The 8^th annual High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges took place in Geneva from 16 to 17 December 2015, aiming at understand the root causes behind the unprecedented current levels of displacement. It brought together Governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society, UN agencies as well as other relevant humanitarian and academic experts.

In the words of Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Dialogue is “an opportunity to step back and look at the underlying causes as what they are – multiple, interlinked, overlapping and mutually reinforcing factors that accumulate and contribute to eventually driving people from their homes”.

FAOLOG participated in the two day dialogue and Mr. Shukri Ahmed, FAO’s Senior Economist from FAO HQ, joined the panel on the topic "Addressing ‘new’ root causes: urbanization, environmental degradation, food insecurity, water scarcity, natural hazards and climate change", noting that there is a multidimensional and complex relationship between peace, conflict and food security, in which food insecurity has both direct and indirect effects on sustainable development, and international peace and security.  Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar, FAOLOG's Economist, also highlighted the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises, and its principle on contributing to peacebuilding through food security.

For more information on the 8th annual High Commissioner's Dialogue please visit: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/55e4506b6.html