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Anna Antwi

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Организация: GD Resource Center (development NGO)
Страна: Гана
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Executive Director at GD Resource Centre.

Anna Antwi is a development consultant with educational, training and over twenty years work background in the areas of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Gender and Development, and Human Rights Advocacy. I have worked with a wide variety of public, private and civil society, at the international, national and sub-national levels. I have been actively involved in a number of networks and campaigns, and support diverse development organizations in food, nutrition and livelihood security at various levels. I am currently the Executive Director of GD Resource Centre -a development NGO in Ghana.

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    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      >> English <<

      1. What would be effective and efficient regional governance for Food Security and Nutrition in West Africa?

      Effective and efficient regional governance for Food Security and Nutrition in West Africa should be a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder platform where a number of factors are dealt with. Since agriculture comprises of a number of areas like crops (fruits, vegetables, staples etc), animals (livestock, poultry), fisheries, forestry etc, and food security also extends beyond just agricultural production, it is necessary to widen the net to cover other sectors like trade, roads, gender among others. Again, nutrition is also broad and covers areas like agriculture, health, social protection, water, sanitation and hygiene. These issues necessitate the formation of a broad multi-sectoral platform that would monitor progress of food and nutrition issues in the sub-region. The stakeholders in the various areas should also not be left out: the individual farmers and producers of the food, and their associations/ groups or alliances, processors, transporters, marketers/ traders, aggregators, policy-makers, civil society organizations, trade unions, private sector operators, public sector, Parliamentarians etc.

      Minimum requirement should then be set to ensure that everyone within a certain jurisdiction is not left out in the “zero hunger bracket”.  These minimum requirements of certain factors should include indicators for monitoring, bench marks, monitoring team etc. Others (probably the hardware) could include silos/ warehouses for storage of food and other essential items, drying machines; human factor is also important and therefore the education part or capacity building of extension officers and the general populace. The issues to monitor include from access to land, its preparation to production, storage, nutrition issues especially maternal and child health issues. Other areas to consider should be early warning signals, disaster prevention and management etc. To ensure that everyone is food secured at the lower level, decentralization of decision making and implementation are crucial.

      The policy of AU (Maputo and the Malabo declarations)- NEPAD’s CAADP; and ECOWAP at the sub-regional level are important to support country level efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.

       

      1. What will be the role and place of the non-state actors /civil society organizations (level of representation and participation in the decisions) in the official enactments of the implementation of ECOWAP, agricultural policies and NFS in general both at national and regional level?

      The responsibility of non-state actors should be mainly watch dog role. However, in some few instances, local or community based groups can support with implementation but should be rare. If the Civil society groups have their own funding, then they could do or have different innovative approaches that could be shared for scale up. Civil society groups could also be involved from project/ program design to selection of monitoring indicators so that it will be easy to follow discussions on implementation of policy issues. Monitoring should be at the national levels but at various levels (from local to ECOWAS levels) CSOs should have representations. Selection should be carefully done; criteria should be developed for selection of the persons and organizations.

      Civil society groups should have their own separate groups in addition to being involved in a general public platform from district/county level to national level.

      1. Which multi-actors and multi-sector platform should be used to facilitate dialogue and negotiations on policies, programs and investments, accountability, etc.?

      Ministries of Food and Agriculture in the various countries could create a working group that brings together serious actors within the sector, and a nutrition platform using existing structures such as the SUN (Scaling up Nutrition) platform. Civil society could however, have a separate platform to gather their own independent information for analysis and evidence based decision making. There is the need for coordination and harmonization of all programmes to avoid duplication. In all stages, women and youth’s involvement are crucial.

      Dr. Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Centre

      Ghana

       

      >> French  <<

      1. Quelle gouvernance régionale effective et efficiente pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et la Nutrition en Afrique de l’Ouest?

      Une gouvernance effective et efficace à l’échelon régional pour la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition en Afrique de l’Ouest devrait être assurée par une plate-forme multisectorielle et multipartite capable d’aborder tout un éventail de facteurs. Etant donné que l’agriculture comprend différents domaines tels que les cultures (fruits, légumes, aliments de base, etc.), l’élevage (bétail, volaille), les pêches, la foresterie, etc., et que la sécurité alimentaire va également au-delà de la production strictement agricole, il est important d’élargir le filet de façon à couvrir d’autres secteurs comme le commerce, l’infrastructure routière, l’égalité de genre, entre autres. La nutrition est également un concept vaste qui couvre des domaines comme l’agriculture, la santé, la protection sociale, l’eau, l’assainissement et l’hygiène. Pour aborder ces sujets, il faut former une large plate-forme multisectorielle qui pourrait suivre la progression des questions liées à l’alimentation et à la nutrition dans la sous-région. Il ne faut pas non plus oublier les acteurs présents dans les différents domaines en question: les agriculteurs et les producteurs individuels d’aliments, ainsi que leurs associations/groupes ou partenariats, les responsables de la transformation, du transport, de la commercialisation, les agrégateurs, les décideurs, les organisations de la société civile, les syndicats, les opérateurs du secteur privé, le secteur public, les parlementaires, etc.

      Une exigence minimale serait donc de garantir que toute personne vivant dans une certaine juridiction soient incluse dans la « fourchette faim zéro ».  Ces exigences minimales de certains facteurs devraient concerner des indicateurs de suivi, des niveaux de référence, une équipe de suivis, etc. D’autres (probablement de type matériel) pourraient porter sur les silos/entrepôts pour stocker les aliments et d’autres articles essentiels, les appareils de séchage; le facteur humain est également important, raison pour laquelle il faut souligner la partie éducationnelle ou le renforcement des connaissances des fonctionnaires de vulgarisation et de la population générale. Les questions à surveiller sont, entre autres, l’accès à la terre, la préparation de celle-ci à la production, l’emmagasinage, les problèmes nutritionnels, en particulier en ce qui concerne la santé des mères et des enfants. D’autres aspects à considérer devraient être les signes d’alerte précoce, la prévention et la gestion des catastrophes, etc. Pour garantir que tous vivent dans la sécurité alimentaire à l’échelon le plus bas, il est essentiel de décentraliser la prise de décision et la mise en œuvre.

      La politique de l’UA (déclarations de Maputo et de Malabo), le PDDAA du NEPAD, et l’ECOWAP à l’échelon sous régional jouent un rôle important pour étayer les efforts des pays dans l’éradication de la faim et de la malnutrition.

       

      2. Quel rôle et quelle place pour les OSC/acteurs non étatiques (niveau de représentation et participation aux décisions) dans le dispositif institutionnel de mise en œuvre de l’ECOWAP et des politiques agricoles et de SAN en général tant au niveau national que régional?

      La responsabilité des acteurs non étatiques sera essentiellement celle de vigie. Dans quelques rares cas, des groupes locaux ou communautaires peuvent intervenir pour soutenir la mise en œuvre, mais à titre exceptionnel. Si des groupes de la société civile ont leur propre financement, ils peuvent mener à bien des activités ou des approches novatrices différentes qui peuvent ensuite être partagées à une plus grande échelle. Les groupes de la société civile pourraient également participer dès la phase de la conception du projet/programme à la sélection des indicateurs de suivi de façon à pouvoir suivre plus facilement les discussions sur la mise en œuvre des aspects stratégiques. Un suivi doit également être mis en place à l’échelon national, mais à différents niveaux (du niveau local au niveau de la CEDEAO), avec la représentation des OSC. La sélection doit être faite soigneusement et des critères doivent être établis pour le choix des personnes et des organisations.

      Les groupes de la société civile doivent avoir leur propre groupe séparé, outre leur participation à la plate-forme publique générale du niveau du district/comté à l’échelon national.

      3. Quelle plateforme multi-acteurs et multi-secteurs pour faciliter le dialogue et les négociations sur les politiques, programmes et investissements, la redevabilité, etc. ?

      Les ministères de l’alimentation et de l’agriculture des différents pays pourraient mettre sur pied un groupe de travail réunissant les principaux acteurs du secteur, ainsi qu’une plate-forme sur la nutrition à partir de structures existantes comme la plate-forme SUN (Scaling up Nutrition). La société civile pourrait néanmoins former une plate-forme séparée de façon à collecter sa propre information de manière indépendante en vue de l’analyse et de la prise de décision sur la base de preuves. Il est indispensable d’assurer la coordination et l’harmonisation de tous les programmes afin d’éviter les chevauchements. À tous les stades, la participation des femmes et des jeunes est cruciale.

      Dr. Anna Antwi

      DG Resource Centre

      Ghana

       

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      Focusing on Rural Women in a Sustainable Development

      1.If you could make an intervention at the side event on rural women at the 8th session of the Open Working Group in New York, what would be its key message?

      • Improving livelihood security of women – ie enhancing women’s economic empowerment (farm and non-farm income generating activities), and providing capacity development for women’s socio-economic empowerment to be engaged in decision making processes of their spaces (either at household or community levels)
      • Providing Agricultural extension and advisory services: to target women and help to increase production, store, process and prepare nutritious foods for the family, and to enhance their wellbeing ie improve food and nutrition security
      • Providing rural infrastructure and service to women – to ease women’s household and community burden (pipe borne water/ water points for women to readily fetch water, health centers with health workers, schools with teachers, good roads and market access, industries to help process foods to ensure long shelf lives

      2. Rural women are often described as critical agents of change in discussions on sustainable development goals. To what extent would the achievement of food and nutrition security for rural women help accelerate sustainable development? 

      Rural women are basically into production and feeding of the household in addition to their other unpaid jobs. Increasing knowledge in food production, feeding, nutritional status improvement (including good hygienic environment and good water sources all of which contribute to nutrition) will enhance the women’s capacity to deliver. It will free more time for women to engage in other activities like being involved in political leadership positions, more time for leisure and therefore quality time for the family (the unit of society)

      3. Of the many facts or stats recorded on rural women, which one do you consider to be the most revealing?

      Women producing to feed the family yet they are most under-nourished. Women doing most of farm work yet under-paid, and unrecognized. Women doing so much for society yet with little education and wealth.

      Women should have access to secured land and agricultural extension and advisory services to enable them deliver. Special efforts should be made to recognize and appreciate women’s efforts.

      In this year of family farming more has to be done to highlight and appreciate the Rural Women’s efforts to feed the World.

      Dr. Anna Antwi, Development Consultant, Ghana

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      Youth in Agriculture

      Agriculture in West Africa can move people out of poverty and also enhance food security yet the youth are not interested for a number of reasons. The State (from national to local levels) and private sector (input dealers, Banks,  business firms etc ) together with some development institutions/ organizations like NGOs, Community Based Organizations/ Farmer Based Organizations, women groups, the Trade Unions, religious bodies and organizations etc have a role to play.

      Some reasons for youth migration out of agriculture and solutions to encourage them are provided as:

      • Lack of social amenities in rural areas: it seems much resource have gone into developing our cities at the expense of rural areas and this is attracting the youth to move or migrate from rural to urban centers. Developing rural areas and small towns and districts, and providing infrastructure and services like electricity, portable drinking water, good roads link to markets, health centers with qualified personnel, schools with teachers will encourage the youth to stay in the producing areas.
      • Limited skills and labour intensive work: Build capacity of the young farmers and make labour reduction or energy saving devices accessible
      • Agriculture is not lucrative compared to other off-farm work: make agriculture lucrative through -
        • Market access – ready market outlet for farmers produce, improve prices for farm produce
        • Storage facilities to preserve produce and prevent post harvest losses
        • Minimize post harvest losses through a number of ways
        •  Extension services and agriculture information support systems to enhance productivity. More women extension workers may be hired or encouraged into the system to support with reaching out to women producers (from cultural or religious perspectives)
        • Various channels for extension in agriculture and nutrition could be used e.g face-to-face, exposure visits, and radio etc
        • Provision of agricultural inputs (farm inputs/ implements, credit etc) to the young farmers
        • Productive and secured land made available to youth through various programmes and negotiations with various authorities and bodies
        • Farm management support for young farmers, and introduction of various commodities to  ensure all year production of agricultural produce (poultry, fisheries and livestock production in addition to diverse crops production)
        • Provide irrigation facilities to also ensure all year round production and incomes for the young farmers
      • Link agriculture to nutrition to improve the status of those in producing areas
      • Preservation of farm produce through value addition via links to industries, factories, agro-processing etc
      • Creation of other non-farm  support systems and income generating activities
      • State building partnership with private sector actors and development organizations to work closely with the youth, bringing on board other marginalized groups like those with social disabilities and the excluded in society. It is also important to work wholistically through different government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in using multi-sectoral approach on diverse platforms.

      Some of these when implemented may help reduce youth migration out of agriculture and producing areas.

      Happy New Year to All!!!

       

      Anna Antwi (PhD), Development Consultant

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      >> VERSION FRANÇAISE CI-DESSOUS <<

      Dear Colleagues,

      All too soon this exciting exchange has come to an end. We are grateful to all the contributors for making this first West Africa forum a success. It is just the beginning for greater things to come for the sub-region to develop concrete solutions to solve the numerous challenges we face. I am sure we all benefited from these exchanges.

      Social Protection (SP) is increasingly gaining grounds in the (sub) regional policy engagements, and its implementation is also improving though there are still many challenges. The many definitions from the contributions point to the fact that ultimately the purpose of SP is to support the poor and vulnerable to avert the risks of hunger and poverty. In the discussion, eligibility was mostly based on poverty status (and also used as the targeting categorization) and having a household member in at least one of these categories: orphans, vulnerable child or youth (OVCY), the elderly (65 years and above), person with severe disability unable to work, displaced, poor female-head of household either widowed without employment and having any of the above as dependent(s), or unemployed, and the sick.  As a summary by a contributor “the proper implementation of social protection programmes in West African countries, will provide assistance to poor individuals, households and communities which will enhance their present and future well-being and give them the capacity to manage risks better”.

      However, only few people mentioned HIV/AIDs. Is it because it is not a major problem in the sub-region? About a month and a half ago, I visited People living with HIVs (PLHIVs) dependent on food ration, and it was pathetic when the affected people were begging not to be taken off the food programme. Most of them were too poor to have any source of income, too weak to work or excluded from work by stigma. Such poor PLHIVs needed food to enable them take their routine drugs. Therefore, proper targeting is necessary to cover all socially excluded and vulnerable groups and persons. In the discussions, there are also many SP interventions used in the various countries. Many success stories have also been shared.

      It is increasingly recognised that agriculture must play a role in pro-poor economic growth especially in areas with large poor rural settings as found in our sub-region. Poor rural people’s livelihoods are diverse, risk prone and complex and most of them depend on agriculture and related activities for their source of livelihoods, food security and nutrition. Still, only limited efforts have been made to integrate agriculture and social protection interventions and policies to ensure that beneficiaries of SP programmes are transformed into production operatives. Interestingly, the various interventions mentioned in this first forum have direct and indirect implication on food security and nutrition. Different combinations of programme and instruments with well-defined stakeholder roles and responsibilities can promote both agriculture and non-agriculture programmes with either market-led or non-market SP programmes that are more effective and contribute to results that make great impact on people and their community economies. Social protection plays important role in securing the poor against extreme poverty, deprivation and shocks in times of stress to tackle hunger and under-nutrition. Measures to avert these challenges include cash transfers, public work programmes, school feeding, food vouchers, agriculture, health care and educational grants or subsidies. There are informal and cultural SP issues too. In most places, cash transfers are common means of SP interventions.  

      I am taking time to acknowledge contributions that may help to shape social protection and future discussions in the sub-region. “To meet the needs of West African countries in terms of food security and nutrition, it is important to promote inclusion as well as productivity by making sure that women and men enjoy the same working conditions. We must provide women with subsidies for building infrastructure to meet and work etc; empowering communities with adaptation strategies will go a long way in boosting social protection. African countries have populations that are predominantly rural, with little or no access to means of production, and resources are unevenly distributed between women and men of a country. Social protection means ensuring decent work and means of production (financial, land) to all citizens which enable them to ensure the food security. Arrangements need to be made at the legislative and regulatory levels. This would contribute to solve the problem of nutrition in West Africa”. Contribution from Australia also indicate that “the African continent has long been recognized for its potential as the global bread basket of the 21 century - 20% of world's land surface but little more than 10% of the people - all that space, soils, water and bio-resources. The contributor concludes by saying “if the custodians of the African continent - those with access to the resources, funds, technologies and, crucially, the vision - don't move into gear others will do it for them”. Another contributor feels one cannot focus on West Africa without taking into account the most dynamic of the regional economies - that of Nigeria. And if Nigeria can come to terms with social protection of vulnerable people in the context of food and nutrition security, then so can other countries in the sub-region. The only contribution from trade unionist indicate that there is a need to clarify the West African context characterised by certain social and economic characteristics that implicate the design and implementation of social protection interventions for the vulnerable in the community of rural workers largely self-employed and the need to go beyond just agricultural production into adding value to farm produce. Mentioned was made to climate variability/changes, poverty and bad governance as some causes of food insecurity and under-nutrition.

      Most contributors indicated targeting as a challenge and the importance to “focus on the identification of beneficiaries in order to prevent support being diverted for other purposes including lucrative”. Others specified that “social protection can be an effective way of improving the nutrition of poor households, but the targeting of these must be better regulated and actual impacts should be well measured and assessed in terms of sustainability”. As shown above, targeting women and those in the informal sector was also necessary to get them out of poverty. Still others mentioned building of schools and equipping them for the children from the poorest communities. “This will go a long way to safe guard the future of these children”. Other challenges mentioned include “coordination of all social protection actions developed in several ministerial departments and other institutions; Financing SP must prioritize internal resources to guarantee the sustainability/durability of these programs”. The inter-sectoral and multi-sectoral approach was emphasised to achieve the needed results. As in Benin for example, social protection supports health actors, home visits, and cooking demonstration. Suggestions was made to structure a multi stakeholder and multi sectorial platform; coordination and harmonization between different stakeholders in agriculture, water and sanitation, education and employment, health and support for improved resilience  to emergency, climate variability/ change and conflict situations. Yet another found that the “shifting of agricultural production to urban areas are absolutely integral to ensuring food security and nutrition for the always growing population”. A contributor summarizes the constraints of funding as “the implementation of social security is particularly difficult in Africa, because most of the countries in the region face serious budget constraints, making it almost impossible to finance often rather expensive insurances systems. In addition, the implementation and management of social security systems requires quite complex institutions which, again, are not available in most of these countries. Many countries cover a small portion of the population; usually the employees in the public and private formal sectors”. Another opinion is that the receipt of public cash transfer encourages less effort of beneficiaries to look for employment and therefore choose to engage in more leisure instead. Additionally, in cases where strict targeting method is based on income levels, individuals may not be comfortable working for more money for fear of losing their benefits. A contributor supports the Trade Union claim that unless a significant formalization of the entire labour force occurs, the large majority of the poor usually associated with the non-salaried and informal sector will remain excluded from social protection programs in the future. The adoption of  ILO Recommendation 202 on social protection floors in 2012 recognize the need to progressively ensure higher levels of protection while guaranteeing access to essential health and minimum income security.

      For solutions to combat the challenges some proposals include transparency in the management of public markets; identify the guiding principles, the governance structures and the mechanisms which help to generate and support good governance. Alliance and network building were also mentioned as in West African Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition (WAAAHM). Food Security Policy Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN) in Ghana and the various Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition in the different West African countries are critical for advocacy, working with other stakeholders, and promotion of the SP concept. Using framework in these countries should build on, and work through these structures as much as possible, from targeting procedures, to implementation, grievances and monitoring etc. These structures also aim to ensure synergies and complementarities among programmes, and with other development-oriented interventions. The trade unionist suggested the importance to appreciate the transformation of the economies that which involve diversifying away from agriculture and other primary production. It entails developing industry, especially manufacturing, in order to realize sustainable employment growth that can ensure progressive realization of the Right to Food and other rights inherent in decent employment. Intensive Labour Public Works similar to WFP’s food for work or asset promote people’s life skills acquisition, while addressing community infrastructural (rural roads, warehouses, soil and water conservation, etc.) needs for sustainable development. Decentralisation efforts could bring decision making closer to the people and development closest to those in most need. Participatory and equitable access to productive resources and its management for production systems and marketing could help the poor. However, in all specific or clarity of objectives to reach the target beneficiary, with assured markets for rural farmers created through social networks and to protect these farmers from rural poverty is important. The political will of the various governments is also essential in SP.

      Thanks for the many links, some I have already acknowledged. I read through all the contributions and links more than once. Brokers and FARM linkage of SP and food security are also interesting and informative and so are the earlier ones. There is the need for long term and integrated approaches that lay emphasis on livelihood based social protection and agricultural production through input subsidy. The different SP interventions all support a common goal. Provide cash transfer to the poor and help them transform their socio-economic status through linkage with their production by providing agriculture extension from pre-production through post harvest to ensure sustained growth. Social mobilization is important for empowerment. Social protection schemes have the potential to contribute to the realization of basic human rights like rights to food, incomes, education, health and combating inequalities and advancing women and children’s rights.  The essence of SP affords countries the opportunity to support the poor and vulnerable, and tackle immediate problems of hunger and under-nutrition before it escalates to famine. As indicated earlier, almost all the SP interventions like Labour Intensive Public Works, Cash transfer, school feeding programme, Health Insurance Scheme and Free Maternal and Child Health Care, agricultural input subsidies etc all support a common course to enable the poor and vulnerable to enjoy basic rights like good health and food, and prevent them from falling into extreme poverty. The major challenge to ensure better targeting of beneficiaries is the use of common targeting mechanisms to guarantee that proper objectives are reached. Like many other aspects of social life in the sub-region there are many governance challenges in managing SP programmes. The growing quest for good governance in general should push harder on the SP front to ensure higher levels of accountability, efficiency and effectiveness and probity.  Addressing climate variability/ change, targeting, good governance and proper SP interventions delivery, the poor and vulnerable people will be able to meet their minimum food and nutrition needs. Thank you all for your insightful contributions.

      Anna Antwi (PhD), Development Consultant, Ghana.

      Chers collègues,

      La fin de cette passionnante discussion est arrivée trop rapidement. Nous sommes reconnaissants aux participants d’avoir fait de cette première discussion en ligne sur le Forum FSN en Afrique de l’Ouest un succès. Ceci est seulement un début pour de plus grandes choses à venir pour que la région développe des solutions concrètes pour résoudre les nombreux défis auxquels nous faisons face. Je suis persuadée que chacun bénéficie de ces échanges.

      La protection sociale gagne de plus en plus de terrain dans les engagements politiques de la région et sa mise en œuvre est également en cours d’amélioration malgré les nombreux défis. Les définitions variées proposées dans les contributions soulignent le fait que le but de la protection sociale est de soutenir les plus pauvres et vulnérables pour prévenir les risques de famine et de pauvreté.

      Lors de la discussion, l’éligibilité a principalement concerné la pauvreté (utilisé également comme catégorie de ciblage) et le fait d’avoir un membre du foyer dans une des catégories suivantes: orphelin, enfant ou jeune vulnérable, personne âgée (plus de 65 ans), personnes avec  un handicap, personne déplacée, foyer dirigé par une femme pauvre (veuve sans emploi avec enfants à charge…). Comme résumé par un participant à la discussion, “ la bonne mise en œuvre de  programmes de protection sociale dans les pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest fournira l’assistance aux pauvres individus, foyers et communautés qui amélioreront ainsi leur niveau de vie présent et futur et leur donneront la capacité de mieux gérer les risques auxquels ils sont soumis

      Il est de plus en plus admis que l'agriculture doit jouer un rôle pour promouvoir une croissance économique qui favorise les pauvres, en particulier dans les zones pauvres et rurales de notre sous-région Les moyens d'existence des habitants des zones rurales pauvres sont variés, vulnérables aux risques, et complexes; ils dépendent, pour la plupart, de l'agriculture et d’activités afférentes comme sources de moyens d'existence, de sécurité alimentaire et de nutrition. Rares sont toutefois les efforts réalisés pour intégrer l'agriculture et les interventions et politiques de protection sociale afin de garantir que les bénéficiaires de programmes de protection sociale soient opérationnels en termes de production. Il est intéressant de noter que les différentes interventions mentionnées dans ce premier forum ont des incidences directes et indirectes sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition. Différents dosages de programmes et d’instruments, dans lesquels les différentes parties prenantes auraient des rôles et des responsabilités bien définies, peuvent contribuer à la promotion de programmes agricoles et non agricoles dans le contexte de programmes de protection sociale basés ou non sur le marché qui soient plus efficaces et qui contribuent à un plus grand impact sur les économies des personnes et de leur communauté. La protection sociale joue un rôle important pour apporter une sécurité aux pauvres dans des contextes d'extrême pauvreté, de dénuement et de chocs en période de crise, et aborder le problème de la faim et de la sous-alimentation. Plusieurs mesures sont possibles pour relever ces défis, notamment les transferts monétaires, les programmes de travaux publics, l'alimentation scolaire, les bons alimentaires, l'agriculture, les soins de santé et les bourses ou subventions à l'enseignement. Il existe également des aspects informels et culturels en matière de protection sociale. Dans la plupart des pays, la modalité la plus fréquente d'intervention en matière de protection sociale est celle des transferts monétaires.  

      Je souhaite mettre en valeur certaines contributions qui peuvent contribuer à la protection sociale et à de futures discussions dans la sous-région. « Pour répondre aux besoins des pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest en termes de sécurité alimentaire et de nutrition, il est important de promouvoir l'inclusion et la productivité en garantissant des conditions de travail égalitaires pour les femmes et les hommes. Nous devons fournir aux femmes des subventions qui permettent de construire une infrastructure où se rencontrer et où travailler, etc. ; une autonomisation accrue des communautés à l'aide de stratégies d'adaptation contribuerait fortement au développement de la protection sociale. Les pays africains ont des populations majoritairement rurales qui ont un accès limité voire nul aux moyens de production, et où les ressources sont distribuées de façon inégale entre les femmes et les hommes d'un même pays. La protection sociale implique de garantir un travail décent et des moyens de production (financiers, fonciers) à tous les citoyens de façon à ce qu'ils puissent assurer leur propre sécurité alimentaire. Des mesures doivent être adoptées à l'échelon législatif et réglementaire. Ceci contribuerait à résoudre le problème de la nutrition en Afrique de l'Ouest ». Un participant signale également, dans une contribution envoyée d'Australie, que « le continent africain est reconnu depuis longtemps pour son potentiel en tant que grenier du monde pour le XXIe siècle: 20 % de la surface terrestre du monde avec un peu plus de 10 % seulement des habitants, à savoir un espace, des terres, et des ressources hydriques et biologiques considérables. Le participant a conclu avec ces mots « si les gardiens du continent africain, à savoir ceux qui ont accès aux ressources, aux fonds, aux technologies et qui ont avant tout la vision nécessaire, n'enclenchent pas la vitesse supérieure, d'autres le feront à leur place ». Un autre participant estime que la situation de l'Afrique de l'Ouest ne peut être analysée sans tenir compte de l'économie la plus dynamique de la région, à savoir celle du Nigéria. Si le Nigeria parvient à trouver une solution pour assurer la protection sociale des groupes vulnérables dans le contexte de la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle, d'autres pays de la sous-région pourront le faire aussi.  La seule contribution d’un syndicaliste indique qu'il est indispensable de préciser le contexte de l'Afrique de l'Ouest en fonction de certaines caractéristiques sociales et économiques qui ont une incidence sur la conception et sur la mise en œuvre des interventions de protection sociale pour les groupes les plus vulnérables, au sein de la communauté de travailleurs ruraux, généralement indépendants, et insiste sur la nécessité d'aller au-delà de la simple production agricole et introduire de la valeur ajoutée aux produits agricoles. La variabilité du climat et les changements climatiques, la pauvreté et les problèmes de gouvernance ont également été mentionnés parmi les causes de l'insécurité alimentaire et de la sous-alimentation.

      La plupart des participants ont signalé que le ciblage constitue un problème et qu'il est important de « centrer les efforts sur l'identification des bénéficiaires afin d'éviter que le soutien ne soit acheminé à d'autres fins, y compris des fins lucratives ». D'autres ont indiqué que « la protection sociale peut constituer une manière efficace d'améliorer la nutrition des ménages pauvres mais qu’il est important de mieux réglementer le ciblage de ceux-ci et de bien mesurer et évaluer les impacts réels en termes de pérennité ».

      Dans ce même ordre d'idées, il importe de cibler les efforts sur les femmes et tous ceux qui travaillent dans le secteur informel pour les sortir de la pauvreté. D'autres ont mentionné la construction et l’équipement d’écoles pour les enfants des communautés les plus pauvres. « Ceci contribuera énormément à sauvegarder l'avenir de ses enfants ». Les participants ont également épinglé d'autres problèmes tels que « la coordination de toutes les actions de protection sociale menées dans différents départements ministériels et d’autres institutions ; le financement de la protection sociale doit mettre l'accent sur les ressources internes pour garantir la pérennité/durabilité de ces programmes ». L'accent a également été mis sur la nécessité d'une approche intersectorielle et multisectorielle pour obtenir les résultats voulus. Au Bénin, par exemple, la protection sociale appuie les acteurs de santé, les visites à domicile, et les démonstrations culinaires. Plusieurs participants ont proposé de mettre en place une plate-forme multipartite et multisectorielle et de favoriser la coordination et l'harmonisation entre les différentes parties prenantes en matière d'agriculture, d'eau et d'assainissement, d'éducation et d'emploi, de santé et de soutien au renforcement de la résilience dans les situations d'urgence, dans le contexte de la variabilité/des changements climatiques et dans les situations de conflit. Un autre participant a signalé que « le déplacement de la production agricole aux zones urbaines est un élément absolument essentiel pour garantir la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition pour une population en constante augmentation ». Un autre participant a mentionné les contraintes en matière de financement en signalant « la mise en œuvre de la sécurité sociale est particulièrement difficile en Afrique car les pays connaissent, pour la plupart, de graves contraintes budgétaires qui rendent pratiquement impossible de financer des systèmes d'assurance souvent très onéreux. En outre, la mise en œuvre et la gestion de système de sécurité sociale passent par l'existence d'institutions relativement complexes qui font défaut dans la plupart des pays. Dans de nombreux pays, seul un petit pourcentage de la population est couvert, généralement les employés des secteurs formel public et privé ». Un autre a estimé que la réception de transferts monétaires publics peut induire les bénéficiaires à ne pas faire les efforts suffisants pour chercher un emploi et à préférer avoir plus de temps libre. De plus, lorsque la méthode de ciblage est basée sur les niveaux de revenu, les individus peuvent se demander s'ils ne risquent pas, en travaillant et en gagnant plus, de perdre l'accès à ces bénéfices. Un participant a manifesté son soutien à la revendication syndicale selon laquelle, faute d'une formalisation importante de l'ensemble de la main-d’œuvre, la grande majorité des pauvres, généralement associés au secteur informel et non salarié, restera en marge des programmes de protection sociale. L'adoption de la recommandation 202 de l’OIT en 2012 sur les socles de protection sociale reconnait la nécessité d'assurer l’accroissement progressif des niveaux de protection tout en garantissant l'accès aux soins essentiels et la garantie d’un revenu minimum.

      Pour relever ces défis, certains proposent d'inclure la transparence dans la gestion des marchés publics, et de définir les principes directeurs, les structures de gouvernance et les mécanismes susceptibles de conduire à une bonne gouvernance et à son maintien. L'importance de travailler en réseau et dans le cadre d'alliances a également été mentionnée, comme dans le cas de l’Alliance contre la Faim et la Malnutrition en Afrique de l'Ouest. Le Réseau pour le plaidoyer en faveur de politiques de sécurité alimentaire (FoodSPAN) au Ghana et les différentes Alliances contre la Faim et la Malnutrition dans les pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest jouent un rôle essentiel dans le plaidoyer, la collaboration avec d'autres parties prenantes et la promotion du concept de protection sociale. Il conviendrait de mettre en place dans ces pays des structures qui permettent de concentrer la majeure partie du travail, des procédures de ciblage à la mise en œuvre, aux plaintes et au suivi, etc. Ces structures devront également assurer les synergies et les complémentarités entre les programmes, ainsi qu'avec d'autres interventions visant au développement. Le syndicaliste a également souligné l’importance de la transformation des économies moyennant une diversification qui aille au-delà de l'agriculture et d'autres produits primaires. Cette transformation implique de développer l'industrie, en particulier manufacturière, pour parvenir à une croissance durable de l'emploi qui garantisse une réalisation progressive du droit à l'alimentation et d'autres droits inhérents au travail décent. Les programmes intensifs de travaux publics, tels que le programme Vivres contre travail ou actifs du PAM favorisent l'acquisition de compétences pendant toute la durée de la vie et contribuent, dans le même temps, à répondre aux besoins communautaires en matière d'infrastructure (chemins ruraux, entrepôts, conservation des terres et de l'eau, etc.) indispensable pour parvenir à un développement durable. Les efforts de décentralisation pourraient contribuer à rapprocher les prises de décision de la population et d'assurer un développement plus proche des plus démunis. Un accès participatif et équitable aux ressources productives et leur gestion dans le cadre de systèmes de production et de commercialisation pourraient également aider les pauvres. Il est toutefois important d'avoir des objectifs spécifiques et clairs pour parvenir aux bénéficiaires ciblés, avec des marchés garantis pour les agriculteurs ruraux, dans le cadre de réseaux sociaux, et pour protéger ses agriculteurs de la pauvreté rurale. La volonté politique des différents gouvernements est également un facteur essentiel en matière de protection sociale.

      Merci pour les nombreux liens qui m'ont été envoyés. J'ai lu toutes les contributions et les liens en question à plusieurs reprises. Les liens de Brokers et FARM sur la protection sociale et la sécurité alimentaire sont également intéressants et riches en informations. Il est indispensable d'appliquer des approches intégrées et à long terme qui mettent l'accent sur des moyens d'existence basés sur la protection sociale et la production agricole moyennant l'octroi de subventions aux intrants. Les différentes interventions de protection sociale contribuent toutes à un objectif commun: Fournir aux pauvres des transferts monétaires et les aider ainsi à transformer leur situation socio-économique en établissant des liens avec leur production et en fournissant des conseils agricoles allant de la pré-production à l’après-récolte de façon à garantir une croissance soutenue. La mobilisation sociale est un facteur important d'autonomisation.

      Les dispositifs de protection sociale peuvent contribuer à la réalisation de droits humains de base comme les droits à l'alimentation, aux revenus, à l'éducation, à la santé ainsi qu'au combat contre les inégalités et à la promotion des droits des femmes et des enfants. L'essence de la protection sociale est de permettre aux pays d'apporter un soutien aux pauvres et aux groupes vulnérables, et d'aborder les problèmes immédiats de la faim et de la sous-alimentation avant qu'ils ne dégénèrent en famine. Comme mentionné plus haut, presque toutes les interventions de protection sociale telles que les programmes intensifs de travaux publics, les transferts monétaires, les programmes d'alimentation scolaire, le  régime d'assurance-maladie et les services gratuits de santé maternelle et infantile, les subventions aux intrants agricoles, etc., poursuivent tous l'objectif commun de permettre aux pauvres et aux personnes vulnérables de jouir de droits fondamentaux tels que la santé et l'alimentation et de les empêcher de tomber dans l'extrême pauvreté.  Le principal défi pour garantir un meilleur ciblage des bénéficiaires est d'utiliser des mécanismes communs de ciblage qui garantissent la réalisation des objectifs fixés. Tout comme pour beaucoup d'autres aspects de la vie sociale de la sous-région, la gestion des programmes de protection sociale pose de nombreux enjeux en termes de gouvernance. La recherche croissante d’une bonne gouvernance, d'une manière générale, devrait s'appliquer plus particulièrement sur le front de la protection sociale pour garantir une amélioration en termes de reddition des comptes, d’efficience et d'efficacité ainsi que de probité.  Les efforts en matière de variabilité/changements climatiques, de ciblage, de bonne gouvernance et de fourniture correcte des mesures de protection sociale doivent permettre aux pauvres et aux personnes vulnérables de satisfaire leurs besoins minima en termes d'alimentation et de nutrition.

      Merci à tous de vos judicieux apports à cette discussion.

       

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      >> VERSION FRANÇAISE CI-DESSOUS <<

      Dear Colleagues,

      We are getting interesting contributions, and we shall encourage all to continue with this exciting exchange before we finally draw curtains on this fascinating topic for West Africa in few days time.

      This time the contributions range from right to adequate food, using local communities for support and also tackling social protection from multi-sectoral approaches to descriptions of social protection. In the descriptions, social protection is seen as promoting economic opportunities, supporting inclusive growth as well as contributing to necessary transformation by addressing social inequalities, exclusions and the associated vulnerabilities. Another remarkable feature is the decentralization process that transfers responsibility, and empower people through decision making processes at the sub-national levels. The interview posted by Lucie is also very informative. Experiences of people are also vast and rich. There are numerous challenges mentioned, however, one challenge that keeps re-surfacing is “targeting”.  

      In many African countries, pro-poor interventions such as cash transfer, input subsidy and other forms of support to the agricultural sector are to reduce poverty, shocks/ risks and food insecurity. Yet many of the social protection interventions and programmes are implemented by different government agencies with different targets in mind, even though majority of the support may end up in the rural areas with the focus on agricultural producers or farmers.

      As we come to the close of this conversation, we may want to continue to address all the questions especially the key question: what are the effective ways of targeting the poor with social protection interventions so as to improve agricultural production to enhance food security and nutrition. You may share your experiences with common targeting mechanisms in your country.

      Let us keep the spirit and momentum to the very end. Thank you

      Regards,

      Anna Antwi, Development Consultant.

      Chers collègues,

      Chaque jour, nous recevons de précieuses contributions, et nous vous encourageons tous à poursuivre cet intéressant échange avant la clôture, d’ici quelques jours, de cette discussion passionnante pour l'Afrique occidentale.

      Cette semaine, les contributions reçues portent sur : le Droit à une alimentation adéquate ; sur l’importance des communautés locales pour soutenir la protection sociale ; sur les approches multi- sectorielles ; et des définitions de la protection sociale. Dans les définitions, la protection sociale est considérée comme la promotion d’opportunités économiques, comme un soutien à une croissance inclusive contribuant aux évolutions nécessaires de la société pour lutter contre les inégalités sociales, les exclusions et les vulnérabilités associées. Une autre caractéristique remarquable est le processus de décentralisation qui transfère la responsabilité, et d'habiliter les personnes à travers les processus de décisions aux niveaux sous- nationaux décision. L'interview publiée par Renata est aussi très instructif. Les expériences partagées par les participants sont aussi vastes que riches. Il y a de nombreux défis mentionnés dans ces contributions. Cependant, un défi qui ne cesse d’être évoqué concerne le «ciblage» des bénéficiaires.

      Dans de nombreux pays africains, les interventions en faveur des pauvres, comme les transferts monétaires, les subventions aux intrants et autres formes de soutien au secteur agricole ont pour objectifs de réduire la pauvreté, les chocs / risques et l'insécurité alimentaire. Pourtant, la plupart des interventions de protection sociale et des programmes sont mis en œuvre par des agences gouvernementales qui ont des objectifs différents à l'esprit, même si, le soutien fournit peut déboucher dans les zones rurales et viser les producteurs agricoles ou les fermiers.

      Lors des derniers jours de cette discussion en ligne, nous souhaitons poursuivre le débat et répondre, plus particulièrement à cette question : Quelles interventions de protection sociale peuvent cibler les pauvres et contribuer à accroitre la production agricole et ainsi améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition ? Vous pouvez partager votre expérience et celle de votre pays sur les mécanismes de ciblage mis en place.

      Je vous encourage à continuer à partager vos expériences et votre vision sur ce sujet jusqu’à la fin de cette discussion.

      Merci.

      Cordialement,

      Anna Antwi , consultante en développement

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      >> VERSION FRANÇAISE CI-DESSOUS <<

      Dear Colleagues,

      It is really encouraging to read the diverse contributions from West Africa, and we do appreciate your inputs.  Thank you to those who have sent their contributions for finding precious time to share and we are convinced that others are preparing to do the same.

      The definitions and understanding of social protection provided by contributors are looking at the poor and most vulnerable people and those at risk to either get them out of poverty or to support their production. The purpose in some cases is also to reduce hunger. From the contributions, it seems there are various forms of social protection within the sub-regional countries, and there is the likelihood that more programmes and interventions will emerge to support eradication of hunger and poverty. 

      As countries develop, their capacity to develop and manage social protection interventions increases and their ability to fund their own programmes will also increase or improve. The lists of interventions are tall as Togo for example even covers caesarean sessions, and Burkina Faso also mentions gender issues. This shows the likelihood also of West African governments to increasing interventions and their coverage, with passing of time. Social protection can actually address food insecurity through gender-sensitive programmes.

      West Africa as a whole is food insecure area due to a number of challenges and the sub-region has more Least Developed Countries as a result of peculiar vulnerabilities including threat of climate variability, expansion of desertification, conflicts and civil unrests, high poverty levels, low adaptive capacity and lack of institutional support among other factors.  

      Social protection, like right to food is a human right, enshrined in numerous sources of international law, which many of our governments have signed on to. These laws together with Article 25 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights  (UDHR) forms the right to standard of living adequate for health and well-being of one’s self and family, including food, clothing, housing, health care and other basic needs. The main livelihood options in the sub-region are agriculture and its related natural resource based activities. Human rights entail that people live a life of dignity. Social protection can play a vital role in increasing the ability of individuals to have access to food. Conventionally, social protection has mostly focused on short term protective interventions or mechanisms to protect people in extreme poor households from shocks, however, it has crucial role in increasing the ability of these households to have access to food and to increase production.

      In subsequent contributions, we would like to have more concrete or explicit examples from your countries as to know how to link agricultural production with social protection to enhance food security and nutrition. Please refer to question 2 and kindly share success stories from your countries and social interventions in Africa you are familiar with. How do we ensure the political will of our governments to link agriculture specifically to social protection to boost food security and nutrition?

      We are grateful for your contributions and we would like to hear more wonderful experiences from you.

      The attachment from the contribution from Belgium provides a summary on social protection as catalyst for food security and the right to food, please read. Ghana contributor advocates for training/ extension services, Burkina Faso mentions link to productivity but the how is not explicit. Let us sustain the momentum to keep the discussion going. Have wonderful and fruitful discussions to contribute and eradicate poverty from West Africa.

      Thank you and regards

      Anna Antwi

      Chers collègues,

       

      Il est très encourageant de lire les différents messages d'Afrique de l’Ouest, et nous tenons à dire que nous apprécions particulièrement vos contributions. Merci à ceux qui ont participé à la discussion d’avoir trouvé le temps de partager leur expérience. Nous sommes convaincus que d'autres se préparent à faire de même et les remercions par avance.

      Les définitions proposées, et la compréhension, de la protection sociale par les contributeurs soulignent une orientation vers les plus pauvres et vulnérables ainsi que les personnes à risque, soit pour permettre de sortir ces ménages de la pauvreté ou pour soutenir leur production. L'objectif est également, dans certains cas de réduire la faim. D’après les contributions reçues, il semble qu'il existe différentes formes de protection sociale dans les pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, et il est probable que d’autres programmes et interventions vont émerger pour soutenir l'éradication de la faim et de la pauvreté.

      Alors que les pays se développent, leur capacité à concevoir et gérer des interventions de protection sociale s’accroit ainsi que leur capacité à financer leurs propres programmes. La liste des interventions est longue : au Togo par exemple, la protection sociale couvre les accouchements par césarienne ; au Burkina Faso, ces programmes intègrent également les questions de genre. Ces exemples démontrent qu’il est très probable que les gouvernements d’Afrique de l’Ouest accroissent les interventions de protection sociale et leur couverture avec le temps. La protection sociale peut en effet lutter contre l'insécurité alimentaire grâce à des programmes sensibles aux questions de genre.

      L’Afrique de l'Ouest dans son ensemble est une zone d'insécurité alimentaire pour de nombreuses raisons et la sous-région compte nombre de pays moins avancés en raison de vulnérabilités particulières, dont  la menace de la variabilité climatique, l'expansion de la désertification, les conflits et troubles civils, des taux élevés de pauvreté, une faible capacité d'adaptation, et le manque de soutien institutionnel, parmi d’autres facteurs.

      La protection sociale, comme le droit à l'alimentation est un droit humain, consacré dans de nombreuses sources du droit international, que beaucoup de nos gouvernements ont signé. Ces lois, conjointement avec l'article 25 de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme (DUDH) forment les contours d’un droit à un niveau de vie adéquat pour la santé et le bien-être personnel et familial, notamment pour l’alimentation, l'habillement, le logement, les soins de santé et d'autres besoins de base. Les principaux moyens de subsistance de la sous-région sont l'agriculture et ses activités connexes axées sur les ressources naturelles. Les droits humains impliquent que chacun puisse vivre dans la dignité. La protection sociale peut jouer un rôle essentiel dans l'augmentation des capacités des individus à avoir accès à la nourriture. Traditionnellement, la protection sociale a surtout mis l'accent sur les interventions de protection à court terme, et pour protéger les ménages en situation de pauvreté extrême contre les chocs. Cependant, la protection sociale a un rôle crucial dans l'augmentation des capacités de ces ménages à avoir accès à la nourriture et à augmenter leur production.

      Dans les futures contributions, nous aimerions avoir plus d’exemples concrets, ou explicites, sur la manière dont vos pays lient la production agricole et la protection sociale pour renforcer la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition. Nous vous encourageons à vous référer à la question 2 et à bien vouloir partager les réussites des interventions sociales dans les pays d’Afrique que vous connaissez. Comment pouvons-nous faire en sorte qu’il y ait une volonté politique de nos gouvernements pour lier l'agriculture à la protection sociale afin de renforcer la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition ?

      Nous sommes très reconnaissants pour vos contributions et nous aimerions bénéficier encore davantage de vos expériences.

      Le document partagé dans la contribution de Thierry Kesteloot (Belgique) fournit un résumé sur la protection sociale en tant que catalyseur pour la sécurité alimentaire et le droit à l'alimentation, que je vous encourage à lire. John Adu Kumi (Ghana) soutient l’importance de la formation et de la vulgarisation ; Soré Abdou (Burkina Faso) mentionne le lien protection sociale et productivité, et nous aimerions en savoir plus.

      Tirons profit de cet élan positif pour poursuivre la discussion. Je vous souhaite une excellente et fructueuse discussion  pour contribuer à éradiquer la pauvreté de l'Afrique de l’Ouest.

      Merci encore et meilleures salutations.

      Anna Antwi

       

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      The food system is an important social, political and economic unifier in most rural settings in Ghana. Again, food festivals are held in many societies at the beginning of new harvesting season. Some of the festivals are: Yam festival, Deer hunting, draining of the Lagoon (“Bakatue”) for fish etc. All these festivals have specific names depending on the locality and the purpose. Aside being grateful to God for the food from the new harvest season and asking for rains and protection in the coming year, the festivals and seasons bring people together for socialization and networking around food (be it crops like maize, yam etc; animals such as fish, deer etc). Families also come together in preparing, sharing and eating of specific foods during celebrations of any of human life cycle like birth, puberty, marriage, death and its related ceremonies.  It also builds a sense of belongingness, and common purpose for households and families to keep in touch. Families unite, eat, share information, settle disputes, and advise each other during such times.

      In close societies, no-one goes hungry for lack of food. Food is freely shared and that reduces food poverty and vulnerability especially in rural areas and compound houses in urban areas. In effect, everyone is each other’s keeper.  Nursing mothers and old ladies (grandmothers) who stay at home prepare food for children and the sick to ensure food availability or access at meal times. The women also ensure nutritional wellbeing of all household members. Household members and at times able-female community members take turns to provide for women who have delivered. Traditional foods served by these women are more nutritious and have medicinal purposes. The extended family structure acts as a support system by providing labour for farm activities and environmental sanitation to ensure access to nutritious food. Farmers produce all kinds of foods needed in any particular setting to ensure wellbeing of their households in particular and the community at large.

      Presently, societal values have degenerated and the current situation is “each one for him and God for us all”. This may be due to a number of factors such as; over use of electronic and electrical gadgets such as TVs, radios, phones etc for communication and educational purposes. Others including globalization, liberalized policies, urbanization and probably population growth have affected the food system of societies. People are consuming fewer foods in their natural states and more processed foods with more inorganic chemicals affecting health.  There is growing numbers of fast food outlets springing up all over the place, limited control over the use of agro-chemicals, less inter-cropping and mixed farming (almost all farms are into mono-cropping and large commercial farms with more use of synthetic agro –chemicals). Parents are too busy working or looking for money, and have less time to cook and spend fewer hours at home to the extent that they are not aware of what the households are consuming. Most working people are also eating from outside without knowing the nutritional value of the food. Urbanization has also contributed to the societal break down. Societal relations and networks have also broken down leaving more people to fend for themselves and their nucleus family.   

      It is not only national governments, private sector and civil society but traditional rulers and local authorities (in a decentralized system) can support to ensure food and nutritional security at the household levels by using food-based approaches. Extension services can be used for nutrition knowledge sharing and technology transfer, farmers can be encouraged to diversify production (crops and animals) and all households to consume diversified nutritious diets. Researchers may go into bio-fortification of main staple crops, and general population may be encouraged to consume fruits and vegetables in addition to the body protection and building foods. The multi-sectoral approach to food and nutrition is a must in all countries. Communities need good portable water, and personnel to provide extension services in agriculture and health education. To conclude, we all have a stake in ensuring household food and nutrition security.

      Anna Antwi (PhD).

      Development Consultant,

      Ghana.

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      Both the private sector and civil society including their organisations can contribute positively to nutrition outcomes. However we should guard against companies trying to hide behind the poor to take advantage of their situation to exploit the under-nourished. Again, both the private sector and civil society organisations can work effectively as individual entities, as collaborators and also partners with the government to enhance nutrition.

      Policy: National policies should support public-private partnership in a way that production of nutritional foods would be much cheaper and easily accessible to all. The private sector majority of who are farmers in developing countries may contribute in various ways. Companies (through their corporate social responsibility) should easily identify with nutrition problems and provide support if the government sees it as a priority. The companies may support and encourage farmers (through access to inputs, providing extension services/ technology dissemination, providing capacity building, introducing them to new varieties etc) to boost production, link them to market source. Some companies may also encourage farmers (with support of civil society) to form and strengthen their groups to be linked to an aggregator or market outlet. The private sector can also act as  a nucleus farmer or contract farmer. Some private sector operators can support and link farmers up with financial institutions for easy access to the market. These activities (or programs) should have clear policy guidelines that will encourage the private sector to operate. The bottom line is a win-win for all stakeholders. The policy should create a free and conducive environment for private sector and civil society to work. Civil society is best in advocacy and drawing policy makers attention to policy and implementation gaps. Since they operate at various levels and in networks, they can also link up to bring best practices, make their voices heard.

      Programme: Farmers and farmer groups  as private sector may produce to respond to specific needs – for example in high Vitamin A deficient areas, farmers could be supported to produce crops such as orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP) and civil society may educate the populace in Vitamin A deficiencies, causes, prevention and remedies or solutions using food based approaches. The private sector and civil society may support and educate the population on post harvest loss, handling, food processing, preservation, storage, utilization and marketing. Women and girls could also receive education from both private sector and civil society on various issues relating to production, health care, hygiene, food safety and handling. Private sector could establish industries or cottage industries dealing with value addition along the chain, processing etc.

      Land owners could go into terms with women and other producers to produce to satisfy some needs. Other private operators could also support with infrastructural development (warehousing, roads, bridges) to ease movement of people and food from producing areas to marketing centres and where they are needed most. Private sector may also support with business ideas and development. Printers may help with development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials that may educate farmers and processors, and the general public in nutrition.

      Civil society organizations (NGOs, CBOs, Trade Unions, individuals, women groups, farmers, FBOs and farmer groups) can play advocacy roles and campaign as networks. Production of food  alone will not tackle nutrition issues, education and linkage with other sectors is vital for nutrition security.   They could fund raise to support worthy course, and help to raise nutrition awareness.

      Providing women with income generating activities helps to improve nutrition, and this could be done with support of private sector and linked to financial outlet. Women are good entrepreneurs if they receive training and have source of funding to expand their businesses. The incomes from their business go into supporting household food and nutrition security. Purchasing their items also help to increase their incomes for household nutrition.

      Both the private sector and civil society can create incomes for the poor, do education and engage the government.

      Governance: The state can create the enabling environment for both the CSOs and private sector to thrive, and work successfully to eliminate the canker of under-nutrition in our world. Civil society may raise accountability and transparent issues and hold government accountable. The civil society can also support with capacity building on human rights issues – dealing with both the right holders and duty bearers especially within the lower levels at the district levels. Civil society can support the districts in their development plans and help to advocate for budgetary support for farmers and the private sector to improve nutrition

      Partnership: the private sector and civil society organisations as partners and collaborators can work effectively and efficiently to tackle food based approaches to under-nutrition. WFP’s food for work or food for asset and school feeding programs in food insecure communities (involving the local authority, traditional leaders who may release land for community work, farmers   involvement in food production and communities link with the district assemble etc, supplementary feeding centres for children and People living with HIV) are all examples of synergies in food partnerships. Civil society and private sector may work together in carting of food, and also supporting and working UN based institution like WFP, UNICEF, WHO and FAO to bring holistic approach to nutrition as these work with whole range of people and organisations to tackle nutrition.

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      I have few comments to add to the Social Protection if it is not too late:

      Main issues:

      Targeting to the most vulnerable population: these are children under 5 years, orphans, women in reproductive age, elderly, people living with disability (socially and physically), HIV and farmers/ fishers

      In protecting the vulnerable, it is important to include the very people who depend on the environment or natural resources for their livelihoods: farmers/ fisher folk; herders/ pastoralists and rural poor mostly women and forest dwellers. Women of reproductive age and children are mostly affected by under-nutrition.

      Women are also the primary care givers at the household and community levels and therefore need to be empowered. Free mosquito nets should be distributed to pregnant women, and dewormers giving to all children and women in reproductive age. Direct cash transfers alone may not always be the best, in addition, the poor households should be educated on the use of the cash transfers and the importance of nutrition for getting the household or family out of poverty. Vouchers could be given for the people to purchase essential food commodities from certain points.  Schools enrolment and retention should be enforced for all children of school going age; and hot nutritious meals provided to the children. Such poor households should receive free medical care. Education on personal hygiene and nutrition should be given. Communities should also enforce construction of household latrines/ toilets. The social protection should also include/ cover good portable drinking water.

      There is the need for entrepreneurship training for both on-farm and off-farm work, and funds allocated for the poor and vulnerable to engage in Income generating activities (IGAs). Planting materials/ stock should be provided as a start up together with other inputs. The On-farm could be crops and/ or animals especially small ruminants, and the off-farm could also be non-traditional farming : snail and grasscutter rearing, mushroom cultivation and other IGAs like basket/ mat weaving etc must be encouraged.

      Supply of Basic needs: In addition to the cash transfer, food vouchers could be provided to be redeemed at designated shops or centers. Children should be enrolled in schools. People registered to receive special social protection should be registered for free medical attention and provided with cards. In addition, they should have access to energy and clean water sources.

      Key institutional and governance challenges:

      1. Coordination and harmonization, and alignment of programs across sectors is a challenge and so is
      2.  Monitoring and evaluation of the programs and activities of the various sectors involved in policy development or program implementation.
      3. Data collection to support decision making is also a problem and where they are available, they are not usally sex disaggregated
      4. The process of targeting and selection of people to benefit from social protection is normally not Transparent, and the people involved hardly account unless there are mechanisms in place

      Best Practices and lessons learnt:

      • Working group made up of all relevant sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Education, Gender and children, Trade and Industries, Academia/ Research, Finance and Economic Planning, CSOs: NGOs, private sector, Trade Union should be set up to brain storm, discuss and ensure implementation of cross-sectoral program
      • Intuitional capacity needs to be built
      • Institutions need to develop plan of action for nutrition and a
      • Committee of experts from relevant sectors to monitor targeting, funds and mechanisms for implementation to ensure common targeting, transparency and accountability in the process

       

    • Anna Antwi

      GD Resource Center (development NGO)
      Гана

      Many people have contributed much to this discussion and still have room for more suggestions. Congratulations to everyone for your invaluable piece. My contributions are as indicated under the questions below.

      1.    If you were designing an agricultural investment programme, what are the top 5 things you would do to maximize its impact on nutrition?

      •    Identify gaps and major agricultural related nutrition challenges in the specified area. For example in Ghana it has been realized that vitamin A and iron deficient aneamia are challenges in addition to Protein Energy Malnutrition in some areas. Based on the information gathered, I’ll develop programmes to ensure diversified agricultural commodities:

      o    Diversification of farm production to include high Vitamin A crops  like orange flesh sweet potato,  green leafy vegetables, oil palm production

      o    Encourage animal based that the poor can afford (small ruminants, poultry and fishery production) and other local sources of animal protein

      o    in addition, promote plant sources of protein like use of legumes, nuts

      o    and promotion of quality staples

      •    I will also build into the programme land tenure and land use planning issues to ensure security of land tenure and user rights issues so as to enable producers to sustainably manage land, improve soil fertility and other productive resources for continued production. As cities and towns expand, agricultural lands and production become extinct, so I would like to promote urban agriculture (crops, animals etc) and land use to ensure planners plan for agriculture and producers with expansion of towns and cities.

      Education and awareness on changing environmental conditions including climate change will feature to cater for and prevent environmental degradation like:

      o    Overgrazing  on land/ overfishing in water bodies including marine resources

      o    Deforestation

      o    Biodiversity loss

      o    Global warming

      o    Non-renewable resources

      These activities on natural resource base if not well managed will lead to under-nutrition in our communities

      •    Nutrition education for communities on the uses of diversified diets for different age groups, work / occupational groups and sex/ gender groups. This should be accompanied by real practice of cooking demonstrations using locally available food sources (bearing in mind the multi-sectoral nature of nutrition to include water and sanitation, hygiene, gender, health, social protection etc)

      o    Identification of vulnerable groups (children and youth, females in reproductive stage like adolescence girls, pregnant and lactating mothers)

      o    Micro-nutrient based farming and encourage home gardening (close to the household so that basic commodities  like fruits, vegetables, quality and quantity staples are available to the poor households easily)

      o    This method will also ensure food availability during off season, and provide incomes for the household/ family

      •    Provide credit for women to engage in agro- based activities from production to table (consumption)and also provide them with time and energy saving technologies that would support processing to provide long shelf lives and add value to agricultural commodities. This method will also reduce post harvest loss and make food available to households all year round

      •    Ensure quality levels of agricultural commodities especially grains and cereals are free from aflatoxins, and other harmful micro-organisms. Thus food safety is very important and has implication for food handling and storage, and health of consumers.

      2.    To support the design and implementation of this programme, where would you like to see more research done, and why?

      •    I’ll like to see research in two main areas as not much has been done in these areas and also to make food accessible to the poor and vulnerable

      o   Research to identify various nutrients from local food sources (vegetables, fruits and main staples) and its various uses in the diets of the people and how to prevent loses

      o    Research into Bio-fortification of staples used by poor and vulnerable groups (especially of micro-nutrients that are lacking in staples that are frequently used (e.g cereals like rice, roots and tubers like sweet potato, yams, cassava etc)

      3.   What can our institutions do to help country governments commit to action around your recommendations, and to help ensure implementation will be effective?

      •    First, I’ll ensure the buy-ins of the government Ministries, Departments and Agencies sector leads, together with civil society organizations, Development Partners and in some cases the private sector

      •    Encourage Food and Nutrition Policy development with relevant sector participation like Agriculture, Health, Education, Women and Children, Social Protection, WASH etc

      •    Advocate for  nutrition specific budget allocation and

      •    Ensure that there is proper Coordination and harmonization of nutrition programmes and there is an institution/ organization that lead in nutrition programming. Such a lead organization should be under either the Presidency or its vice’s office

      •    Include and involve the most affected communities / people in nutrition programming  and encourage their participation at all levels including conducting participatory M&E in implementation of nutrition activities.

      Anna Antwi

      Executive Director

      GD Resources Centre

      Ghana