The RCM Thematic Group on Food Security met on 16th of May at the FAO RNE office regional office in Cairo. Invitation of the meeting were sent to the members of the Food Security Thematic Working which are UNRWA, UNDP, UNHCR, IFAD, AOAD, WFP, WB, WHO, ESCWA and FAO. However only five organizations attended the meeting. 

Opening
Dr. Fatima Hachem, FAO/RNE Food and Nutrition Officer welcomed Dr. Saad AlOtaibi, the ADG / FAO Regional Representative who officially opened the meeting. In his opening remarks Dr AlOtaibi said that food security is cross-cutting issue which underpins the wide range of activities that the UN agencies and other partners do in this region. 

He also mention that despite the structural problems like high dependency on food imports, poverty, unemployment, and high population growth rate, majority of the population in this region have been able to access food and income. 

However concurrent and multiple shocks including soaring international food prices, armed conflict (in Libya and Yemen) and civilian displacement, social unrests, disruptions of tourism and associated service sectors, and slow down of investment and remittances inflow among other problems, rendered significant number of poor households in the region highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Collaborative efforts, joint programming and regular information sharing on food security and related activities, are therefore needed more than ever. Dr AlOtaibi encouraged members of the UN agencies, especially those who are dealing with food security information systems and programs to regularly meet and provide rigorous analysis, and actionable recommendations including policy options.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Moujahed Achouri, FAO Representative in Egypt who also the Deputy regional Representative and Coordinator of the FAO/SNE Sub regional Office. He also emphasized the need for regular food security information sharing and increased collaboration and coordination between the UN agencies in the region.

Objective of the meeting
The objective of the meeting was discuss the food security issues and, activities undertaken by the UN agencies in the region. The meeting was attended by regional food security experts from FAO, WFP, Arab Organization of Agricultural Development (AOAD), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), UNDP and UNHCR. FAO RNE as the lead agency of the Thematic Working presented draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Thematic Working Group on food security along with a suggested work plan for the future. The meeting endorsed the draft Terms of Reference and agreed to establish a common database that will facilitate monitoring of key food security indicators in the region; the meeting also agreed to prepare a food security strategy paper for the region.

Presentations