Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (AAHM)
The AAHM (formerly known as the International Alliance Against Hunger) was founded in October 2003, as an outcome of the World Food Summit: five years later.
It brings together the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Agencies (FAO, IFAD and WFP), and Bioversity International, as well as a number of leading international NGOs and civil society organizations.
The main function of AAHM is to serve as a vehicle for joint advocacy at international and national levels towards a world free from hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The AAHM has been successful in nurturing the emergence of National Alliances Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAAHM) in about 40 countries, both developed and developing and steps are being taken to bring National Alliances together in Regional Alliances to advocate with a stronger voice.
The right to food is one of the main pillars of the work of the AAHM and its partners.
National Alliances are perfectly positioned to assist in the implementation of the right to food in their respective countries in that they offer a neutral space for different stakeholders (including governments, civil society organizations and the private sector amongst others) committed to the fight against hunger and malnutrition to dialogue on the most effective programmes and policies to achieve national food and nutrition security. National Alliances therefore operate as frameworks of collaboration and function to catalyze and mainstream specific food and nutrition security programmes and policies, including the right to food.
The project is working together with the AAHM to support the creation and strengthening of regional alliances in Africa, Asia and Arab countries.
Regional workshop in Cameroon to promote the advocacy on the Right to Food
27-29 June 2011 – Yaoundé, Cameroon
The Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (AAHM) is following up on recommendations made by National Alliances at their first consultation held in June 2010 in Rome to make an effort to go regional.
The first step towards creating new regional alliances was taken in 27-29 June 2011, in Yaoundé. Representatives from 11 National Alliances met to launch a network of Alliances for francophone Central and Western African countries.
The meeting was organised by the National Alliance of Cameroon and opened by football star Roger Milla who confirmed and extended his support to all African Alliances. Representatives from Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Forestry also attended the event and welcomed proposals from the fledgling network of Alliances to adjust current policies on food and nutrition security. Results of the meetings exceeded expectations; Ms Christine Andela, Coordinator of the host National Alliance, was appointed first (rotating) president of the new regional network, in recognition of her effortless commitment and of the outstanding results of the Alliance of Cameroon.
The project “Coherent Food Security Responses: Incorporating Right to Food into Global and Regional Food Security Initiatives” participated in the regional workshop to present the different Right to Food advocacy approaches, and to assist in the identification of the specific advocacy needs and help develop the capacities of National/Regional Alliances to design and implement the appropriate Right to Food Strategy according to the different contexts.