Parliamentary Networks

Evidence suggests that translating strong political will into legislatively based public policies and programmes can significantly improve food security and nutrition indicators.

Through their legislative, budgetary and oversight responsibilities, parliaments are uniquely positioned to strengthen initiatives to improve food security and nutrition based on inclusive, integrated, multisectoral approaches to legislation and policymaking.

Forms of collaboration that are transversal to political affiliations can help build trust between parties at the national level to speed up progress towards the achievement of common goals. This also helps keep relevant topics on the policy agenda during institutional transitions. The Pan-African Parliament, for instance, has adopted a Model Law on Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (2022) with the support of FAO.

As a result of these ties, more than 35 laws have been drafted and supported, including laws on: family farming, responsible investment in agriculture, gender equality and women’s empowerment, school feeding programmes, food labelling, and food loss and waste, among others. 

It is vital to encourage partnerships between the executive and the legislature that harmonize their objectives and goals. This will strengthen the spirit of cooperation between national powers so that they can design medium- and long-term national public policies, unfettered by political or partisan constraints.