution and follow up of food and nutrition security policies. It considers that society’s organization is an essential condition for social conquests and for the permanent overcoming of exclusion.

About the guideline 1 (specifically 1.4), Brazil ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). And, the State’s obligation to respect, protect, promote and provide this right in articulation with other human rights was incorporated into national legislation at the time of the ratification of the ICESCR, in the form of a national legislative decree (Decree No. 591, July 1992).

Brief description of the experience

In Brazil, the concept of food and nutritional security has been debated for at least 20 years. Its understanding emerged from the Final Document of the First National Conference on Food and Nutrition, 1986: a guarantee to all, regarding basics access conditions to quality food, in sufficient quantity, permanently and without compromising the access to other basic needs, based on dietary practices that make possible the healthy reproduction of the human organism, contributing to a dignified existence. This concept was later consolidated at the First National Conference on Food Security in 1994. It is important to realize that this definition articulates two well-defined dimensions: food and nutrition. The first concerns the availability processes (production, marketing and access to food) and the second concerns more directly the choice, the preparation, consumption of food and its relation to health. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the term Food and Nutrition Security only became to be used in Brazil after the preparatory process for the World Food Summit, in 1996, and with the creation of the Brazilian Forum on Food and Nutrition Security (FBSAN), in 1998.

Brazil incorporated other aspects to the term. It is considered now that countries are sovereign to guarantee the Food and Nutritional Security of their peoples (sovereignty must respect the multiple cultural characteristics manifested in the act of eating). The concept of food sovereignty argues that every nation has the right to defend policies that guarantee the Food and Nutritional Security of its citizens, including the right to preserve traditional production practices related to food. Besides that, there is a recognition that such a process must take place on a sustainable basis, environmentally, economically and socially. These dimensions were incorporated on the occasion of the II National Conference Food and Nutritional Security, held in March 2004.

Currently, Brazil adopts the following definition: Food and Nutrition Security is the realization of the right of all to regular and permanent access to high-quality food, without compromising access to other essential needs, based on healthy eating practices, culturally diverse and that are environmentally, culturally, economically and socially sustainable. This understanding was incorporated into the Organic Law of Food and Nutrition Security (Article 3, Law 11.346/2006).

Who was involved in the experience?

Government:

Ministry of Agriculture, Cattle Raising and Food Supply

Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications

Ministry of Culture

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Cities

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Social Development

Ministry of the Environment

Ministry of Planning, Development and Management

Presidency of the Republic

Promotion of Racial Equality Policies Secretariat

Promotion of Women Policies Secretariat

Family Agriculture and Agrarian Development Special Secretariat

UN Organizations:

World Food Program

Food and Agriculture Organization

Civil Society:

Articulação dos Povos e Organizações Indígenas do Nordeste, Minas Gerais e Espírito Santo

Articulação dos Povos Indígenas da Região Sul

Articulação no Semiárido Brasileiro

Associação Brasileira das Centrais de Abastecimento

Associação Brasileira de Nutrição

Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva

Associação Brasileira de Supermercados

Associação Brasileira para o Estudo da Obesidade e Síndrome Metabólica

Associação de Advogados/as de Trabalhadores/as Rurais no Estado da Bahia

Associação do Movimento Interestadual das Quebradeiras de Coco Babaçu

Cáritas Brasileira

Central dos Sindicatos Brasileiros

Central Geral dos Trabalhadores do Brasil

Central Única dos Trabalhadores

Centro de Estudos e Articulação da Cooperação Sul-Sul

Comitê da Ação da Cidadania

Confederação Nacional dos Pescadores e Aquicultores

Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores Rurais Agricultores e Agricultoras Familiares

Conselho Brasileiro da Produção Orgânica e Sustentável

Conselho Federal de Nutricionistas

Conselho Nacional das Populações Extrativistas

Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira

Coordenação Nacional das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas

Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos

Edgard Aparecido de Moura

Eduardo Amaral Borges

Ekaterine Valente Karageorgiadis

Engajamundo

Fátima Aparecida Garcia de Moura

Federação dos Trabalhadores na Agricultura Familiar da Região Sul

Federação Nacional das Associações de Celíacos do Brasil

Força Sindical

Fórum Brasileiro de Economia Solidária

Fórum Brasileiro de Soberania e Segurança Alimentar (FBSSAN)

Fórum Nacional de Reforma Urbana

Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor

Instituto Maniva

Instituto Pólis

Movimento de Mulheres Camponesas

Movimento de Trabalhadoras e Trabalhadores por Direitos

Movimento dos Pescadores e Pescadoras Artesanais

Movimento Nacional da População de Rua

Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos

Movimento Nacional dos Catadores de Materiais Recicláveis

ONG Banco de Alimentos

Pastoral da Criança

Pedro Paulo da Cunha Carvalho

Rede Brasileira de Infância e Consumo

Rede de Informação e Ação pelo Direito a se Alimentar

Rede Evangélica Nacional de Ação Social

Rede FALE

Rede IBFAN

Rede Nacional de Religiões Afro-Brasileiras e Saúde

União das Cooperativas de Agricultura Familiar e Economia Solidária

Via Campesina

Visão Mundial

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

Those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition have the opportunity to participate in the food and nutritional security police by the public policies councils. These councils are instances that allows relations between the actors (State and civil society) for the debate, formulation and monitoring the public actions in this area. They reinforce the importance to guarantee the human right to adequate food as it permits dialogue, contestation and negotiation among represented parties. In them, all the actors can state their reasons and discuss possible ways in the direction of a public policy management that considers collective social interests.

Another important way of involving the same segment is by the Food and Nutrition Conferences. They are relevant spaces of social participation, where civil society representatives and government from all over the country come together to discuss and approve policy guidelines for the food and nutrition security area. These events occur in different spheres: local, municipal, territorial, state or national. The capacity of conferences to mobilize representatives of the population, social, ethnic and brazilian culture is extraordinary and has placed Brazil as one of the countries with great experience in the area of social participation.

Main activities

Timeframe

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Concerning results obtained/expected in the short and medium to long term, the Food and Nutrition Security National Plan (PLANSAN) is the main instrument of Food and Nutrition Security National Policy, instituted by Decree nº 7.272/2010.

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

There were some advances in the access to food in Brazil as result of a set of actions focused on fighting against hunger and poverty, such as the increase of the population basic wage, the growth of formal employment, the progressive expansion of the Family Allowance Program, the strengthening of the School Feeding National Program, the support for family agriculture, among others.

In 2014, a study released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed that Brazil has left the hunger world map: it felt to less than 5% the indicator of underfed population, this limit is below the one considered to indicate that a country has hunger as a structural problem.

Furthermore, the Goal 2 of the UN's First Millennium Goal – "reducing hunger by half of the 1990 level until 2015” – was also achieved by Brazil, since between 1989 and 2006 the prevalence of acute child malnutrition, the main indicator of this goal, was reduced to a quarter of its initial value (from 7.1% to 1.8%).

It is also important to consider that the indicator of poverty and extreme poverty has relationship with food and nutritional security, because in Brazil the lack of income is the main factor that prevents individuals from having access to food. That is, there are enough foods available, but the lack of income and its unjust distribution make this access impossible for the majority of the population. The extreme poverty index in Brazil felt from 7.6% in 2004 to 2.8% in 2014 and that of poverty from 22.3% to 7.3% in 2014, in the same period.

The severe food insecurity index, as measured in the Household National Survey (PNADs) in 2004, 2009 and 2013 pointed to a significant decrease in this index between 2004 and 2009, the national average of which felt from 6,9 % in 2004 to 3,2% in 2013. Despite the inequalities that still exist, all analyzes of this indicator showed a greater reduction of food and nutritional insecurity in the north and northeast regions and among black people.

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

One of the main challenges is the creation of a favorable context for the adoption of healthier and adequate eating habits by the Brazilian population. In fact, it is undeniable that the implementation of public policies that promote adequate and healthy food, based on in natura food, have gained more space in the governmental agenda. However, the National Food Security Plan 2016-2019 presents clearly 9 major challenges to create this more favorable context:

Challenge 1 – promote universal access to adequate and healthy food, with priority for families and people in situations of food and nutritional insecurity;

Challenge 2 – fighting against food and nutritional insecurity and promoting productive inclusion in specific population groups, with an emphasis on Traditional and Communities People and other vulnerable social groups in rural areas;

Challenge 3 – promote the production of healthy and sustainable food system, structuring of family agriculture program and strengthening agroecological production;

Challenge 4 – promote the supply and regular access of the Brazilian population to adequate and healthy food;

Challenge 5 – promote and protect the healthy and adequate food of the Brazilian population, with food and nutrition education strategies and regulatory measures;

Challenge 6 – controlling and preventing diseases consequents from poor diet;

Challenge 7 – extend water availability and access to water for the population, especially the poor population in rural areas;

Challenge 8 – consolidate the implementation of the Food and Nutrition Security National System of (SISAN), improving federative management, intersectoriality and social participation;

Challenge 9 – support initiatives to promote sovereignty, food and nutritional security, the human right to adequate food and a democratic, sustainable and healthy food systems at the international level, through dialogue and international cooperation.

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

The Food and Nutrition Security National Plan (PLANSAN) is the main instrument of Food and Nutrition Security National Policy, instituted by Decree nº 7.272/2010. According to Article 3 of the decree, the preparation of the plan must be guided by the eight guidelines of the Food and Nutrition Security National Policy (PNSAN) and should be built intersectorally by the Food and Nutritional Security Interministerial Chamber (CAISAN) and the priorities established by CONSEA from its deliberations at the Food and Nutrition Security National Conferences.

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

Links to additional information

Title of the experience 

Participatory management of halieutics resources , case of lake Tnganyika

Geographical coverage

Regional

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Burundi, Tanzania, DR Congo

Your affiliation

Beach management Unit of fishermen, Local government, lake Tanganyika authority and fisheries direction.

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

The VGRTF was used to develop a co-management system (Collaborative management) in fighting against illegal fishing (illicit fishing), with specific reference to guidelines 6, 10 and 12

Brief description of the experience

There have been decline in halieutic stock (9000 tons in 2010 side Burundi) of the lake due to illegal fishing. Aware of this, government of Burundi and lake Tanganyika Authority initiated a co-management approach to fight against this illicit fishing, where were included all stakeholders. Now the stock is increasing up to 24500 tons per year (side Burundi)

Who was involved in the experience?

Beach management units of fishermen, local government, lake Tanganyika authority, marine force and the fisheries direction

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

Fishermen at all level where affected by the lost of capitals, conflicts between fishermen and local population, and no payment of taxes

Main activities

1. Sensitization of all stakeholders in fisheries management, monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activity

2. Identification, Delimitation and protection of reproductive areas

3. Respect of closing period (Fishing calendar)

Timeframe

21 st December 2011----

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

1. Sensitization of about 8600 fishermen and fish workers on the danger of using illegal nets
2. Formation of 94 persons on techniques of monitoring, control and surveillance
3. 6737 illegal fishing net destructed and burned

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible 

The increase in lake production is expected to reach about 4 million people living in lake Tanganyika basin

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

Increase in production from to 9000 Tons per year (2011)  to 24500 Tons 2016 (DEPA Burundi, statistical data).

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

1. Responsibilisation (render responsible) of fisheries comite (Beach management units BMU)
2. Collaborative management between all stakeholders
3. Existence of laws
4. The will of government

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

1. Lack of capitals
2. Corruption and terrorism to BMU members
3. Changing of local authorities after 5 years in Burundi’system
4. Post harvest losses
5. Lack of competences or low capacities of the members
6. Lack of instruments for surveillance

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

Render responsible the BMU in management of halieutics resources

Collaborative management of resources

Links to additional information

Federation of fishermen and fish suppliers in Burundi,

Ministry of Agriculture and livestock in Burundi

English translation below

Titre de l'expérience       

Projet Action et Communication pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et Nutritionnelle en Afrique de l’Ouest (PACSAN)

Couverture géographique

Le Projet a couvert trois pays en Afrique de l’Ouest (Bénin, Burkina Faso et Mali)

Pays (s)/Région (s) couverts par l'expérience

Bénin, Burkina Faso et Mali

Votre affiliation

Plateforme des Alliances contre la Faim et la malnutrition en Afrique de l’Ouest (PAAO)

Comment les Directives volontaires  ont-elles utilisées dans votre contexte? Quelles directives spécifiques ont été les plus pertinentes pour votre expérience?

Un Concours de production journalistique a été organisé simultanément au Bénin, au Burkina et au Mali sur toutes les directives

Brève description de l'expérience

Il s’agit d’un concours pour faire connaître les directives, pour susciter une législation sur le droit à l’alimentation dans les trois pays au travers des productions de la presse écrite, sonore et audio-visuelle, en français et dans les langues locales. Les meilleures productions publiées ont été primées lors de manifestations publiques retransmises par la presse

Qui a participé à l'expérience?

Le Ministère de l’Agriculture, Ministère de la Justice,  des trois Etats ont été associés, des Universitaires ont été membres des jurys, des journalistes, les organisations membres des alliances nationales, FAO, Bioversity International, OXFAM-Québec, PAM, des artistes, des organisations de la société civile….

Comment les personnes les plus touchées par l'insécurité alimentaire et la malnutrition ont-elles été impliquées?

Ces personnes ont été impliquées par procuration à travers les ONG et la société civile. Donc les organisations qui travaillent avec elles et les appuient ont pris part. De même, les organisations les représentant aussi

Principales activités

• Table ronde sur le financement des activités rurales par les banques
• Journées de réflexion sur le rôle des acteurs dans la mise en place d’une législation sur le droit à l’alimentaire au Bénin
• Vulgarisation des directives volontaires sur le droit à l’alimentation

Échéancier

2011 à 2013

Résultats obtenus/attendus à court terme, avec des aspects quantitatifs chaque fois que possible (estimation du nombre de personnes qui ont été ou seront touchées)

• Les populations de trois pays concernés ont été sensibilisées par les médias
• 11 banques au Bénin ont été associées à la réflexion sur le financement du monde rural
• Environ 70 journalistes ont été sensibilisés
• Près de 7 institutions étatiques ont été impliquées (Ministères, Conseil économique et sociale, Assemblée nationale, etc..)
• Environ 45 organisations (ONG, organisation paysannes, sociétés civiles et autres..) ont été sensibilisées
• Plus de 5 organisations internationales y sont impliquées (FAO, Bioversity, PAM, OXFAM etc..)

Résultats obtenus/attendus à moyen et long terme, avec des aspects quantitatifs chaque fois que possible (estimation du nombre de personnes qui ont été ou seront touchées)

Au Bénin, près de 5000 000 de personnes sont indirectement sensibilisées

Il en est de même au Burkina et au mali.

Résultats obtenus - les changements les plus importants à saisir

Les Banques sont sensibles à l’accompagnement du monde rural,

• La presse comprend mieux les directives et la problématique du droit à l’alimentation au point où au Bénin, un réseau des journalistes du droit à l’alimentation est mis en place,
• Les ONG maîtrisent mieux la problématique du droit à l’alimentation au point où plusieurs en font une thématique de travail,
• Le parlement béninois est acquis à introduire dans les prochaines réformes constitutionnelle la problématique du droit à l’alimentation,
• Les Ministères têtes de pont et certaines autres institutions sont très imbus des questions du droits à l’alimentation

Quels sont les principaux catalyseurs ayant eu une incidence sur les résultats?

• Les journées mondiales de l’alimentation,
• Les marathons contre la faim organisés par la société civile,
• Le concours dans la presse sur le droit à l’alimentation

Quelles sont les principales contraintes/difficultés qui freinent la réalisation du droit à l'alimentation?

• Absence de législation interne dans les pays,
• Manque de coordination des actions au niveau des Etats

Quels mécanismes ont été mis en place pour suivre l’évolution du droit à l'alimentation?

Les mécanismes en place ne sont pas dédiés au droit à l’alimentation expressément. Cependant ils concourent indirectement. Ces mécanismes sont étatiques, de la société civile

Quelles bonnes pratiques recommanderiez-vous pour obtenir des résultats positifs?

• Diffusion intense du droit à l’alimentation
• Multiplication des activités visant à promouvoir le droit à l’alimentation

Lien vers d'autres informations 

Néant

Name of the experience

Projet Action et Communication pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et Nutritionnelle en Afrique de l’Ouest (PACSAN) [Action and Communication project for food security and nutrition in West Africa].

Geographical coverage

The project covered three countries in West Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Country (ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Your affiliation

Plateforme des Alliances contre la Faim et la malnutrition en Afrique de l’Ouest (PAAO) [Platform of alliances against hunger and malnutrition in West Africa].

03 BP 976 Cotonou Benin

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

A journalistic production contest was organized simultaneously in Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali.

Brief description of the experience

It consisted of a competition to make the Guidelines known, to generate legislation on the right to food in the three countries through productions by the press, written, audio and audio-visual, in French and in the local languages. The best productions published were awarded prizes following displays to the public retransmitted by the press.

Who was involved in the experience?

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Justice of the three countries were involved; universities were members of the jury; journalists; member organizations of national alliances; FAO; Biodiversity International; OXFAM-Quebec; WFP; artists, civil society organizations …

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

People affected by food insecurity and malnutrition were involved by proxy through NGOs and civil society. Thus the organizations working with them and supporting them have taken part. Likewise also, the organizations representing them were involved.

Main activities

• Round table on banks funding of rural activities.
• Study days on the role of actors in the setting up of legislation on the right to food in Benin.
• Dissemination of Voluntary Guidelines on the right to food.

Timeframe

2011 to 2013

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

• The population of the three countries concerned was made aware by the media.
• 11 banks in Benin were involved in the study about funding the rural world.
• About 70 journalists were briefed.
• About 7 state institutions were involved (ministries, Economic and Social Council, National Assembly, etc.)
• About 45 organizations (NGOs, farmer´s organizations, civil society and others) were made aware.
• More than 5 international organizations were involved (FAO, Biodiversity, WFP, OXFAM, etc.).

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

In Benin, nearly 5 000 000 people were indirectly made aware.

It was the same in Burkina and Mali.

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

The banks are responsive to supporting the rural world.

• The press has a better understanding of the Guidelines and the problems surrounding the right to food to the extent that in Benin, a network of journalists on the right to food was implemented.
• The NGOs have a better understanding of the problems concerning the right to food to the extent that many have adopted it as a theme of their work.
• The Benin Parliament has resolved to introduce in the forthcoming constitutional reforms the problem of the right to food.
• The vanguard ministries and certain other institutions are fully imbued with the issues of the right to food.

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

• The World Food Days,
• The marathons against hunger organized by civil society,
• The support of the media for the right to food.

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

• Absence of internal legislation in the countries concerned,
• Lack of coordination of actions at inter State level

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

The mechanisms in place are not expressly dedicated to the Right to food. However, they contribute indirectly. These are state and civil society mechanisms.

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

• Intensive dissemination of the concept of the right to food
• Multiplication of activities related to promote the right to food

Links to other information

None

Title of the experience   

Promotion of good nutrition in the first 1000 days of child development through participatory mechanisms – MWANZO BORA “GOOD START” NUTRITION PROGRAM  

Geographical coverage

(E.g. national, or regional if several countries of the same region, or global if several countries in more than one region)

National: the intervention is implemented in three districts of Zanzibar namely Micheweni, Chake Chake and North A 

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

(E.g. Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi)

Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania

Your affiliation

(Please indicate government, UN organization, civil society/NGO, private sector, academia, donor or others)

Department of Food Security and Nutrition (DFSN), Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries (MANRLF), a public institution of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. 

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

(E.g. VGRtF have been used to develop legislative framework on the Right to Food, with specific reference to Guideline 7)

VGRtF have been used in promoting good nutrition during the first 1000 days of child development.  Specifically, Guidelines 10.3, 10.5, 10.9, 11.1, 11.5 and 13.3 have been applied.

Brief description of the experience

The MWANZO BORA NUTRITION PROGRAM designed to improve maternal and child health care practises in the United Republic of Tanzania in the area of antenatal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.  The overall goal of the program is to improve the nutritional status of under-five children, pregnant women and lactating mothers with specific focus on reducing maternal anaemia and childhood stunting in three districts of Mainland Tanzania and three districts of Zanzibar namely Micheweni, Chake Chake and North A.  The program is working to raise awareness of undernutrition during the first 1000 days of child development and its impact on society while strengthening the capacity of local institution in addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity.   

Who was involved in the experience?

(Please indicate as many as relevant e.g. government, UN organization, civil society/NGO, private sector, academia, donor or others)

This program is funded by USAID through Feed the Future and the US Government Global Health Initiative, implemented by Africare in partnership with the DFSN of the MANRLF – Zanzibar.  Other partners involved in the programme implementation are District Management Teams and voluntary community-based institutions. 

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

(E.g. participation of CSOs representing food insecure and malnourished segments of the population in all training)

• Programme implemented in districts most vulnerable to food insecurity: higher level of malnutrition, anaemia, poverty and food insecurity levels are among criteria considered in the selection of participating districts;
• Poor households with pregnant women, lactating mother or under-five children were prime beneficiaries of program interventions;

Main activities

(E.g. training of CSOs, lawyers, parliamentarians, government)

1. Support to the establishment of Shehia Food Security and Nutrition Committee as called for in Food Security and Nutrition Act no 5 of 2011 which contains clear Right to Food provisions.  These are community level institutions, trained and facilitated to form a network of volunteers, and assume a responsibility of conveying key nutrition messages and provision of one-on-one counselling to the target beneficiaries and also facilitate community nutrition mass campaigns, under the leadership of Community Health Workers. 
2. Support to home gardening and small livestock keeping for home consumption targeting poor household;
3. Trainings on dietary diversification and healthy diet using locally available food commodities;
4. Establishment of peer support groups (father-to-father and mother-to-mother groups): members work together to share good health practices and health and nutrition related concerns facing their communities;
5. Training of health workers from Reproductive Child Health facilities;
6. Introduction of Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Kits to address specific pro-nutrition behaviour during 1000 days of child development 

Timeframe

2012 - 2018

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

(Please indicate the number of people that have been directly involved in activities, e.g. 6 training sessions involving 250 people)

• i. 105 Shehia Food Security and Nutrition Committees containing 1,575 members have been established, trained and voluntarily promote the adoption of essential nutrition behaviour in their communities through house-to-house visiting. About 32,700 households were reached (183,120 household members benefited);

1. 2765 poor households (with 15,484 members) have been trained on agricultural practices and assisted in establishing vegetable gardens and small livestock keeping for household consumption;
2. 525 Community Owned Resource Person trained, provided with Social Behaviour Change Communication Kit and working peer support groups to improve nutrition behaviour and practises of caretakers, families and community at large;
3. 1287 peer support groups (with 12,870 community members) were formed and trained.

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

(Please indicate the number of people that have been or are expected to be indirectly affected by activities e.g. training leading to drafting legislative framework that was adopted by parliament and has potential impact on entire population of about 5 million people)

This program raise awareness on the importance of good nutrition during the first 1000 days of child development and promote adoption of essential nutrition behaviour, as such has potential to impact on entire population of about 343,063 people residing in the program implementation area.

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

(Please indicate any significant change that resulted from the activities, e.g. change in the behavior of local authorities regarding the inclusion of civil society stakeholders in decision making, or the participation of vulnerable groups in the implementation of some programs, or a national ombudsperson/human rights institutions that started to include the Right to Food in their reporting, or changes in the access to justice, conflict resolution or administrative processes)

1. Increased knowledge of health, nutrition and child caring practices among pregnant and lactating women and women of reproductive age, thus expected to contribute to a healthy family;
2. Increase knowledge of dietary diversification and of low cost healthy diets from locally available foods;
3. Strengthened grass root level institutions that actively participate in promoting the adoption of essential nutrition behaviour and the monitoring of the food security and nutrition situation in their locality.

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

• i. Community engagement and participation;

1. Establishment and empowerment of local institutions;
2. Build on local knowledge;
3. Group training and community mobilisation sessions 

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

1. Limited resources to support effective implementation of food security related policies and programs;
2. Delayed implementation of the decentralisation policy which makes it difficult for the districts unable to implement their plans in addressing underlying causes of food and nutrition insecurity.

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

1. Training to community members in monitoring;
2. Involvement of Shehia Food Security and Nutrition Committees in monitoring food security and nutrition situation in their locality 
3. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification ;
4. Food Security and Nutrition and Early Warning System

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

1. Capacity building and building on existing local knowledge are key to the acceptance and implementation of behavioural practices that lead to improved intakes of essential nutrients;
2. Nutrition and health are best addressed by fully engaging and empowering communities as an approach to build trust and create better communication; 
3. Community-based programs offer important mechanisms for community mobilisation to improve nutrition.

Title of the experience   

USE AND APPLICATION OF THE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE FOOD IN MALAWI



Geographical coverage

NATIONAL



Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

MALAWI



Your affiliation

CIVIL SOCIETY



How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

The Voluntary Guidelines provided the framework for the development of the draft Right to Food Bill referred to as the Food and Nutrition Bill, which when enacted will provide the context for the respect, protection and fulfillment of the RTF in Malawi

Brief description of the experience

The experience has been fraught with both excitement and exasperation , as is the case with most legislative drafting processes. It took time to contextualize the term RTF into local languages as well as to get buy-in of policymakers to internalize the dyanamics as outlined in the VG.

Who was involved in the experience?

Initially, the process began as a civil society initiative, aimed at garnering the support of legislators to support the enactment of the bill. However, with the high turnover, this meant repeating the process of awareness to MPs without any meaningful progress.  After nine years of literally ‘running at the same spot’, we changed strategy and deliberately sought broadbased support from targeted members of government, civil society, the judiciary and development partners. Additionally, we also relinquished our lead role as civil society and coopted the Department of Nutrition and HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Health to take lead with guidance from civic society. This approach has proved to be more effective in that it has created space for better interaction and collaboration and lessen the traditional walls of rivalry and confrontation that often drives this relationship.

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

To ensure the voice of the marginalized was included, we have carried out Right to Food Assessments in conjunction with the Malawi Human Rights Commission using FAO Assessment tools.

Main activities

Training of CSOs

Training of Media

Training of Church Leaders

Training of Parliamentarians

Timeframe

The whole process commenced in 2003 and we hope to have the draft bill passed on the Cabinet for general approaval and the eventual tabling of the bill by end of December 2018

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Training of 20 CSOs involving 25 people each

Training of 4 Media organisations involving 20 people

Training of 6 Church Leaders involving 159 Church leaders

Training of Parliamentarians involving 5 committees

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

A Rights Based Approach to Food is expected to bring about a balance to the lack of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which are often superceded by Civil and Political Rights

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

A major stakeholder, the Malawi Human Rights Commission will be the key stakeholder in reporting RTF violations to Parliament and other key stakeholders such as UN Committee on ESCR and the Special Rapporteur on RTF

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

Corruption in the agriculture sector

Politicization of the major staple, Maize

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

The Right to Food being perceived as a food security issue and not a Rights issue

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

The draft Bill includes provisions to monitor processes at the national and international level

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

An all inclusive process involving civil society, government, development partners is paramount. It has been noted from our experience that the role of the FAO has been declining particularly at the FAO National Office level and to us this has been a clear contradiction in terms

Links to additional information

Title of the experience   

Focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized people and groups

Geographical coverage

National

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Zambia

Your affiliation

Civil society/NGO

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

The VGRtF has been used to mobilize small scale farmers in influencing policies that favorable to the rights of small scale farmers in the rural areas. This has been in the form of access to land, credit and the right to indigenous seeds.

Brief description of the experience

Small scale farmers have been able to engage with policy makers and to have their concerns taken on board in various fora that have made recommendations for policy changes. Farmers have been able to access subsidized farm inputs and also formed cooperative movements for bargaining for their rights. Trainings have also been conducted on conservation farming, Agroforestry and agro-ecological farming practices which have helped the farmers to increase their farm yields through crop diversification and integrated farming. The use of indigenous seeds has also replaced Commercialized seeds which have been expensive for small scale farmers.

Who was involved in the experience?

Civil Society, government and traditional leaders

Sustainable farming methods, conservation farming and use of indigenous seeds that are resilient to climate change.

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

Advocacy and campaigns for the right to food and nutrition

Main activities

• Engagement with policy makers
• Formulation and implementation of policies
• Creating awareness about the right to adequate and nutritious foods in the communities
• Training in healthy  foods

Timeframe

3 years

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

9 trainings conducted for 270 small scale farmers soil fertility, integrated farming methods and seed multiplication

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

• Improved soil fertility
• Improved food yields and variety
• Reduction in child malnutrition and mortality
• Improved household incomes

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

• Improved farming methods
• Use of climate resilient seeds
• Improved policy environment
• Monitoring and evaluation of community activities

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

• Lack of information
• Climate change
• Lack of market access due and value chain development

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

• Farmer to farmer approaches use of lead farmers
• Stakeholder meetings
• Public discussions and farmer convergences

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

• Conservation farming ( agro ecological land use management)
• Agroforestry
• Integrated farming
• Crop diversification and use of indigenous seeds
• Small livestock management

Links to additional information

www.esaffregion.org

English translation below

Título de la experiencia

PROMOVIENTO LA EDUCACIÓN ALIMENTARIA Y NUTRICIONAL EN ESPACIOS LOCALES

Cobertura geográfica

LOCALIDADES ESPECIFICAS

País(es)/Región(es) incluidos en la experiencia

AREA METROPOLITANA DE SAN SALVADOR

Su afiliación

UNIVERSIDAD DE EL SALVADOR

¿Cómo se han utilizado las VGRtF en su contexto? ¿Qué directrices específicas de las VGRtF fueron más relevantes para su experiencia?

PROMOCIONAMOS LA ALIMENTACION ADECUADA COMO DERECHO, DADO QUE EN LA CONSTITUCIÓN  DE LA REPUBLICA NO SE EXPRESA COMO TAL.

Breve descripción de la experiencia

REALIZACIÓN DE PROYECTOS DE EDUCACIÓN ALIMENTARIA Y NUTRICIONAL EN  ESCUELAS Y LAS NUEVE FACULTADES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD PÚBLICA. SE SENSIBILIZA EN RELACIÓN A LAS CONSIDERACIONES DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN COMO DERECHO, LUEGO DESDE ESE MARCO SE ELIGE UN PROBLEMA RELACIONADO CON LA ALIMENTACIÓN Y NUTRICIÓN QUE AFECTA UN COLECTIVO CONCRETO; SE CONSTRUYE UN PROYECTO CON ACCIONES EDUCATIVAS, DE LA CUAL SE DESARROLLA UNA.

¿Quién participó en la experiencia?

1. EL COLECTIVO (ESTUDIANTES, DOCENTES, PERSONAL ADMINISTRATIVO, MADRES, PADRES Y FAMILIA)
2. LA UNIVERSIDAD DE EL SALVADOR, CARRERA DE NUTRICIÓN Y OTRAS DISCIPLINAS COMO AGRONOMÍA, ECONOMIA, EDUCACIÓN, ODONDOLOGIA, INGENIERIA EN ALIMENTOS, MEDICINA.
3. ORGANISMOS DE GOBIERNO, DIRECCIÓN DE PROTECCION AL CONSUMIDOR.

¿Cómo participó la población más afectada por la inseguridad alimentaria y la malnutrición?EN LA EJECUCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES DEL PROYECTO COMO ES LA  SENSIBILIZACIÓN.

Actividades principales

GESTIÓN Y ORGANIZACIÓN DE RECURSOS

ELABORACIÓN DE MATERIALES EDUCATIVOS Y DIVULGATIVOS

SENSIBILIZACIÓN DE DIRECTIVOS, PROFESORES, ADMINISTRATIVOS, FAMILIA.

EVALUACIÓN DE PROYECTO

Calendario

PROYECTO DE CORTO PLAZO 1 MES DE EJECUCIÓN

Resultados obtenidos/esperados a corto plazo, facilitando datos cuantitativos si es posible (estimación del número de personas que se han visto o se verán afectadas)

COBERTURA TOTAL DE 252 PARTICIPANTES PARA EL PROYECTO DE 2017, SE ATENDIERON GRUPOS DIVERSOS.

Resultados obtenidos/esperados a medio-largo plazo, facilitando datos cuantitativos si es posible (estimación del número de personas que se han visto o se verán afectadas)

CADA UNO DE LOS 252 PARTICIPANTES TIENE UNA FAMILIA DE APROXIMANDAMENTE 5 MIEMBROS, PUEDE INFERIRSE QUE A MEDIANO PLAZO SE VERIAN INDIRECTAMENTE FAVORECIDOS UNAS 504 PERSONAS ENTRE NIÑOS Y ADULTOS.

Resultados obtenidos (cambios más significativos)

TODOS LOS PARTICIPANTES SE INTERESARON EN EL PROYECTO, FUERON PARTICIPATIVOS, SE CUESTIONABAN SOBRE LA CALIDAD (HIGIENE, VALOR NUTRICIONAL, VALOR ECONÓMICO) DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN. LES LLAMABA LA ATENCIÓN LA CORRESPONSABILIDAD DE LAS AUTORIDADES O DIRECTIVOS EN CUANTO GARANTIZAR LA DISPONIBILIDAD Y ACCESIBILIDAD DE ALIMENTOS SANOS. ENTENDIAN DE SU RESPOSABILIDAD COMO CONSUMIDORES INFORMADOS Y GARANTES DEL CUMPLIMIENTO DE SU DERECHO A LA ALIMENTACIÓN ADECUADA. SE INTERESABAN EN LA RELACIÓN QUE SE ESTABLECIA DE LA DISTRIBUCIÓN FAMILIAR GÉNERO, EDAD, Y CONDICIÓN ESPECIAL. COMPRENDIAN LA RELACION DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN SANA, CON LOS MEDIOS DE VIDA, SOBRE TODO EL AGUA Y AMBIENTES SALUDABLES.

¿Cuáles son los agentes catalizadores clave que influyeron en los resultados?

MANTENER LA SALUD, YA QUE EL ACCESO A LOS SERVICIOS DE SALUD ES UN PROBLEMA. ESTAN CLAROS, QUE AL REALIZAR ACCIONES PREVENTIVAS EVITAN ASISTIR A UN CENTRO DE SALUD.

¿Cuáles son los principales obstáculos/desafíos para la realización del Derecho a la alimentación?

EL PENSAMIENTO MITICO PREDOMINANTE, LA FALTA DE EDUCACIÓN EN GENERAL Y EN PARTICULAR LA DETERMINANTE ECONÓMICA.

¿Qué mecanismos se han desarrollado para supervisar la realización del Derecho a la alimentación?

NACIONAL Y QUE NOS AFECTE LOCAL: NINGUNA

¿Qué buenas prácticas recomendaría para obtener resultados exitosos?

MEDIDAS DE HECHO: DISPONILIDAD DE ALIMENTOS SANOS, A BAJO COSTO ACOMPAÑADOS DE PUBLICIDAD QUE ORIENTE EL CONSUMO DE LA ALIMENTACIÓN COMO DERECHO.

FORMAR PERMANENTEMENTE PROFESORES EN LA ALIMENTACIÓN COMO DERECHO.

DIRECTIVOS VELEN POR EL CUMPLIMIENTO DE ESTAS ACCIONES.

Enlace a información adicional

Title of the experience

Promoting food and nutritional education at the local level

Geographical coverage

Specific locations

Country(ies)/Region(s) covered by the experience

Metropolitan area of San Salvador

Your affiliation

University of El Salvador

How have the VGRtF been used in your context? Which specific guidelines of the VGRtF was most relevant to your experience?

We promote the right to adequate food, as it is not reflected as such in the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador.

Brief description of the experience

Implementation of food and nutritional education projects in schools and the nine faculties of the public university. Awareness raising of the right to food.

Within this framework, a problem related to food and nutrition affecting a specific group is chosen. A project featuring educational actions is developed, implementing one of these.

Who was involved in the experience?

1. The group (students, teachers, administrative personnel, parents and family)
2. The University of El Salvador: Faculty of nutrition and other disciplines such as agronomy, economy, education, dentistry, food engineering and medicine.
3. Government agencies, consumer protection directorate.

How were those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition involved?

In the implementation of project activities (awareness raising).

Main activities

Management and organization of resources. Preparation of educational and informative materials. Awareness raising of managers, teachers, administrative officers, families. Project assessment.

Timeframe

Short term project (executed in 1 month)

Results obtained/expected in the short term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate of the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Overall coverage for the 2017 project: 252 participants of diverse groups.

Results obtained/expected in the medium to long term, with quantitative aspects where feasible (estimate the number of people that have been or will be affected)

Each of the 252 participants has a family of approximately 5 members. Hence, around 504 people (including children and adults) would be indirectly benefited in the medium term.

Results obtained – most significant changes to capture

All the participants were interested in the project and showed a participative attitude. They raised questions about the quality (hygiene, nutritional value, economic value) of food. The responsibility of authorities or managers in ensuring the availability and access to healthy food drew their attention. They understood their responsibility as informed consumers and guarantors of the realization of their right to adequate food. They showed interest in the influence of family distribution: gender, age, and special conditions. They understood the relationship between healthy food and livelihoods, particularly water and healthy environments.

What are the key catalysts that influenced the results?

Health maintenance, as the access to health services is an issue. Attending a health centre is not necessary when preventive actions are adopted.

What are the major constraints/challenges for achieving the Right to Food?

The predominant single mindset, the lack of education in general and, particularly, the economic factors.

What mechanisms have been developed to monitor the Right to Food?

No national mechanisms with local impact have been developed.

What good practices would you recommend for successful results?

Making healthy and low-cost food available to the population, advertising as well the right to food. training teachers in the right to food on a continuous basis. Monitoring the compliance of these actions.

Links to additional information

For further information, please contact: [email protected]