Dear Moderators and Forum Members,
The topic on the present online discussion about policy outreach and communication on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) is of high importance, as the outcome decision making remains on the pertinence and information reliability. All depends on how policy outreach or communication is worked out, the approach used. Method used to produce FSN information is quite important as it influences policy making.
Policy outreach or communication on FSN comes from different sources: journalistic information, sociology information, statistical information and so on. But there is correlation between these sources of information.
Among the different sources of policy outreach or communication on FSN, the one I best know and work is statistics information on FSN.
Policy outreach or communication at statistical level to improve FSN information is based on indicators worked from the field. In my country, during events such as flood, draught and other natural calamities where crops or harvest have been destroyed, causing food insecurity, a stakeholder’s round table is often organized including information producers, decision makers and donors. In these emergency cases, decision makers inform information producers the type of indicators or information they need to address the situation. It is necessary to underline that in this case the FSN information produced and used by the decision makers influences policy making and remains clear.
Policy outreach or communication on FSN, not in emergency case is the one worked every year through Current Survey System (CSS) by the statistical service of the country where the national agricultural production is measured and from which a Food Balance Sheet (FBS) is worked out and mapped to highlight food shortage and food surplus zones. Information is then communicated for decision making. The outcome of the communication is that food from the surplus areas or regions of the country is driven to the food insecure zones.
Other policy outreach and communication on FSN derive from Census of Agriculture (CA). Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Questionnaire Unifié des Indicateurs de Base de Bien-être (QUIBB) and so on.
Best regards
Kodjo Dokodjo
Kodjo Dokodjo