My contribution and opinion to the consultation on the scope of the HLPE-FSN report is below.
Best regards,
Oudah Yobom, Ph.D.
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- Do you agree with the guiding principles indicated above?
In my opinion, I find that the guiding principles set out respect the rights of indigenous peoples while guaranteeing their active participation in decisions that concern them, and in addition, they value the integration of traditional knowledge into scientific approaches.
I would just add that we need to focus on mechanisms that strengthen the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. For example, I find that land is a real problem in the Sahel. All community conflicts revolve around land.
2. Should the objectives include mainstreaming Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems, and lessons learned from them, for the benefit of all, or solely for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples as rights holders?
The challenge is to successfully integrate indigenous peoples’ food and knowledge systems to enrich global food systems, while respecting their rights and autonomy. This special attention will allow us practitioners to benefit from their knowledge to find sustainable solutions, and to expect indigenous peoples to be the first beneficiaries. To hope to achieve a sustainable and just approach, we must find a balance between the general interest and the specific rights of indigenous peoples.
3. What are the challenges related to Free, Prior and Informed Consent and Access and Benefit Sharing when widely promoting and/or mainstreaming Indigenous Peoples food and knowledge systems?
The main challenges related to FPIC and access and benefit sharing include are numerous and may vary depending on regional contexts. However, we can list for example, the marginalization of indigenous peoples, power imbalances, lack of information, economic pressure and insufficient protection of traditional knowledge.
To move towards a fair and above all equitable integration of indigenous peoples' food and knowledge systems, I think that efforts must be made to strengthen mechanisms for participation, transparency and benefit sharing, and all this must take place within a genuine framework of respect for the rights of indigenous peoples.
4. How can the report ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups, sustainability, and protection against commercialization risks for Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems?
In my opinion, we must directly prioritize the implementation and adoption of strategies aimed directly at improving the sustainable management of resources and favoring a system of equitable sharing of benefits. However, we should be vigilant about the risk linked to commercial exploitations that can easily trample on the resilience and acquired autonomy of this people.
5. How should oral knowledge and traditions be documented and referenced in the development of the report?
It is enough to consider their cultural rights and their personal aspirations. Such consideration requires the establishment of a collaborative and participatory approach. The documents must be based on ethics and share values against the commercialization of knowledge. It should also be noted that the report can only promote knowledge in contexts and frameworks that are specific to them.
6. What dimensions linked to Indigenous Peoples’ agency, e.g., in governance issues, could be addressed?
Considering the dimension linked to the agency of this people in governance is a form of guarantee. For example, this allows us to guarantee their food systems and also the protection of their knowledge.
We must add above all the fact that we need mechanisms that allow us to manage their food resources, their lands and especially their knowledge to pass them on to future generations.
7. Are there important/relevant policy papers and instruments missing from the foundational documents list?
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
The Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The FAO Framework for Action on Sustainable Food Systems (2014)
The Paris Climate Agreement (2015)
The FAO Guidelines on Food Systems and Agroecology (2018)
8. Could you please indicate relevant references that should be taken into account?
United Nations, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, A/RES/61/295, 2007.
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_fr.pdf
FAO, Guidelines for the integration of traditional knowledge in the management of genetic resources, 2004.
https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/c43acc56-883e-…
Reference: FAO, Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition (2018).
https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/c8a24cf1-4569-…
HLPE-FSN, Agroecology and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems (2019).
https://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/en/
HLPE-FSN, Reducing inequalities in food security and nutrition (2023).
https://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/en/
9. What best practices, ethical standards, and strategies for addressing climate change should be highlighted in the report?
The idea is to create a document that respects indigenous peoples and values their know-how. This can be done by directly including the peoples, encouraging participatory and equitable governance. We can add issues related to the energy and agricultural transition.
10. Which best practices or strategies to promote cross-cultural understanding should be highlighted in the report?
It is sufficient that the report highlights an approach based on mutual respect, gender equality and the recognition of traditional knowledge. In this case, the report integrates best practices, promotes education and popularization. In other words, sets up forums for sharing traditional knowledge that can coexist with current scientific knowledge.
11. Are the previous legal documents such as Prior and Informed Consent, enough in light of this evolution of thinking about Indigenous People’s knowledge, or do they need to be revised?
There is a need for a review that considers the current developments of our time while integrating the main challenges related to the knowledge of indigenous peoples with the issues of sustainable and agricultural development. The challenges related to the effects of climate change on diseases and security issues are also very essential.
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An applied and development economist, my work focuses on the economics of climate change, agricultural economics and food security. My area of expertise covers the entire Sahelian strip (including the different agroecological zones) from Senegal to the Horn of Africa via Mali, Niger and Chad.
My current work still focuses on the challenges of change and its effects on the agricultural sectors (agriculture and food security) in the Sahel countries. In this capacity, I am currently working on deciphering the macroeconomic factors that affect food security in Niger.
Dr. Oudah Yobom