Forum on Support to Food Security and Nutrition in Ethiopia by Increasing Smallholders’ Access to Markets

13 September 2017, 09:30 - 17:00 (GTM+3)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Smallholders play an essential role in ensuring food security and nutrition today and in the future, including in the increase in food production needed to meet future global demand. Smallholders supply 70% of overall food production, and as much as 80% in some developing countries in Africa. Yet at the same time many smallholders themselves are net buyers of food and still suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition. 

The objective of this Forum, which is jointly organized by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) office in Addis Ababa and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), is to share views and raise awareness on actions that contribute to reducing hunger and malnutrition. It represents an opportunity to present and discuss existing instruments such as global policies, technical and financial instruments to improve smallholders’ access to markets to increase food security and enhance nutrition in Ethiopia.

The CFS policy recommendations on Connecting Smallholders to Markets, which were endorsed in 2016 and the CFS High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) Report on Investing in Smallholder Agriculture for Food Security and Nutrition serve as background documents for the Forum.

Approximately 30 participants from Ethiopia are anticipated, at the Senior Technical Officer level, from FAO, WFP, IFAD, BADEA, civil society, the private sector and other regional institutions based in Addis Ababa.   

This event is invitation only.

Programme

9.30 - 10.00 -OPENING SESSION

Opening - Mr Amadou Allahoury, FAO Representative in Ethiopia (Moderator)
Welcome remarks -  representatives from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Introductory remarks  - CFS Chair Ambassador Amira Gornass 

10.00 - 12.30 - FIRST SESSION

CFS initiatives

The main elements of the CFS policy recommendations on Connecting Smallholders to Markets - Mr Emilio Colonnelli, Food Security Officer, CFS Secretariat
The CFS High Level Panel of Experts report on Investing in smallholder agriculture for food security and nutrition (TBC)

United Nations programmes and technical assistance in support of smallholders

FAO TBC
Sibi Lawson-Marriott, Head of Programme (WFP)
IFAD TBC

12.30 - 14.30 - LUNCH

14.30 - 16.00 - SECOND SESSION

Examples of country experiences to address the issue and multistakeholder perspectives

Discussion
Questions and answers

16.15 - 17.30 - THIRD SESSION

Adopting an integrated approach to address the issue

Discussion

Conclusions and next steps

Summary and wrap up - Mr Amadou Allahoury, FAO Representative in Ethiopia (Moderator)