Addressing Food Security by Strategic Capacity Building in Eastern Sudan
The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations are formally launching a ?8.6 million ($US11.2 million) programme. The 3-year Food Security Policy and Strategy Capacity Building Programme being implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Government of Sudan strives to strengthen the capacity of government line Ministries of Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref and Blue Nile States in the collection and analysis of food security information for policy and strategy development and decision-making. This means that food security decisions will be more informed and inclusive, and better implemented and monitored.
Addressing Food Security by Strategic Capacity Building in Eastern Sudan
The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations are formally launching a €8.6 million ($US11.2 million) programme. The 3-year Food Security Policy and Strategy Capacity Building Programme being implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Government of Sudan strives to strengthen the capacity of government line Ministries of Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref and Blue Nile States in the collection and analysis of food security information for policy and strategy development and decision-making. This means that food security decisions will be more informed and inclusive, and better implemented and monitored.
The launch of this project is done in conjunction with the European Development Days the European Commission is organizing each year since 2006. Over time this event developed into a forum of high visibility, where prominent speakers up to heads of state are engaging into a public discussion about development cooperation.
The Leitmotiv for the 2013 event is "A Decent Life for All by 2030 – Building a Consensus for a New Development Agenda". "A decent life for All" requires that many different aspects are addressed, but in the case of Sudan food security is of particular importance. This is why the EU Delegation pays particular attention to this issue. "Inaugurating this important project at the occasion of the European Development Days underlines how serious the EU is taking the fight against hunger and poverty alleviation in Sudan and to safeguard "a decent life for all by 2030" says Head of Delegation of European Union in Sudan, Ambassador Tomas Ulicny. This project will be complemented by actions the EU Delegation is currently preparing with partners to support small scale farmers in Eastern Sudan and for which some € 20 million will be available.
The Food Security Policy and Strategy Capacity Building Programme is one of the projects the EU Delegation has designed in close collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and responsible Sudanese Authorities. The programme will build on the achievements made under the EU funded Sudan Institutional Capacity Program: Food Security Information for Action (SIFSIA) programme. SIFSIA helped build the foundation at the federal level, an integrated and coordinated food security information system through intensive capacity building activities. In contrast to the previous project, which focused on federal level, this new project will pay particular attention to the relevant authorities of Red Sea, Kassala, Gedarif and Blue Nile State, but equally supporting the Federal Government.
The new programme will use the experiences and lessons learned from SISFIA to strengthen the capacities of state governments to formulate food security policies and strategies based on well-researched evidence. Moreover, the inclusive and consultative mechanism of the program will ensure participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The implementation of the new programme is being done by international and national staff recruited by FAO and their counterparts. FAO project staff members are seconded by the line ministries of the four states, who are based at the Project Support Unit (PSU) established in Khartoum and at the Technical Support Units (TSUs) established in the four states. The field team is supported by technical experts from FAO’s Headquarters in Rome and from FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, based in Cairo.
“In the past, the efforts have been humanitarian in nature and therefore had limitations in tackling the underlying causes of food insecurity. The new programme being launched today aims at a better understanding of the causes of food insecurity so as to design interventions that not only protect livelihoods but contribute to agricultural development and ensure that people’s livelihoods become more resilient. This initiative will be integrated with the National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) which will contribute positively in putting a wide multi-sectorial understanding when designing strategic direction towards agriculture development in Sudan” says Ad Spijkers, the FAO Representative in Sudan.
The launch of this project is done in conjunction with the European Development Days the European Commission is organizing each year since 2006. Over time this event developed into a forum of high visibility, where prominent speakers up to heads of state are engaging into a public discussion about development cooperation.
The Leitmotiv for the 2013 event is "A Decent Life for All by 2030 – Building a Consensus for a New Development Agenda". "A decent life for All" requires that many different aspects are addressed, but in the case of Sudan food security is of particular importance. This is why the EU Delegation pays particular attention to this issue. "Inaugurating this important project at the occasion of the European Development Days underlines how serious the EU is taking the fight against hunger and poverty alleviation in Sudan and to safeguard "a decent life for all by 2030" says Head of Delegation of European Union in Sudan, Ambassador Tomas Ulicny. This project will be complemented by actions the EU Delegation is currently preparing with partners to support small scale farmers in Eastern Sudan and for which some € 20 million will be available.
The Food Security Policy and Strategy Capacity Building Programme is one of the projects the EU Delegation has designed in close collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and responsible Sudanese Authorities. The programme will build on the achievements made under the EU funded Sudan Institutional Capacity Program: Food Security Information for Action (SIFSIA) programme. SIFSIA helped build the foundation at the federal level, an integrated and coordinated food security information system through intensive capacity building activities. In contrast to the previous project, which focused on federal level, this new project will pay particular attention to the relevant authorities of Red Sea, Kassala, Gedarif and Blue Nile State, but equally supporting the Federal Government.
The new programme will use the experiences and lessons learned from SISFIA to strengthen the capacities of state governments to formulate food security policies and strategies based on well-researched evidence. Moreover, the inclusive and consultative mechanism of the program will ensure participation of all relevant stakeholders.
The implementation of the new programme is being done by international and national staff recruited by FAO and their counterparts. FAO project staff members are seconded by the line ministries of the four states, who are based at the Project Support Unit (PSU) established in Khartoum and at the Technical Support Units (TSUs) established in the four states. The field team is supported by technical experts from FAO’s Headquarters in Rome and from FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, based in Cairo.
“In the past, the efforts have been humanitarian in nature and therefore had limitations in tackling the underlying causes of food insecurity. The new programme being launched today aims at a better understanding of the causes of food insecurity so as to design interventions that not only protect livelihoods but contribute to agricultural development and ensure that people’s livelihoods become more resilient. This initiative will be integrated with the National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) which will contribute positively in putting a wide multi-sectorial understanding when designing strategic direction towards agriculture development in Sudan” says Ad Spijkers, the FAO Representative in Sudan.
25/11/2013