21 states finalize food security analysis
Abuja - A total of twenty (20) states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have finalized the food security analysis famously known as Cadre Harmonise or in short CH. The states included Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Conducted in Nigeria since 2016, the tool has provided opportunities for the governments and actors in food security and nutrition to continually monitor and track the progress made in improving food security and nutrition situations, particularly in the northeast that has been burdened by insecurity caused by a prolonged armed insurgency
Speaking on Friday November 5 during the presentation of analysis’ provisional results in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said that it was good to see this cycle of analysis included five (5) new states from the south of the country for the first time since the inception in 2016. The new states included Enugu, Abia, Edo, Lagos and Cross-River.
Drive to holistic analysis
“This became necessary to enable a holistic analysis and understanding of the drivers and limiting factors to food and nutrition insecurity across the entire country,” he said in a speech that was read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director of Project Coordination Unit (PCU), Bright Watagira.
He added that these results were apt and have come at the phase of economic stress when the country was still fighting to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and of living with the new normal; and not forgetting the daunting insecurity issue, which has continued to threaten Nigeria’s food security and nutrition.
“Obviously, these changes have led to disruptions in food production and distribution systems, resulting in poor consumption patterns and levels among several households especially, in areas challenged by insecurity and disrupted livelihoods,” Dr. Umakhihe noted.
The Permanent Secretary appreciated the support from partners and assured them of the Government’s commitment in upholding the outcome and recommendations arising from analysis with a view to enhancing the food and nutrition security situation in the concerned states through objective intervention programming.
Partners' commitment
On his side, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, appreciated the FMARD’s approval early this year for expansion of CH to the remaining 20 States.
“Obviously, given the capacity and financial needs required for the expansion process, it was jointly agreed to conduct the expansion in a phased manner, starting with an additional five (5) states, namely; Abia, Cross River, Edo, Enugu and Lagos,” he pointed out.
According to him, FAO has played a key role in the process since when it started in 2016 and it is looking forward to supporting more states that will eventually be added in the process in the coming months.
“The results of the CH analysis have provided reliable early warning information to decision makers in Government; the UN; NGOs to inform emergency responses, medium and long-term policy and programming. We wish to extend our unwavering commitment to expand the CH analysis into the remaining 15 states, and if every partner plays their part, under the leadership of the government we will for sure reach our goal,” he concluded.
The CH analysis is led by the Government of Nigeria, is facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) through the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) with financial and technical support from FAO, the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), European Union, the French Development Agency and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Others members of the technical committee of the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Global Support Unit (IPC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Oxfam, Administration for Children & Families (ACF) and Save the Children.
Related Links
https://www.fao.org/emergencies/resources/documents/resources-detail/en/c/1146522/
https://www.fao.org/nigeria/news/detail-events/en/c/1418120/
For more details Comtact:
Emmanuel Kihaule David Tsokar Opeyemi Olagunju
Communications Specialist Communications Specialist Communications/Reporting Officer
FAO Nigeria FAO Nigeria FAO Nigeria – North East Sub Office