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Family farming is by far the most prevalent form of agriculture both in developed and developing countries, represents the largest source of employment worldwide, and is much more than a mode of food production, it is also a way of life. In 2014, the International Year  of Family Farming (IYFF 2014) focused world’s attention on family farmers’ important role in alleviating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, sustainably managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and fostering sustainable development. In 2017, the International Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 was proclaimed, as a framework for countries to develop public [...]

At its 42nd session in October 2015, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) requested the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) to prepare a report on Nutrition and Food Systems, to be presented at CFS 44 in October 2017. This topic is highly relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the implementation of the 2014 Rome Declaration on Nutrition, the subsequent Decade of Action for Nutrition, and the fulfilment of the right to adequate food. The purpose of this report is two-fold: (i) to analyse how food systems influence people’s dietary patterns and nutritional [...]

This brochure presents the results of an impact evaluation carried out on the Child Grants Programme in Lesotho.  The evaluation investigated the impact of the programme on three key areas, namely income and economic security, financial inclusion and dietary practices, and nutrition for adults and children.  Adopting a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study aims at informing policy makers about the importance of combining social protection and rural livelihood interventions as opposed to the implementation of standalone programmes.  

The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025 aims to trigger intensified action to end hunger and eradicate all forms of malnutrition worldwide, and ensure universal access to healthier and more sustainable diets for all people, whoever they are and wherever they live. Achieving and sustaining on-the-ground reductions in malnutrition will require strong commitment from many people and organizations including policy-makers and governments, implementing agencies and teams, civil society groups, research institutions, businesses and communities. Such commitment does not come easily: it must be created, sustained and strengthened over time. This policy brief sets out factors that drive commitment [...]

Drawing on two school feeding programmes in Mozambique, this study shows how policy reforms need to be aligned legally for successful implementation. It also argues that pilot initiatives can inform the adaptations needed within institutional frameworks.

Institutional food procurement programme (IFPPs) refers to initiatives that are designed to link demand for food from institutions such as school, hospitals and school feeding programmes to broader development objectives. In developing countries, IFPPs are increasingly viewed as approaches that facilitate the integration of small farmers into formal food systems. This publication shares lessons from the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) Purchase for Progress pilot initiative (P4P) and Brazil’s National School Feeding Programme (PNAE) and the Public Food Procurement Programme (PAA), with insights on the policy and institutional reforms required for developing and implementing institutional food procurement programmes. In [...]

New evidence this year corroborates the rise in world hunger observed in this report last year, sending a warning that more action is needed if we aspire to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Updated estimates show the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to prevailing levels from almost a decade ago. Although progress continues to be made in reducing child stunting, over 22 percent of children under five years of age are still affected. Other forms of malnutrition are also growing: adult obesity continues [...]

In the context of Agenda 2030, food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture are essential not only for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, but also for the broad set of SDGs.  The Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) - including FAO, IFAD and WFP and Bioversity International - set up a working group in 2015 on nutrition-sensitive value chains, acting also as a platform for knowledge sharing and partnership development.  This brief aims to disseminate the activities undertaken and the way forward of the RBAs working group on sustainable food value chains for nutrition. 

The Agricultural Outlook 2018-2027 is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations and input from collaborating member countries to provide an annual assessment of prospects for the coming decade of national, regional and global agricultural commodity markets. This year’s edition contains a special chapter on the prospects and challenges of agriculture and fisheries in the Middle East and North Africa that reviews the prospects and challenges facing the agricultural sector in the Middle East [...]

This discussion aims to gather the approaches and strategies used in SIDS to adapt to climate change, while building resilience of the most poor and vulnerable. Particularly, its purpose is:   to learn how SIDS are reducing the exposure of the poor and most vulnerable people to climate change and climate related events; to learn about pathways, tools and challenges, including recommendations for effectively building adaptive capacity to eradicate poverty and achieving food security and nutrition within the context of climate change.  The discussion focuses on the following questions: Can you share examples of actions that are being undertaken to reduce poverty, food insecurity and nutrition [...]