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November 2023: CFS 51 Highlights
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November 2023
Fifty-first plenary session
of the Committee on World Food Security

The fifty-first plenary session (CFS 51) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was held in a hybrid format from 23 to 27 October 2023 at FAO Headquarters in Rome and was adjourned while discussing food security related to conflicts. The plenary will reconvene on 25 November 2023 to conclude the discussions and adopt the final report.

High-level representatives of governments, United Nations (UN) bodies, civil society organizations, private sector associations, research centers, financial institutions and other stakeholders joined the event to promote food security and nutrition for all.

Detailed information, including statements and videos of the sessions, can be found on the CFS 51 webpage

Main highlights
 
“Effective international solidarity is essential to transform food systems for all people through massive investments, through innovations, science and technology, through building sustainable food systems in harmony with nature.”
–  António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations

“The Policy Recommendations along with the Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment give me a strong hope that breakthrough solutions are on the horizon.”
–  Dennis Francis, President, UN General Assembly

“In a polarized world, food can be a unifying force for good, so let’s all work together – governments, the private sector, civil society and the science community to find creative solutions needed to end hunger.”
– Cindy McCain, Executive Director, UN World Food Programme

“Among all causes of hunger and malnutrition, war, violence and terrorism are the worst and the easiest to prevent. […] It is unacceptable to use hunger or food deprivation as a weapon. It is unacceptable to hinder full access of the most vulnerable people to humanitarian aid.”
– Gabriel Ferrero, Chairperson, Committee on World Food Security 

Strengthening Coordinated Policy Responses to the Food Crisis – the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023

 
The session started with a presentation of the 2023 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.
Followed by a keynote intervention on promoting and protecting people’s right to food, the Committee engaged in a High-Level debate on coordinated policy responses to the global food crisis and on advancing food systems transformation for the achievement of food security and nutrition and the right to adequate food.
“[According to SOFI 2023] most of the areas that are affected today, and the crisis countries are because of conflict, slowdowns, downturns and, of course, of climate change. […] We need to find ways in which we can create and integrate humanitarian development and peacebuilding policies.”
–   Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO

Global 'Interlinkages' Dialogues

 
The session reflected on the interconnectedness of food security and nutrition with other global issues and processes, including the 2023 UN SDG Summit, the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment 2023, the 2024 Summit of the Future, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 27 and COP 28, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP 15.

The event featured country experiences, good practices and challenges and reflected on ongoing efforts covering the wide range of approaches and initiatives from different stakeholders at all levels.

Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment endorsed

 
The Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment (GEWE) in the context of Food Security and Nutrition were endorsed. They provide concrete policy guidance mainstreaming a gender perspective into policies and interventions across agriculture and food systems, at all levels. The Voluntary Guidelines foster greater policy coherence among food security and nutrition agendas and promote coordination and mutually reinforcing policy measures.

Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, and many other high-level speakers joined the event to celebrate the endorsement.
“We, the rural women and girls of the world, believe that these voluntary guidelines will allow us to lead a more dignified life in order to continue nourishing the world.”
–  Luz Haro Guanga, Executive Secretary, Network of Rural Women of Latin America and the Caribbean and Principal Member of Network of Municipalities for Gender Equality, Ecuador

“The guidelines will be extremely useful in supporting national strategies for women’s and girls’ empowerment and to protect their rights, especially the rights to land and tenure security, to adequate food and nutrition and to a life free of all forms of violence, discrimination and harmful practices.”
–  Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations

“The guidelines spotlight the need to address the root causes of gender inequalities including through legal and policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, national plans, partnerships and investment. They remind us that supporting the rights and empowerment of all women and girls is also one of the most effective ways to improve food security and nutrition outcomes for all.” 
– Paula Narváez, President, UN Economic and Social Council

Policy Recommendations on Data and Analysis Tools endorsed

 
The CFS Policy Recommendations on Strengthening Collection and Use of Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) Data and Related Analysis Tools to Improve Decision-Making in Support of the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security were endorsed. The Policy Recommendations are designed to strengthen the capacities of all stakeholders, especially governments, involved in the collection, analysis, dissemination, protection and the use of quality FSN data. They aim to enhance effective, inclusive, evidence-informed decision-making. Improving FSN data systems has the power to impact positively on the life and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people across the globe.
“Now, more than ever, enhancing the availability, accessibility, use and impact of food security and nutrition data needs to be prioritized. Such improvements are critical to improve global and local initiatives, inform decision-making and public policies, and hasten efforts to eliminate hunger and food insecurity, and improve nutrition.”
–  Francesca Perucci, Director of Policy and Partnerships, Open Data Watch

CFS strategic direction towards 2030

 
The CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work 2024-2027 was endorsed by the Committee. This document, which is the result of a year-round process, defines the CFS objectives and expected outcomes for the next quadrennium, as well as ways to achieve them.
“I am pleased to see that the Committee’s new work plan lays out a promising agenda that puts the right to food at the center of efforts to transform agrifood systems.”
– QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

“We stand ready to promote the uptake of the key policies being endorsed today and to collaborate with all partners, particularly our sister Rome Based Agencies on the implementation of the new programme of work.”
– Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development

Addressing multiple dimensions of inequalities

Food is a fundamental human right and inequalities in food security and nutrition undermine this right. Bhavani Shankar, HLPE-FSN drafting team leader, presented the report on "Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition".
CFS stakeholders provided feedback and inputs on the content of the report in view of the CFS policy convergence process.
Download the report in 6 languages
The HLPE-FSN report highlights the socioeconomic, legal and practical imperatives for addressing inequalities. "By embracing its findings and recommendations, we can foster equitable and inclusive food systems", Shankar explained.
More information is available here.

Monitoring CFS Policy Recommendations on Price Volatility and Food Security and on Social Protection

 
The CFS 51 Monitoring Event reflected on the CFS Policy Recommendations on Price Volatility and Food Security (endorsed in 2011, CFS 37) and Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition (endorsed in 2012, CFS 39), with participating stakeholders sharing examples of their practical application. The session held in two segments aimed to assess progress, exchange knowledge, and strengthen global collaboration of key CFS stakeholders in addressing food security and nutrition challenges.
“Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) at its core was intended to increase market transparency and country dialogue and provide a context for good decision-making. Through improvements in market information and dialogue, it supports better policy decisions for both exporting and importing countries.”
– Seth Meyer, Chair, Agricultural Market Information System

"The recommendations by the HLPE-FSN report on Social Protection for Food Security and Nutrition are relevant today as they were 10 years ago. They call for national social protections systems that reach the most vulnerable, that are rooted in resilience and that are framed in a rights-based approach. We have internalized those recommendations to operationalize sustainable, cross-sectoral social protections programmes and systems."
–  David Kaatrud, Director of Programme, Humanitarian and Development Division, UN World Food Programme

Special event on the Right to Food

 
The Special Event featured a constructive dialogue among a range of stakeholders focusing on the interlinkages between Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food and the evolving global food security and nutrition context. Different countries and constituencies reflected on good practices and challenges met on the right to adequate food in the context of the current food crisis.
“The right to food is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right that belongs to each and every one of us. It is a call to coordinated action that transcends borders, ideologies and backgrounds. It is a promise we must keep to future generations."
–  Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, urged delegates to commit themselves to forging a path of progress, equality, and dignity through their daily choices and positions, recognizing the pivotal role they may play in shaping global food security and nutrition.
“Hunger and famine are always the result of political failures.”  
–  Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food 

Election of the new CFS Chairperson

 
H.E. Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome of the Republic of South Africa, has been elected as the new CFS Chairperson. Her mandate will start as soon as the fifty-first plenary session is concluded. 

Side events


To enrich and complement the CFS 51 plenary, partners and stakeholders had the opportunity to highlight their work by organizing side events. 36 side events were held on the margins of the CFS 51 from 23 to 27 October on diverse topics critical to food security and nutrition including urbanization, inequality, data, the right to food, uptake and implementation, youth, gender, climate change, finance, land rights and water among others. More information is available here.

CFS 51 exhibition: fostering dialogue and raising awareness

 
An exhibition during CFS 51 facilitated dialogue and awareness around issues emerging from the work of the CFS with its constituencies — as Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples' Mechanism, Private Sector Mechanism, including Indigenous People, Family Farmers and other stakeholders, like Parliamentarians and local Governments — promoting the partnership with FAO, WFP and IFAD on the uptake and implementation of CFS policy guidance at regional and national level.
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October 2023: Quarterly newsletter
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18 October 2023
From 23 to 27 October 2023, CFS will convene its fifty-first plenary session (CFS 51) in a hybrid format at FAO Headquarters in Rome.
 
Over 1 000 registered participants, including representatives of Governments, UN bodies, civil society organizations, private sector associations, international agricultural research systems, financial institutions and other stakeholders, will join the event to accelerate action to end global hunger and malnutrition.

More information:
Draft timetable | Agenda | CFS 51 webpage 

Webcast:
23 Oct Morning | Afternoon | Evening 
24 Oct Morning | Afternoon 
25 Oct Morning | Afternoon 
26 Oct Morning | Afternoon 
27 Oct Morning | Afternoon
Sessions
Monday, 23 October 2023
  • High-level opening
  • Coordinated policy responses to the food crisis – The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023.*
*FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome, FAO.

 Tuesday, 24 October
  • Global Interlinkages dialogues
  • Endorsement and uptake of the CFS voluntary guidelines on gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment in the context of food security and nutrition
  • Endorsement and uptake of the policy recommendations on strengthening collection and use of FSN data and related analysis tools.
Wednesday, 25 October
  • CFS strategic direction toward 2030: the Multi-Year Programme of Work 2024-2027
Thursday, 26 October
  • Addressing multiple dimensions of inequalities: reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition
  • Progress report on follow-up to the Second International Conference on Nutrition, including implementation of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition
  • Monitoring CFS policy recommendations on price volatility and food security and on social protection for food security and nutrition.
Friday, 26 October
  • CFS special event on the right to food

Side events
Partners and stakeholders will have an opportunity to highlight their work during the Plenary. 36 side events will be held on the margins of the CFS 51 from 23 to 27 October.
  • Morning (Tuesday – Friday): 8.30 – 9.45 (UTC+2)
  • Afternoon (Monday – Friday): 13.30 – 14.45 (UTC+2)  
Full schedule 
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October 2022: CFS 50 Highlights
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OCTOBER 2022
50th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
After four long days of policy debate, the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) adjourned its 50th Plenary Session (CFS 50) to reconvene as soon as possible and conclude deliberations on coordinating policy responses to the global food crisis informed by the 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report (SOFI).

Convened as the first in-person plenary since 2019, CFS 50 saw record-high attendance by senior officials and high-ranking delegates and close to 40 ministers, vice-ministers and state secretaries from around the world. More than 1,500 delegates participated either live or on-line from among civil society, the private sector, and a diverse group of food and nutrition stakeholders.
More information:
Main Highlights

Empowering Women and Girls, and Promoting Gender Equality

 
While commemorating the International Day of Rural Women, which takes place on 15 October each year, the Committee agreed on a path forward for the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition.

“We must recognize that structural gender inequalities underlie our food systems.”

 H.E. Sima Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women

Revitalized CFS Strategic Direction Towards SDGs

 
The Plenary revitalized CFS's strategic direction towards 2030 to accelerate action on SDG2 on Zero Hunger based on a Critical, Emerging and Enduring Issues for Food Security and Nutrition note by the CFS High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE-FSN). This note will inform the Committee's next Multi-year Programme of Work.

The Committee also requested the HLPE-FSN to conduct a study on Strengthening Urban and Peri-urban Food Systems in 2024 focusing on food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation.

3rd HLPE-FSN note on Critical, Emerging and Enduring Issues for Food Security and Nutrition


Download
 

New Policy Recommendations on Youth Endorsed

 
Members agreed to endorse new Policy Recommendations on Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition.

The policy recommendations are designed to be tools and resources for use in shaping national agriculture and food systems policies, investment plans, legislations and development programmes that include the youth and respond to their needs.

“The endorsement of the policy recommendations delivers the message of hope we need especially at a time when the world is facing unprecedented global crisis.”

 H.E. Ambassador Pio Wennubst,
Rapporteur of the CFS Youth Work and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Rome-based Agencies

Data Collection and Analysis Tools

 
CFS 50 launched a policy convergence process expected to result in the development of policy recommendations on Data Collection and Analysis Tools for Food Security and Nutrition. These policy recommendations will be endorsed at the 2023 Plenary session.

“Investing in data is spending to save.”

Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD)

Boosting Responsible Investment in Sustainable Agriculture

 
The Plenary reviewed ways of boosting responsible investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems through a global thematic event that took stock of the uptake of CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI).

Visit the CFS Website for more information on how smart and responsible investments can help feed the world. Additional resources and publications on CFS-RAI are available here.

“Financing is a lever that can address existing crises and guide lon-term transformation.”

Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director, World Bank

Food Systems Transformations:
Building Long-term Resilience to Global Crises

 
In a Special Event organized as a follow up to the September 2021 UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), countries shared their progress on implementing national food systems transformation pathways and engaged in an interactive dialogue with UNFSS coalitions and CFS stakeholders.
 

“The 2030 Agenda cannot be achieved without the transformation of food systems.”

Stefanos Fotiou, Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals at FAO and Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
SIDE EVENTS
A total of 30 side events were organized by CFS partners and stakeholders on diverse topics critical to food security and nutrition including youth, gender, climate change, finance, land rights, and others. The side events enriched and complemented the Plenary sessions and gave partners and other stakeholders an opportunity to highlight their work.
 
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October 2022: Quarterly Newsletter
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OCTOBER 2022
50th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
With the world facing a worsening food and cost-of-living crisis caused by the interlinked shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and all armed conflicts - including in Ukraine – CFS will convene its 50th Plenary session (CFS 50) in a ‘hybrid’ format at FAO Headquarters in Rome, 10-13 October 2022.

Join over 1,500 registered participants drawn from government, civil society, private sector, UN and others to accelerate action to end global hunger and malnutrition.
More information:
Sessions
Full-day ministerial segment on coordinating policy responses to the global food crisis informed by the 2022 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report
  • High-level opening segment
  • 2022 SOFI report presentation
  • UN Crisis Response Group updates
  • Ministerial session on coordinating policy responses to the global food crisis
Empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality and commemoration of the international day of rural women
  • International Day of Rural Women
  • CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls Empowerment in the Context of Food Security and Nutrition

CFS Strategic Direction Toward 2030
  • Accelerate action on SDG2 to End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Data Collection and Analysis Tools
  • Start of a CFS policy convergence process on data collection and analysis tools for food security and nutrition
Endorsement and Uptake of the CFS Policy Recommendations on Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in  Agriculture and Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition

Boosting responsible investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems.

CFS 50 Special Session on Food Systems Transformations: Building long-term resilience to global crises
Endorsement of the CFS 50 Final Report
 
SIDE EVENTS
To enrich and complement the CFS 50 Plenary and give partners and other stakeholders an opportunity to highlight their work, CFS will organize 32 side events over the four days (13 hybrid and 19 virtual).
  • Morning (Tuesday – Thursday): 8:30-9:45, Rome time.
  • Afternoon (Monday – Thursday): 13:30 – 14:45, Rome time
  • Evening (Wednesday): 18:30 – 19:45, Rome time
Full schedule | Register
WELLNESS
Catering
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June 2022: Quarterly Newsletter
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JUNE 2022
WORSENING GLOBAL HUNGER CRISIS
The war in Ukraine is undermining global food security and nutrition, which is already seriously compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic, other conflicts, climate change and rising food prices. CFS has offered its unique, science-backed global platform to coordinate policy responses to the crisis.
This has also been the focus of discussion in the public debate segment of the last three CFS Bureau and Advisory Group meeting. Watch the debate on 25 May 2022 here.
HIGH-LEVEL SPECIAL EVENT: CFS and the President of the General Assembly) are co-convening a high-level special event to foster coordinated global policy responses to the current global food crisis supported by – and in support of – the UN Secretary-General´s Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance.

DATE: 18 July 2022
TIME: 15:00 – 18:00 EDT (New York) / 21:00 – 24:00 CEST (Rome)
VENUE: Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, New York
SAVE THE DATE
SAVE THE DATE: CFS 50, 10-13 OCTOBER 2022
Among other items, CFS 50 will feature a special ministerial-level segment on the state of food insecurity in the world and on fostering coordinated policy responses to the global food crisis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ecological and economic shocks, the conflict in Ukraine and protracted crises elsewhere.
The Plenary is also expected to endorse two new policy products: CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Empowerment, and CFS Policy Recommendations on Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Agriculture and Food Systems. We will also review the work of CFS and its HLPE toward 2030, kick-start our workstream on data collection and analysis for food security and nutrition, and examine the impact of our CFS-RAI Principles.
 
Call for CFS 50 Side Events. Deadline 15 July 2022.
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CFS VGGT

Endorsed by CFS in May 2012, the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (CFS VGGT) have served as a highly-respected global reference document for practices regarding the governance of tenure. 

To commemorate the10th anniversary of the VGGT,  CFS and FAO jointly organized a high-level event on 27 May 2022. Watch the recording of the event here. For more information, visit the CFS webpage.
From the CFS High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE)


Briefing Note: Impacts of the military conflict in Ukraine on global food security and nutrition. Read more >

Upcoming Report: The new project team has been selected to work on the upcoming report "Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition". Read more >
OTHER CFS UPDATES
Ongoing Negotiations: Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment. Latest updates >

 
2022 FAO Regional Conferences: See remarks by CFS Chair at all FAO 2022 Regional Conferences here >

 
NEW: Better late than never! CFS and its HLPE are finally on LinkedIn. Follow CFS and HLPE >
Ongoing Negotiations: Youth Engagement and Employments in Agriculture and Food Systems. Latest updates >
 
FSN as Key to Human Development: Remarks by CFS Chair at Brussels hearing by the European Parliament Committee on Development here >
 
#CFSConversations: Interview series with CFS thought leaders and partners. Watch all episodes >
 
Expo Dubai 2020: CFS High Level Ministerial Event, in collaboration with FAO and the Government of the UAE. Read more >
 
New Guide: FAO-UNCCD Technical Guide on Responsible Governance of Tenure and Land Degradation Neutrality. Read more >
 
Speeches by CFS Chair: Access the webpage dedicated to all speeches by the CFS Chair here >


 
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February 2022: Quarterly Newsletter
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FEBRUARY 2022
10th Anniversary of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGTs)
This year – 2022 – marks the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security – known as the CFS VGGTs.

Endorsed by governments and other stakeholders in 2012, the CFS VGGTs offer an internationally negotiated framework to improve land governance for food security and nutrition, with respect for human rights at their core.
CFS at the 2022 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)
CFS and its work featured prominently at the 2022 GFFA, hosted by H.E. Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany, from 24-28 January, under the theme of “Sustainable Land Use: Food Security Starts with the Soil”.
Among key CFS engagements was an exciting High Level Panel on “Responsible Land Governance for Sustainable Food Systems”, with a focus on the CFS VGGTs. In addition, the CFS Chairperson spoke at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference and at the Forum's closing press conference. The final 2022 GFFA Communiqué encouraged utilzation of the CFS platform and its key products, highlighting their relevance to global governance of food and nutrition priorities.
Gabriel Ferrero, CFS Chairperson:
"Land is our number one lifeline.  Its governance is the bedrock upon which all other food security and nutrition efforts are built."
Read the Chairperson's full statement >
"CFS has initiated important developments [in land governance], especially with its [VGGTs]. They thus make an important contribution to food security."
H.E. Frida Krifca, Minister of Agriculture, Albania:
"The Albanian Government has affirmed its commitment to recognize, respect and safeguard tenure rights of lawful holders […] including women."
"The implementation of the [CFS VGGTs] in Sierra Leone has underscored remarkable achievements in natural resources management and land."
Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, FAO:
"FAO has supported awareness raising and capacity development on the VGGTs and land governance in 78 countries, elaborated land policies and programs based on the VGGTs in 34 countries and enacted laws and policies based on the VGGTs enacted in 9 countries."
More information on 2022 GFFA available here.
 
From the CFS High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE)
The CFS HLPE proposes an update to our conceptual understanding of food security to encompass the broader dynamics that affect hunger and malnutrition by incorporating of two new dimensions - agency and sustainability - into food security policy and analysis frameworks:
OTHER CFS UPDATES
Call for experiences: On the use and application of CFS-RAI. Read more >
 
Call for inputs: Draft Policy Recommendations on Youth. Read more >
 
Save the date: CFS Ministerial Event at Expo Dubai. Read more >
 
ICYMI: End of year 2021 message by CFS Chair. Read more >
 
Call for inputs: Draft CFS Gender Voluntary Guidelines. Read more >
 
New policy brief: How responsible investment can contribute to the realization of the right to food. Read more >
 
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December 2021: A message from the CFS Chair
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DECEMBER 2021
HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY!
2021 has been a pivotal year for CFS and the rest of the global food security and nutrition community. Unfortunately, the numbers of hungry and malnourished are going in the wrong direction, but we mustn’t lose faith in our collective ability to urgently reverse these trends.  We all must double down on our shared commitments in the 2030 Agenda, to address conflicts, climate change, persisting poverty and inequalities, and the compounding impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which have increased inequalities all around the world and the numbers of hungry and malnourished to unacceptable levels.
Despite the enormity of the challenge, I have seen unambiguous conviction and action by the global community for a world free from hunger and malnutrition. This year saw the world come together at the UN Food Systems Summit in September to mobilize action, investments and policies to transform our food systems. In his Statement of Action, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that “all participants were able to benefit from the engagement and products of the CFS, that steers global policy making” and highlighted the critical importance of CFS delivering on its mandate. I have no doubt that the Committee will respond to the Secretary-General’s call to engage to provide leadership in a responsive way. Likewise, the UNFCCC COP 26 held in November and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Japan in December spotlighted hunger and malnutrition and the urgent actions needed to address them.
"The CFS remains an essential intergovernmental and stakeholder platform for all working together to ensure food security and nutrition for all through sustainable and transformative food systems. Engagement with the CFS to provide leadership to the follow-up to the FSS will be essential to deliver on its mandate."

- UN Secretary-General's Statement of Action on the UN Food Systems Summit -

The year was among the busiest for CFS with three plenary sessions – CFS 47 in February, CFS 48 in June and CFS 49 in October. CFS 47 saw the endorsement of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSN) after many years of consultation and intense negotiation. The CFS Policy Recommendations on Agroecological and Other Innovative Approaches were endorsed at CFS 48. Our 49th Plenary session focused on the 2021 State of Food Security and Nutrition report; uptake of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition; the implications of the UN Food Systems Summit on CFS; ongoing CFS workstreams; and priorities and synergies and opportunities between CFS and the three Rio Conventions.
We need to harness the momentum generated by these efforts together with existing tools, products, resources and partnerships to speed up the transformation needed to fulfil the 2030 Agenda through the advancement of SDG 2 and inclusive, resilient, equitable, sustainable and healthy food systems. We agree that the moment is now; that the coming years will mark the difference for decades to come and for billions of people and the planet.
CFS will be front and center in this effort, hand in hand with the Rome Based Agencies, playing its convening role in transforming food systems for the progressive realization of the right to adequate food, as the most inclusive global inter-governmental policy platform. It offers what no other existing international platform does: an inclusive multilateral space where countries, civil society, the private sector, the UN system and other stakeholders come together to share, deliberate and reach consensus on complex systemic issues for achieving food security and nutrition, providing also a knowledge-governance interface that is transparent and participatory: the CFS High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (CFS HLPE)
In 2022, we will conclude critical components of our current programme of work including on gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems, and set the pace for our work on data collection and analysis and on reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition.
None of our work is possible without the tremendous support we receive from our Members, Bureau and Advisory Group members, our funders and other stakeholders. I thank you all on behalf of myself and the CFS Secretariat.  We are counting on your continued support in our work to achieve the Committee’s vision.
Gabriel Ferrero y de Loma-Osorio
Chairperson
Committee on World Food Security
OTHER CFS UPDATES
Call for input on the use of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI)
At the Paris Peace Forum 2021, CFS Chair outlined his vision for an inclusive CFS: Watch the recording
SAVE THE DATE: CFS at the 2022 Global Forum on Food and Agriculture (GFFA) - 26 January 2022
CFS Secretary at the WTO Trade Dialogue on Food: Exploring the Nutrition and International Trade Nexus
SAVE THE DATE: CFS Ministerial Event at the Agri-food Innovation Days at Dubai Expo on 24 February 2022
CFS Chair at the UNFSS Side Event at the Tokyo N4G Summit 2021: Watch the recording
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October 2021: CFS 49
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OCTOBER 2021
Key highlights:

Organized as the first major global event on Food Security and Nutrition after the United Nations Food Systems Summit, key highlights of the Plenary will be:
  • State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021;
  • Uptake of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition;
  • Election of new CFS Chairperson, and selection of new CFS Bureau Members and their Alternates; and
  • CFS Secretariat’s Special Session to celebrate International Rural Women’s Day and explore synergies and opportunities to align CFS with the Rio Conventions.
Visit the CFS 49 webpage for more information.
Register now
With under one week to go, do not forget to register for an opportunity be part of this global discussion on Food Security and Nutrition.
 
Speakers:
 
António Guterres,
United Nations
Secretary-General
Collen Vixen Kelapile,
President, ECOSOC
Amina J. Mohammed,
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
Thanawat Tiensin,
CFS Chairperson
QU Dongyu,
Director-General, FAO
Gilbert Houngbo,
President, IFAD
David Beasley,
Executive Director, WFP
Mariam Al Mehairi,
Minister of State for Water and Food Security, UAE
Jeffrey D. Sachs,
Director, Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University
Martin Cole,
Chair, CFS HLPE
Steering Committee
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Princess of Thailand Inger Andersen,
Executive Director, UNEP
 
Elizabeth Mrema,
Executive Secretary, UNCBD
Ibrahim Thiaw,
Executive Director, UNCCD
Patricia Espinosa,
Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
 

Visit CFS 49 webpage for the full list of confirmed speakers.
 
Side events:
 
To enrich and complement the CFS 49 Plenary and to give its partners and other stakeholders an opportunity to highlight their work, CFS will organize 16 virtual side events over the four days – 4 per day, in parallel during the lunch break.

See the full schedule of the 16 CFS 49 side events.
 
More information:
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The CFS Secretariat is supported by:
   
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September 2021: Press Conference: New CFS HLPE Steering Committee
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SEPTEMBER 2021

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is pleased to invite you to a press conference on 21 September 2021 at 13:00 New York time / 19:00 Rome time:
Register now
At this press conference, the new HLPE Steering Committee membership will be announced ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit 2021.

Speakers:
  • Chris Hegadorn, CFS Secretary 
  • Martin Cole, Chairperson, HLPE Steering Committee
  • Ismahane Elouafi, FAO Chief Scientist (TBC)
HLPE Steering Committee representatives will also be present at the press conference.

In addition to presenting the new Steering Committee, this press conference will be an opportunity to brief journalists about the work of CFS and its HLPE in addressing global food security and nutrition issues as well as give an overview of the role of CFS and its HLPE in the follow up and review of the UN Food Systems Summit outcomes.

For more information, read the media advisory or visit the CFS webpage.
To subscribe or update your contact details, click here.
The CFS Secretariat is supported by:
   
With generous voluntary contributions by:
       
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August 2021: CFS Quarterly Update