Selection and Prioritization of CFS Activities for the Biennium 2016-2017
What issues should be addressed by the Committee in the biennium 2016-2017?
Multi-stakeholder, broad-based, participatory platforms for food security and family farming.
Regional and subregional agricultural strategies and integration mechanisms which are conducive to food security and family farming.
2. Explain the issue and describe why you are proposing it
The establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms is often mentioned as a prerequisite for the implementation of CFS decisions. All documents approved by the CFS may or may not be implemented in national contexts, since States are the main actors responsible for implementation. However, the best way of ensuring that internationally agreed standards are harmoniously combined with national strategies is through the establishment of permanent and institutionalized multi-stakeholder platforms. Brazil´s Zero Hunger is an example of how broad participatory mechanisms (such as the National Council for Food and Nutrition Security – CONSEA, and the National Council for Sustainable Rural Development – CONDRAF) are crucial to ensure success in the fight against hunger and poverty based on as consensually agreed policies such as school feeding with public purchase from family farming, and gaining strength from the internalization of the Human Right to Food in Brazil´s Constitution.
Many countries already have such participatory councils, mechanisms or platforms. In particular the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF 2014) has promoted the creation of National Committees, which bring together a wide variety of stakeholders from civil society, and government, with the collaboration of FAO, in more than 50 countries in the five continents. In the discussion on the follow-up to IYFF and of a Global Document to be agreed in October during CFS 41, such an initiative would indeed seize the momentum of the IYFF in order to deepen and sustain its capacity for the creation of public policies in different countries in the medium term.
3. What kind of activity do you propose to address this issue? Which kind of CFS workstream should be put in place to address it?
i) Multi-stakeholder, broad-based, participatory platforms for food security and family farming
HLPE Report
We recommend that the HLPE conduct a study on the participation of relevant stakeholders, especially family farmer organizations which represent the largest constituency but are the most marginalized by political processes. The study would highlight best practices and systematize existing platforms in different contexts (LDCs, MICs; national, regional or local councils, etc.).
Other type of Workstream
Regarding workstreams, based on the 5 GSF principles on monitoring and accountability (especially principle 3 – “be participatory and include assessments that involve all stakeholders and beneficiaries, including the most vulnerable”) the CFS OEWG on Monitoring should establish an initiative (complementary with the HLPE study) on participatory mechanisms in countries, to be led by FAO country and regional offices, and drawing on already existing FAO support to country and regional IYFF committees and other multi-stakeholder platforms. FAO country/regional offices would report to CFS at each annual session and these platforms (national government/civil society platforms, with FAO/IFAD/WFP possible involvement) would be responsible for implementing national priorities related to food security and family farming, also based on CFS documents (GSF, VGGT, RAI, etc).
ii) Regional and subregional agricultural strategies and integration mechanisms which are conducive to food security and family farming.
HLPE Report
Agricultural and Food Security strategies and Policy Dialogue mechanisms at Regional and Subregional levels have emerged in different continents during the last years (CAADP, ECOWAP/CAADP, REAF/Mercosul, ECADERT, CONSAN-CPLP, etc). Regional meetings of family farmers and governments at subregional levels (such as in REAF/Mercosul) or the broad-based elaboration and negotiation of agricultural and food security strategies (such as ECOWAP/CAADP) can contribute to the elaboration of public policies for family farming, and discussion of how to potentiate intra-regional trade on equitable terms. We therefore suggest the HLPE conduct a report on existing regional and subregional agricultural strategies and integration mechanisms which are conducive to food security and family farming.
Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário Brasil
Selection and Prioritization of CFS Activities for the Biennium 2016-2017
2. Explain the issue and describe why you are proposing it
The establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms is often mentioned as a prerequisite for the implementation of CFS decisions. All documents approved by the CFS may or may not be implemented in national contexts, since States are the main actors responsible for implementation. However, the best way of ensuring that internationally agreed standards are harmoniously combined with national strategies is through the establishment of permanent and institutionalized multi-stakeholder platforms. Brazil´s Zero Hunger is an example of how broad participatory mechanisms (such as the National Council for Food and Nutrition Security – CONSEA, and the National Council for Sustainable Rural Development – CONDRAF) are crucial to ensure success in the fight against hunger and poverty based on as consensually agreed policies such as school feeding with public purchase from family farming, and gaining strength from the internalization of the Human Right to Food in Brazil´s Constitution.
Many countries already have such participatory councils, mechanisms or platforms. In particular the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF 2014) has promoted the creation of National Committees, which bring together a wide variety of stakeholders from civil society, and government, with the collaboration of FAO, in more than 50 countries in the five continents. In the discussion on the follow-up to IYFF and of a Global Document to be agreed in October during CFS 41, such an initiative would indeed seize the momentum of the IYFF in order to deepen and sustain its capacity for the creation of public policies in different countries in the medium term.
3. What kind of activity do you propose to address this issue? Which kind of CFS workstream should be put in place to address it?
i) Multi-stakeholder, broad-based, participatory platforms for food security and family farming
HLPE Report
We recommend that the HLPE conduct a study on the participation of relevant stakeholders, especially family farmer organizations which represent the largest constituency but are the most marginalized by political processes. The study would highlight best practices and systematize existing platforms in different contexts (LDCs, MICs; national, regional or local councils, etc.).
Other type of Workstream
Regarding workstreams, based on the 5 GSF principles on monitoring and accountability (especially principle 3 – “be participatory and include assessments that involve all stakeholders and beneficiaries, including the most vulnerable”) the CFS OEWG on Monitoring should establish an initiative (complementary with the HLPE study) on participatory mechanisms in countries, to be led by FAO country and regional offices, and drawing on already existing FAO support to country and regional IYFF committees and other multi-stakeholder platforms. FAO country/regional offices would report to CFS at each annual session and these platforms (national government/civil society platforms, with FAO/IFAD/WFP possible involvement) would be responsible for implementing national priorities related to food security and family farming, also based on CFS documents (GSF, VGGT, RAI, etc).
ii) Regional and subregional agricultural strategies and integration mechanisms which are conducive to food security and family farming.
HLPE Report
Agricultural and Food Security strategies and Policy Dialogue mechanisms at Regional and Subregional levels have emerged in different continents during the last years (CAADP, ECOWAP/CAADP, REAF/Mercosul, ECADERT, CONSAN-CPLP, etc). Regional meetings of family farmers and governments at subregional levels (such as in REAF/Mercosul) or the broad-based elaboration and negotiation of agricultural and food security strategies (such as ECOWAP/CAADP) can contribute to the elaboration of public policies for family farming, and discussion of how to potentiate intra-regional trade on equitable terms. We therefore suggest the HLPE conduct a report on existing regional and subregional agricultural strategies and integration mechanisms which are conducive to food security and family farming.