Welcome to the United Nations
The following contribution is sent in response to the invitation from the President of ECOSOC, HE
Oh Joon, for CFS to “offer substantive inputs to the 2016 HLPF showcasing [CFS]’s contribution
towards the 2030 Agenda in general, and particularly for the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and respective targets that are substantial to [CFS]’s mandate”.
In 2016, CFS initiated a process to discuss and agree how CFS as a global, multi-stakeholder
committee can contribute to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. CFS is
discussing how it can provide a platform for sharing, learning and identifying challenges and
successes related to the achievement of the SDGs, how it can address these policy gaps and
accelerate progress on particular themes within the SDGs relevant to its mandate. A proposal will
be submitted to CFS’ 43rd Plenary for endorsement in October 2016, comprising a section on a
regular CFS contribution to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) to support inclusive global
follow-up and review of progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. CFS policy tools were
re-examined under the SDG lens, to map the contribution of each integrated cross-cutting
framework or set of recommendations. The result of this mapping can be found at the link at the
end of this document.
An assessment of the situation regarding the principle of “ensuring that no one is left behind” at the global level:
A- Identifying who is at risk of being left behind
1. According to the latest estimates of the State of Food Insecurity in the World Report
(SOFI), jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD, and WFP, 793 million people are still
undernourished globally, and at risk of being left behind. Although this represents a
significant improvement over the last decade, it remains an unacceptably high number. In
a fast changing global economic environment, these people are particularly vulnerable to
commodity price fluctuations, unemployment, natural disasters, the impacts of climate
change, political instability, protracted crises and conflict, social exclusion and poor
nutrition. The vast majority of vulnerable populations live in developing regions, with
women and children bearing the highest burden. Most live in rural areas, among which are
many smallholder food producers, particularly women, and landless workers, but
urbanization trends are leading to an increase of food insecure populations in urban areas.
The multiplication of protracted crises worldwide has also taken a strong toll on the food
security of people in these areas.
2. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was reformed in 2009 with the specific aim
to «ensure that the voices of all relevant stakeholders are heard in the policy debate on
food and agriculture ». CFS’ reformed vision and rules of participation aim at gathering all
relevant stakeholders, particularly those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition,
around the policy-making table, to devise inclusive policies targeting the most vulnerable.
The Committee opened participation in its work to five categories of stakeholders: UN
agencies and bodies with a specific mandate in the area of food security and nutrition; civil
society and non-governmental organizations; international agricultural research systems;
international and regional financial institutions; and the private sector associations and
private philanthropic foundations. These participate in all of the Committee’s activities,
submit proposals, provide advice and expertise in discussions, contribute to reaching a
common understanding of the issues at stake and to finding consensus on joint solutions.
Decisions are ultimately endorsed by CFS Members, and intended to be used by all
stakeholders.
3. In order to ensure broad and diversified participation in CFS work, the different
stakeholders were invited to establish mechanisms to function as facilitating bodies for
consultation and participation, in response to which two coordination mechanisms were
created. The Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) includes 11 different constituencies1 from 17
sub-regions2, with a strong emphasis on leadership of social movements directly
representing rights holders. The Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) comprises organizations
from across the agri-food value chain, from inputs to food retailers. The work of the CSM
and PSM is instrumental in ensuring outreach, engagement and broad participation of
stakeholders, and ensures that the perspectives of those often least heard are given priority
in CFS work. Over the years, it has led to stronger commitment and demand for CFS
inclusive policy instruments and activities.
4. The CFS reform also created a High-Level Panel of Experts (CFS-HLPE) to support CFS
work with an evidence basis. Upon request from the Committee and to inform negotiated
policy recommendations, the CFS-HLPE synthetizes existing research and produces
independent reports on specific themes that address the root causes of food insecurity and
malnutrition. Although not endorsed by the Committee, these reports are available as
independent products in the public domain.
B- Inclusive tools for global governance of food security and nutrition
5. CFS work, by nature, is cross-cutting. While its mandate responds directly to SDG 2
“Eradicate hunger, ensure food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable
agriculture”, its work addresses the nexus between SDG 2 and other SDGs. The Global
Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition (GSF), updated annually, acts as the
repository for CFS work and aims to improve coordination and guide synchronized action
by a wide range of stakeholders.
- In response to identified policy gaps and pressing needs, the Committee agreed on Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forestry in the context of National Food Security (VGGTs), in 2012 after an inclusive process, to promote secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, as a means to eradicate hunger and poverty. Recognizing that the livelihoods of many, particularly the rural poor, are based on secure and equitable access to these resources, the VGGTs protect people from the arbitrary loss of tenure rights, including through forced evictions; they help ensure no one is subject to discrimination; they lead to more transparent and participatory decision-making and lastly, they help ensure that disputes are resolved before they degenerate into conflict. The VGGTs acknowledge the importance role of indigenous peoples and other communities, and recognize customary tenure systems. They are an integrated tool, linking responsible tenure to other major issues such as markets, investments, taxation, climate change, natural disasters and conflicts to name only a few.
- In order to feed the estimated 9 billion people by 2050, an estimated $83 billion invested is needed per year to raise agricultural production. CFS endorsed the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) in 2014. Based on a set of overarching values including respect for human rights, the RAI principles offer guidance on how to invest responsibly. They apply to all types and sizes of agricultural investments including in fisheries, forests, and livestock; they address all stakeholders involved in/affected by/benefiting from investments in agriculture and food systems; they apply to all stages of the value chain; they include actions to address a range of environmental, social, and economic issues, with particular attention to women and youth; and identify the specific roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.
- In 2013 there were around 167 million undernourished people living in protracted crisis situations, a proportion about three times as high as in other developing contexts – and the longer the crisis, the worse the food security and nutrition outcomes. Strengthening resilience and improving food security and nutrition is key to improving the effectiveness of humanitarian response in addressing cycles of violence, and finding solutions to displacement caused by conflict and disasters. In response, CFS worked on developing specific policy guidance. In October 2015, CFS endorsed the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises (CFS-FFA), representing the first global consensus on how to mitigate the threat to food security and nutrition during protracted crises. It recognizes that building resilience can boost capacity to absorb shocks and longterm stresses. Given the severity of undernutrition in protracted crises, nutritional needs require a special focus especially for the vulnerable and marginalized groups. In his report for the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, “One humanity: shared responsibility”, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls for all stakeholders to work together to improve the lives of those living under protracted crises. The CFS-FFA can be an important tool to accelerate progress for those at risk of being left behind.
The identification of gaps, areas requiring urgent attention, risks and challenges:
A- Issues warranting further attention towards food security and nutrition for all
8. CFS is currently working to address a number of gaps and areas requiring attention:
recommendations on connecting smallholders to markets; the impact of rural
transformation and urbanization on food security and nutrition, the significant interplay
between nutrition and food systems, and sustainable agricultural development.
9. CFS involves all stakeholders in identifying the issues deserving attention from the
Committee. That work is assisted by the CFS High Level Panel of Experts who, when
requested, provides independent advice on critical and emerging issues for food security
and nutrition. In a note released in 2014, the HLPE identified nutrition in changing food
systems; livestock systems; inequalities; the role of financial markets; and pathways to
sustainable food systems as emerging issues for food security and nutrition, which
influenced CFS decisions on its current work plan. CFS may request further advice to help
identify issues and prioritize actions to be ready in 2018.
B- Challenges in the processes to ensure that no one is left behind in food security and
nutrition policy discussions
10. While CFS aims to have the voices of all stakeholders heard at global level, the reform of
CFS also called for flexibility in implementation so that CFS can respond to a changing
external environment and membership needs. In the era of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, and as CFS scales up its work on nutrition, reflection on CFS
modalities, as well as its impact at national level is warranted. The independent evaluation
of CFS effectiveness being undertaken in 2016 may help lay the groundwork for this
reflection.
C- Implementation gaps: towards greater impact on the ground
11. Impact on the ground of negotiated CFS policy instruments takes time, and relies on the
action and coordination of each stakeholder and constituencies. While the results of the
first stand-alone CFS policy framework, the VGGTs, are encouraging (the VGGTs are used in
47 countries, in 4 regions, and their uptake has led to the set-up of national
multistakeholder dialogues and groups), an acceleration is needed in the application of
CFS instruments by countries and national stakeholders.
Valuable lessons learned on ensuring that no one is left behind:
12. The key lesson for CFS on ensuring that no one is left behind has been on the importance of
broad commitment to a truly inclusive process (inclusive prioritization of issues,
consultations, recommendations on actions, leading to endorsement by Members).
13. The process of reaching consensus on policy is important for the credibility and legitimacy
of the outcome among all stakeholders, and makes the investment in time and resources
worthwhile.
14. The effectiveness of platforms such as CFS requires an investment to build trust and foster
mutual understanding. CFS experience shows so far that value added lies not only in
inclusive policies, but also in CFS’ convening power, and in the dialogue it fosters on a
range of issues in all its activities. For instance, the side events organized on the margins of
the annual plenary session are perceived by many as a safe space for innovating and
debate, convening different groups and catalysing partnerships. Intersessional work plays
an important role in laying the foundations for dialogue and collaboration.
Emerging issues likely to affect the realization of this principle:
15. Malnutrition in all its forms has overtaken hunger in terms of the numbers of people
affected worldwide: According to WHO estimates, in 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults
were overweight, of which 600 million were obese, while 800 million people were still
chronically undernourished in 2014-2016. Over 2 billion people are suffering from
micronutrient deficiencies. Malnutrition is closely linked to inequalities and the
sustainability of food systems, and has complex political, economic, social and
environmental factors involved. Policies that address malnutrition in all its forms will
encourage nutrition actors and stakeholders to break silos and reach out to each other
from the health, agricultural, sanitation and education sectors. The UN Resolution
declaring a Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) will support countries follow-up on
their commitments made during the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
will provide an important framework for sustained political momentum. The partners
collaborating to implement the Decade, making use of coordinating mechanisms such as
the UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) and multi-stakeholder
platforms such as CFS, are participants in CFS work.
16. CFS recognizes that rapid urbanization and the transformation of rural spaces are
creating challenges and opportunities in relation to food security and nutrition. Inclusive
discussions leading to global policy convergence is required to ensure that the possible
negative impacts on food security and nutrition of urbanization and rural transformation
(increased urban poor and food insecure, land use change and decreased national food
production and food security) are transformed into opportunities for the most vulnerable
and food insecure.
17. The agriculture sector is underperforming in many developing countries, in part because
men and women do not have equal access to the resources and opportunities they need to
be productive. Across countries and contexts, women have consistently less access than
men to agricultural assets, inputs and services and to rural employment opportunities.
Increasing women’s access to land, livestock, education, financial services,
extension, technology and rural employment would boost their productivity and
generate gains in agricultural output, food security, economic growth and social welfare.
The gains in agricultural production alone from equal access to productive resources could
increase yields on women’s farms by 20-30 percent and raise agricultural outputs in
developing countries by 2.5-4 percent, lifting 100–150 million people out of hunger. Closing
the gender gap is not only the right thing to do. It is crucial for agricultural development
and food security.
Areas where political guidance by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is required:
18. CFS would welcome a discussion and policy guidance during the 2016 meeting of the HLPF
on means to accelerate the uptake of CFS products in countries and by national
stakeholders, including through better links to regional processes.
19. CFS would also welcome a discussion in the HLPF emphasizing the importance of nutritionrelated
coordinating processes such as the implementation of the Decade of Action on
Nutrition and the follow-up to the Second International Conference on Nutrition, which are
important for the achievement of the SDGs.
Policy recommendations on ways to accelerate progress for those at risk of being left behind
20. A holistic approach to address food insecurity, malnutrition and unsustainable agriculture
is a key factor to decrease the number of hungry and malnourished people. This is also the
main message of “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development”. To date, the Committee on World Food Security has issued policy
recommendations informed by evidence, and comprehensive policy frameworks. In each,
the Committee calls for all stakeholders – States (including other relevant levels of
governance), international organizations, the private sector and civil society – to recognize
the centrality of food security and nutrition, and to undertake cost-effective, practical and
environmentally sensitive actions in an inclusive, integrated and participatory manner,
according to their priorities and means.
21. CFS products and policy recommendations constitute ready-available tools for countries to
advance food security and nutrition policy with a focus on the most vulnerable within the
population. They have the potential to advance integrated implementation of the 2030
Agenda.