Secretariat Matters

STATE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE WORLD 1999
Copies of this report are available to IAWG members in all FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish). The report can also be downloaded from the FIVIMS web site in Pdf format at http://www.fao.org/NEWS/1999/991004-e.htm .
FIVIMS LEAFLETS
FIVIMS leaflets in French and Spanish are now available from the FIVIMS Secretariat. Copies will be sent to all IAWG members - if more are needed, please contact the Secretariat. A limited supply of copies in English is still available.
RAISING THE FIVIMS PROFILE
FIVIMS presentations and discussions have been made recently at the following seminars:

Government of Navarra/Spanish Delegation visit to FAO- Italy

Technical Co-operation Network on Food and Nutritional Surveillance System (SISVAN) 8^th Round Table meeting in Mexico City

Asia-Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition (APNFN) - Sri Lanka

Workshop on Research Methods on Food Security and Sustainable Development: Developing Decision Support Tools - Bamako, Mali

National FIVIMS meeting - Bangkok, Thailand

Rural Week (Sponsored by the World Bank), Washington DC, 31 March 2000.

FIVIMS COUNTRY QUESTIONNAIRES
The questionnaire has been translated into French and a Spanish translation is expected soon. The secretariat has received completed questionnaires from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Haiti, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Swaziland, and Somalia. Results from the questionnaires have proven to be very useful in improving understanding in how FIVIMS works in different countries. However, in order to obtain a complete inventory of national FIVIMS more replies are needed. This would help to build links between national systems and strengthen FIVIMS at all levels through sharing knowledge and experience. Please notify the Secretariat if you are a national FIVIMS focal point and have not received a questionnaire.
FIVIMS WEB SITE
The FIVIMS Web-site is now available in five languages, namely, English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.
In the coming months the web site will be integrated with the country level database developed by the Secretariat. It will provide information on FIVIMS country activities, existing national integrated food security information systems and contacts.
FIVIMS LIST-SERVE
This Newsletter is distributed via the recently established list serve - [email protected]. The list serve is intended to update subscribers with FIVIMS news, country activities updates, and IAWG publications. To subscribe please fill out the online form on the FIVIMS web page (available soon).