Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNROME61
2009-10-23 17:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UN Rome
Cable title:
REFORM OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO8589 PP RUEHRN DE RUEHRN #0061/01 2961734 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 231734Z OCT 09 FM USMISSION UN ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1173 INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC RUEHC/USAID WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0387 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0238 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0292 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0484 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 1247
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TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: REFORM OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
REF: USUN Rome 59 (NOTAL)
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 UN ROME 000061
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: REFORM OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
REF: USUN Rome 59 (NOTAL)
1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.
2. (SBU) Summary. From October 14-17, the U.S. delegation to
the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) worked with other
delegations to reform the FAO technical committee into a body
that will provide value-added support and advice to the ongoing
global effort to enhance food security. The 120-member group
reached agreement on a final reform blueprint (text in paragraph
nine) that will be reported to FAO Conference November 18-23 for
its approval. The document sets the stage for a more productive
CFS that supports country-led food security planning, builds
upon the UN's Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),and
institutes a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) that will
provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice. In
an unexpected move, a Chinese-led bloc of Asian countries
supported a successful Philippine candidate for Chairman of the
CFS Bureau over the Argentinean incumbent. End Summary.
3. (U) A technical committee of the UN's Food and Agriculture
Organization formed in 1974, the Committee on World Food
Security (CFS) brings member states together once a year to
address food security and nutrition issues. After demonstrating
several years of diminishing results, the 2008 Session of CFS
instructed its Bureau and Secretariat to consider and propose a
reform of CFS in 2009. Over the past nine months, the
Argentinean-chaired Bureau convened negotiations among member
states, FAO, WFP, IFAD, NGOs/CSOs, the UN High-Level Task Force
(HLTF),and other stakeholders on a detailed CFS reform text.
4. (U) During the October 14-17 Session of the CFS, the U.S.
delegation sought to improve the Bureau proposed CFS reform text
in line with the emerging U.S. food security strategy. In
particular, the U.S. worked closely with other delegations to
clarify CFS' coordinating role as a component of the Global
Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition
(GPAFS); ensure CFS would be supportive of country-led food
security planning and execution; and, prevent CFS from becoming
a costly new UN body.
5. (U) Because the U.S. showed a strong commitment to
strengthening multilateral action and helped drive the plenary
towards a consensus, other delegations responded positively,
including some surprising but welcome compromises by the G-77
and others. The U.S. delegation succeeded in convincing the
G-77 and a number of European countries to drop their insistence
that the CFS "is" the GPAFS, and instead agree that the CFS
would be "a central component of the evolving GPAFS." Likewise,
the U.S. delegation helped ensure the CFS is limited to
facilitating support and/or advice "at country and/or region
request" - as opposed to directly guiding "nationally and
regionally-owned plans of action."
6. (U) U.S. efforts helped convince other countries that the CFS
"will build upon existing frameworks such as the UN's
Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP),and the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security." The CFS reform process will continue in a second
phase (para 6 of text) that will be determined by future
sessions of the CFS Plenary based on the experience of this
first phase CFS reforms and the possible need for an expanded
role for the CFS. For instance, some see a role for a reformed
CFS to eventually assume some responsibilities now undertaken by
the UN's HLTF, if/when the latter body dissolves. Furthermore,
the proposed budget for the reformed CFS for the 2010-2011
biennium reflect modest medium-term aspirations for the CFS.
7. (U) To assist the reformed CFS, the member states established
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a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) composed of internationally
recognized experts in food security and nutrition. Responding
to the direction of the CFS Plenary and Bureau, the HLPE will
assess the underlying causes of food insecurity and nutrition,
provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice on
specific policy-relevant issues, identify emerging issues, and
help members prioritize action on key areas. Advocated strongly
by French President Sarkozy, and now funded by a French
voluntary contribution, the HLPE will be constituted in the
coming months, following an upcoming written call for
nominations by the CFS Bureau Chair and FAO Director General.
The panel, at the direction of the Bureau, will identify project
teams to prepare research papers for discussion at the 2010 CFS
plenary session. As a newly- elected member of the CFS Bureau,
the United States will have significant opportunity to influence
the development of the HLPE and the selection of the most
appropriate scientific experts.
8. (SBU) At this session, the CFS Bureau was expanded from five
to 13 members and will include a USUN Rome staff member to
represent North America. On the last day of plenary, G-77
members struggled to agree on a candidate for Bureau Chair,
after the Asia bloc refused to allow the Argentinean incumbent
to remain in place. Led largely by China, the group felt it had
been largely ignored by the Bureau Chair during the CFS reform
process. Over the strong objections of Brazil and others in
GRULAC, the Philippino Deputy Permanent Representative was
eventually endorsed by the entire CFS. The Mission knows De
Luna well and believes he will be a strong ally in our continued
efforts to make the CFS relevant and well-managed.
9. (U) Begin text of CFS reform document (note internal
numbering):
I. CONTEXT
1. The rise in food prices in 2007-08, followed by the financial
and economic crisis in 2009, has highlighted the unacceptable
levels of structural poverty and hunger around the world. The
food and financial crisis threatens global food security and
nutrition and the achievement of the 1996 World Food Summit
target and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for reducing
hunger and malnutrition. It is now estimated that more than a
billion people, one in every six human beings may be suffering
from under-nourishment. These are mainly small holder food
producers, particularly women, and other rural inhabitants.
2. Faced with rising hunger and a weak performing Committee on
World Food Security (CFS),Member nations agreed at the 34th
Session of CFS in October 2008 to embark on a reform of the CFS
so that it can fully play its vital role in the area of food
security and nutrition, including international coordination.
The reforms are designed to redefine the CFS' vision and
role to focus on the key challenges of eradicating hunger;
expanding participation in CFS to ensure that voices of all
relevant stakeholders are heard in the policy debate on food and
agriculture; adapt its rules and procedures with the aim to
become the central United Nations political platform dealing
with food security and nutrition; strengthening its linkages
with regional, national and local levels; and supporting CFS
discussions with structured expertise through the creation of a
High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) so that the decisions and the
work of the CFS are based on hard evidence and state of the art
knowledge. FAO Council considered "the CFS reform to be crucial
to the governance of world food security, with a view toward
exploring synergies with the emerging Global Partnership for
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition" (CL 136/REP, paragraph
29). CFS reform has been a topic of discussion in several for a
including G8, G20 and the UN General Assembly and is on the
agenda for the World Summit on Food Security 2009.
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Concept of Food Security
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have
physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life. The four pillars of food
security are availability, access, utilization and stability.
The nutritional dimension is integral to the concept of food
security and to the work of CFS.
Reform process
The reform proposals made in this document are the results of
deliberations between the CFS Bureau and an open Contact Group
established to advise the Bureau on all aspects of CFS reform.
This participatory process included representatives from FAO
Membership, WFP, IFAD, Bioversity International, the UN-High
Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis (HLTF),the
Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, and NGOs/CSOs/private
sector.
3. In order to realize this goal and ensure better coordination,
CFS Members agreed on three key guiding principles for the
reform - inclusiveness, strong linkages to the field to ensure
the process is based on the reality on the ground and
flexibility in implementation so that CFS can respond to a
changing external environment and membership needs. Members
agreed that effective implementation of CFS' new roles will be
carried out in phases. Starting after the Committee's meeting in
mid-October 2009, CFS' activities, particularly in areas of
coordination at the global level, policy convergence,
facilitated support and advice to countries and regions will be
the first to be implemented. While implementing Phase I, CFS
will work on better defining the implementation details of other
activities. In Phase II, CFS will gradually take on additional
roles such as coordination at national and regional levels,
promoting accountability and sharing best practices at all
levels and developing a global strategic framework for food
security and nutrition (see Section V for proposed
implementation plan).
II. VISION AND ROLE
A. VISION
4. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee in FAO.
The reformed CFS as a central component of the evolving Global
Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition will
constitute the foremost inclusive international and
intergovernmental platform for a broad range of committed
stakeholders to work together in a coordinated manner and in
support of country-led processes towards the elimination of
hunger and ensuring food security and nutrition for all human
beings. The CFS will strive for a world free from hunger where
countries implement the voluntary guidelines for the progressive
realization of the right to adequate food in
the context of national food security.
B. ROLE
5. The roles of the CFS will be:
i) Coordination at global level. Provide a platform for
discussion and
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coordination to strengthen collaborative action among
governments, regional organizations, international organizations
and agencies, NGOs, CSOs, food producers' organizations, private
sector organizations, philanthropic organizations, and other
relevant stakeholders, in a manner that is in alignment with
each country's specific context and needs.
ii) Policy convergence. Promote greater policy convergence and
coordination, including through the development of international
strategies and voluntary guidelines on food security and
nutrition on the basis of best practices, lessons learned from
local experience, inputs received from the national and regional
levels, and expert advice and opinions from different
stakeholders.
iii) Support and advice to countries and regions. At country
and/or region request, facilitate support and/or advice in the
development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their
nationally and regionally owned plans of action for the
elimination of hunger, the achievement of food security and the
practical application of the "Voluntary Guidelines for the Right
to Food" that shall be based on the principles of participation,
transparency and
accountability.
6. In Phase II, the CFS will gradually take on additional roles
such as:
i) Coordination at national and regional levels. Serve as a
platform to promote greater coordination and alignment of
actions in the field, encourage more efficient use of resources
and identify resource gaps. As the reform progresses, the CFS
will build, as appropriate, on the coordination work of the
United Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF). One guiding
principle to support this role will be to build on and
strengthen existing structures and linkages with key partners at
all levels. Key partners include national mechanisms and
networks for food security and nutrition, the UN country teams
and other coordination mechanisms such as the International
Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) and its National Alliances, food
security thematic groups, regional intergovernmental bodies and
a large number of civil society networks and private sector
associations operating at the regional and national levels. In
each case, the functional contributions they could make, as well
as how the CFS could strengthen linkages and enhance synergy
with such partners would have to be established.
ii) Promote accountability and share best practices at all
levels. One of the main functions of the CFS has been to
"monitor actively the implementation of the 1996 World Food
Summit Plan of Action" (WFS-PoA). Although countries are taking
measures to address food insecurity, the specific programmes as
they are presented do not necessarily help to report
quantitatively on progress towards realizing the WFS-PoA
objectives. The CFS should help countries and regions, as
appropriate, address the questions of whether objectives are
being achieved and how food insecurity and malnutrition can be
reduced more quickly and effectively. This will entail
developing an innovative mechanism, including the definition of
common indicators, to monitor progress towards these agreed upon
objectives and actions taking into account lessons learned from
previous CFS and other monitoring attempts1. Comments by all CFS
stakeholders will have to be taken into account and new
mechanisms will build on existing structures.
iii) Develop a Global Strategic Framework for food security and
nutrition in order to improve coordination and guide
synchronized action by a wide range of stakeholders. The Global
Strategic Framework will be flexible so that it can be adjusted
as priorities change. It will build upon existing frameworks
such as the UN's Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),the
Comprehensive
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Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP),and the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security.
III. COMPOSITION, MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION, AND CONSULTATION
/ COORDINATION MECHANISMS
A. COMPOSITION AND MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION
7. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee. It
will be composed of members, participants and observers and will
seek to achieve a balance between inclusiveness and
effectiveness. Its composition will ensure that the voices of
all relevant stakeholders - particularly those most affected by
food insecurity - are heard. It shall further take into account
the fact that the overall CFS includes not only an annual global
meeting, but also a series of intersessional activities at
various levels.
B. MEMBERS
8. The membership of the Committee shall be open to all Members
of FAO, WFP or IFAD, or non-member States of FAO that are member
States of the United Nations.
9. Member States are encouraged to participate in Committee
sessions at the highest level possible (Ministerial or cabinet
level is desirable),insofar as possible representing a common,
inter-ministerial governmental position. In those countries
where there is a multi-stakeholder, inter-ministerial national
body or mechanism concerning food security and nutrition, Member
States are encouraged to include its representatives in their
delegations to the Committee.
10. Members take part fully in the work of the Committee with
the right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions,
approve meeting documents and agendas, submit and present
documents and formal proposals, and interact with the Bureau
during the inter-sessional period. Voting and decision taking is
the exclusive prerogative of Members, including drafting the
final report of CFS Plenary sessions.
C. PARTICIPANTS
11. The Committee shall be open to participants from the
following categories of organizations and entities:
i) Representatives of UN agencies and bodies with a specific
mandate in the field of food security and nutrition such as FAO,
IFAD, WFP, the HLTF (as a coordinating mechanism of the UN-SG)
and representatives of other relevant
UN System bodies whose overall work is related to attaining food
security,
nutrition, and the right to food such as the Special Rapporteur
on the Right to Food, the Office of the UN High Commissioner on
Human Rights, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, Standing Committee on Nutrition
(SCN).
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ii) Civil society and non-governmental organizations and their
networks with strong relevance to issues of food security and
nutrition with particular attention to organizations
representing smallholder family farmers, artisanal fisherfolk,
herders/pastoralists, landless, urban poor, agricultural and
food workers, women, youth, consumers, Indigenous Peoples, and
International NGOs whose mandates and activities are
concentrated in the areas of concern to the Committee. This
group will aim to achieve gender and geographic balance in their
representation.
iii) International agricultural research systems, such as
through representatives of the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others.
iv) International and regional Financial Institutions including
World Bank,
International Monetary Fund, regional development banks and
World Trade Organization (WTO).
v) Representatives of private sector associations2 and private
philanthropic foundations active in the areas of concern to the
Committee.
12. Participants take part in the work of the Committee with the
right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions to
contribute to preparation of meeting documents and agendas,
submit and present documents and formal proposals. They commit
to contribute regularly to intersessional activities of the
Committee at all levels and interact with the Bureau during the
intersessional period through the Advisory Group established by
the Bureau.
D. OBSERVERS
13. The Committee or its Bureau may invite other interested
organizations relevant to its work to observe entire sessions or
on specific agenda items. Such organizations or bodies may also
apply to the Committee for Observer status to participate
regularly, periodically or exceptionally on specific issues
subject to the decision of the Committee or its Bureau. Such
organizations could include:
i) Regional associations of countries and regional
intergovernmental development institutions;
ii) Local, national, regional and global CSOs/NGOs, other than
those attending as participants, which are active in areas
related to food security, nutrition, and the right to food,
particularly organizations which are linked to a regional or
global network;
iii) Other networks or associative organizations including local
authorities, foundations and research or technical institutions.
14. Observers at Committee sessions may be invited by the Chair
to intervene during discussions.
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15. Mechanisms for enhancing the effectiveness of CFS Plenary
discussions will be explored, such as that of holding
preparatory consultations of regional groups and of Participant
constituencies (civil society, private sector, etc.) to define
positions and nominate spokespersons. Plenary sessions of the
Committee should be organized in a way that are manageable and
produce concrete outcomes. There is no limit to the
participation by Members. The Bureau will determine the
allocation of seats for Participants and Observers in
consultation with the CSO/NGO coordination mechanisms. The quota
assigned to civil society organizations and NGOs will be such as
to ensure their visible and effective participation, equitable
geographic representation, with particular attention to the
categories of organizations detailed in paragraph 11(ii).
E. CONSULTATION/COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND ACTIVITIES
16. Civil society organizations/NGOs and their networks will be
invited to autonomously establish a global mechanism for food
security and nutrition which will function as a facilitating
body for CSO/NGOs consultation and participation in the CFS.
Such mechanisms will also serve inter-sessional global, regional
and national actions in which organizations of those sectors of
the population most affected by food insecurity, would be
accorded priority representation. Civil society
organizations/NGOs will submit to the CFS Bureau a proposal
regarding how they intend to organize their participation in the
CFS in a way that ensures broad and balanced participation by
regions and types of organizations keeping in mind the
principles approved by the CFS at its Thirty-Fourth Session in
October 2008 (CFS: 2008/5; CL 135/10: paragraph 15). The
activities of the mechanism will include:
i) broad and regular exchange of information, analysis and
experience;
ii) developing common positions as appropriate;
iii) communicating to the CFS and, as appropriate, its Bureau
through representatives designated by an internal self-selection
process within each civil society category;
iv) convening a civil society forum as a preparatory event
before CFS sessions if so decided by the civil society mechanism.
17. Private sector associations, private philanthropic
organizations and other CFS stakeholders active in areas related
to food security, nutrition, and the right to food are
encouraged to autonomously establish and maintain a permanent
coordination mechanism for participation in the CFS and for
actions derived from that participation at global, regional and
national levels. They are invited to communicate a proposal to
that effect to the CFS Bureau.
IV. MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES
A. OVERALL PROCESS AND STRUCTURE
18. Bearing in mind that CFS will include a Plenary, as well as
intersessional activities at different levels, the process of
defining strategies and actions to be adopted by Members should
be transparent and take into consideration the views of all
participants and stakeholders to the fullest extent possible in
order to foster ownership and full participation during
implementation of these strategies and actions.
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19. The CFS will include:
i) The Plenary of the CFS
ii) The CFS Bureau and its Advisory Group
iii) The High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) - a
multi-disciplinary scientific advisory body to the CFS
iv) The Secretariat serving the CFS (Plenary, Bureau and its
Advisory Group, and HLPE)
B. THE PLENARY
20. The Plenary is the central body for decision-taking, debate,
coordination, lesson-learning and convergence by all
stakeholders at global level on issues pertaining to food
security and nutrition and on the implementation of the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security. It should focus on relevant and specific issues
related to food security and nutrition in order to provide
guidance and actionable recommendations to assist all
stakeholders in eradicating hunger.
21. Regular Plenary Sessions shall be held annually.
Extraordinary sessions may be requested by its Members and
approved by the Bureau after consultation with CFS Members. The
results of the CFS Plenary shall be reported to the FAO
Conference and to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) through ECOSOC.
The Chair of the CFS should consult with ECOSOC and take all
necessary actions so that modalities for meaningful reporting be
established and implemented. CFS Participants, including UN and
other intergovernmental agencies, NGOs and CSOs are encouraged
to consider in their respective governing bodies the outcomes of
the CFS which are relevant to their own activities.
22. Any specific recommendations adopted by the Plenary of the
CFS which affect the programme or finances and legal or
constitutional aspects of concerned UN entities shall be
reported to their appropriate bodies for consideration.
C. LINKAGES BETWEEN CFS AND THE REGIONAL AND COUNTRY LEVELS
23. It is crucial that the work of the CFS is based on the
reality on the ground. It will be fundamental for the CFS,
through its Bureau and Advisory Group, to nurture and maintain
linkages with different actors at regional, sub regional and
local levels to ensure on going, two way exchange of information
among these stakeholders during intersessional periods. This
will ensure that at its annual sessions the Plenary is made
aware of latest developments on the ground, and that,
conversely, results of the deliberations of the Plenary are
widely disseminated at regional, sub-regional and country as
well as global levels. Existing linkages should be strengthened,
such as through the FAO Regional Conferences, and other regional
and subregional bodies dealing with food security and nutrition
related issues.
24. CFS Members States are encouraged, at their discretion, to
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constitute or strengthen multidisciplinary national mechanisms
(e.g. food security networks, national alliances, national CFS)
including all key stakeholders dedicated to advance food
security at national and local levels. Through renewed
mobilization and coordination of key stakeholders, such
mechanisms will enable more effective identification and
implementation of food security and nutrition policies and
programmes.
25. Existing structures should be used to ensure programmes are
better integrated with each other and aligned with on-going
national and local food security and nutrition priorities. This
would take advantage of the field presence of stakeholders
involved in the CFS. Key partners will include United Nations
Country Teams, the United Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF),
the International Alliance against Hunger and its National
Alliances, national and regional food security thematic groups,
and a large number of civil society networks and private sector
associations operating at the regional and national levels.
26. Such mechanisms could contribute to the elaboration of
national plans against hunger and assist with the monitoring and
evaluation of agreed actions and outcomes designed to combat
hunger and food insecurity. They could also be instrumental in
informing regional bodies and the CFS Plenary about successes
achieved as well as remaining challenges and needs with a view
to soliciting guidance and assistance in this regard.
27. Establishing linkages with the country level is likely to be
more challenging in countries with weak capacity or in those
without a central organization to address food security and
nutrition in a multisectoral manner. Nevertheless, it is
precisely in such cases that the CFS Plenary should ensure that
consultation with and input from the national level takes place.
Ways of enabling such linkages need to be found.
28. FAO Regional Conferences and regional meetings of WFP, IFAD
and other concerned organizations are encouraged to devote part
of their agendas to disseminate CFS conclusions and
recommendations and to provide inputs to the CFS. Such regional
bodies should, in coordination with the CFS Bureau and Advisory
Group, open themselves to the participation of regional
representatives of CFS participants and observers, including
active participation by relevant regional intergovernmental and
CSO organizations and networks, and to regional development
institutions. The possibility of the CFS establishing and
maintaining contacts through its Bureau to other regional
organizations, such as NEPAD/CAADP, MERCOSUR, Arab Organization
for
Agriculture Development, Community of Independent States, and
others, including regional CSO networks, should also be kept
open.
D. BUREAU
29. The CFS Bureau represents the broader membership of the CFS
between plenary sessions. It ensures coordination among all
actors and levels and advances tasks in preparation for CFS
plenary sessions.
30. The Bureau will perform tasks delegated to it by the Plenary
including the preparation of documents and proposals such as
setting the agenda and sending requests to and receiving inputs
from the High Level Panel of Experts. It will facilitate
coordination among relevant actors and levels to advance
intersessional tasks entrusted to it. The Bureau should also
deal with matters related to the implementation of the reform
proposed in this document.
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31. The Bureau shall be composed of the Chairperson and twelve
members, two coming from each of the following geographic
regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean,
Near East, and one from both North America and South-West
Pacific. The CFS Chairperson, on a rotational basis among
regions, and other members of the Bureau shall be elected in CFS
Plenary for a term of two years.
32. The Bureau, immediately following its election, will
establish an Advisory Group composed of representatives of FAO,
WFP and IFAD and other non-Member CFS Participants (see para
11). The Advisory Group will have the same tenure as the Bureau.
The Bureau will invite the different constituencies of CFS
Participants to designate their representatives to this Group,
which normally will not exceed that of the CFS Bureau in
numbers. The function of the Advisory Group is to provide input
to the Bureau regarding the range of tasks which the CFS Plenary
has instructed it to perform. Decision making will be in the
hands of the member States. It is expected that members of the
Advisory Group should be able to contribute substantive work and
provide advice to the CFS Bureau.
E. CFS SECRETARIAT
33. There should be a small, permanent CFS Secretariat located
in FAO Rome. Its task will be to assist the Plenary, the Bureau
and Advisory Group, and the High Level Panel of Experts in their
work.
34. For the biennium 2010-2011, the Secretariat will be headed
by a Secretary from FAO and include staff from the other
Rome-based agencies (WFP and IFAD). Further arrangements
regarding the Secretary, including possible rotation among the
three Rome-based agencies, and the inclusion in the Secretariat
of other UN entities directly concerned with food security and
nutrition, should be decided by the CFS plenary in 2011.
35. The present CFS Secretariat will continue to perform its
functions until final decisions of CFS Plenary as per paragraph
34 are adopted and implemented.
V. EXPERT INPUT TOWARD REVITALIZED CFS
A. HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF EXPERTS ON FOOD SECURITY AND
NUTRITION (HLPE)
36. In line with efforts to revitalize the Committee on World
Food Security, members called for regular inclusion of
structured food security and nutrition-related expertise to
better inform its sessions. This effort should help create
synergies between world class academic/scientific knowledge,
field experience, knowledge from social actors and practical
application in various settings. Given the multidisciplinary
complexity of food security, the effort is aimed at improving
communication and information-sharing among the different
stakeholders in food security and nutrition. Its products will
focus on better understanding current food insecurity situations
and will also look forward toward emerging issues. The expert
process will, through Plenary and the Bureau, aim to support CFS
members and other stakeholders in designing strategies and
programs for addressing food insecurity. Participants in this
expert process will utilize and synthesize available
research/analyses and add value to the work performed already by
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numerous agencies, organizations, and academic institutions,
among others.
B. KEY FUNCTIONS OF HLPE
37. As directed by the CFS Plenary and Bureau, the HLPE will:
i) Assess and analyze the current state of food security and
nutrition and its underlying causes.
ii) Provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice
on specific policy-relevant issues, utilizing existing high
quality research, data and technical studies.
iii) Identify emerging issues, and help members prioritize
future actions and attentions on key focal areas.
C. STRUCTURE AND MODUS OPERANDI OF HLPE
38. The HLPE will have two main components:
i) A Steering Committee composed of at least 10 and not
exceeding 15 internationally recognized experts in a variety of
food security and nutrition related fields.
ii) Ad hoc project teams constituting a larger subsidiary
network of food security and nutrition experts acting on a
project-specific basis, selected and managed by the HLPE
Steering Committee to analyze/report on specific issues.
39. Led by a Chair and Vice-Chair, elected among the members of
the Steering Committee, the HLPE will:
i) Ensure state-of-the-art studies/analyses for consideration by
CFS sessions on a variety of food security and nutrition issues.
ii) Assemble expert "project teams" to prepare studies/analyses
for CFS sessions.
iii) Determine working methodologies and terms of reference for
project teams, and manage their work.
iv) Normally meet two times per year in Rome and possibly more
in extraordinary circumstances, to review work methodologies and
prepare work plans/products.
40. Led by a team leader, the time-bound expert "project teams"
will be responsible for drafting of studies/analyses under the
HLPE Steering Committee direction and oversight.
D. OUTPUT OF HLPE
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41. By request of the CFS Plenary or Bureau, the Steering
Committee will provide scientifically sound, clear and concise
written reports/analyses for Plenary or inter-sessional purposes.
42. Following its introduction as an item on the agenda by the
Bureau and according to the nature and purpose of a project, a
report, its conclusions and recommendations could be introduced
in CFS Plenary by the Chair of the HLPE Steering Committee in
possible conjunction with the head of a specific project team.
E. COMPOSITION / SELECTION OF THE HLPE
43. The CFS Bureau, in close cooperation with FAO management and
drawing from applicable FAO legal texts, will solicit
nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee.
i) The Steering Committee should reflect an assortment of
technical disciplines, regional expertise and representation.
Ideal candidates will have relevant experience working with
cross-disciplinary expert processes.
ii) Members of the Steering Committee will participate in their
individual capacities, and not as representatives of their
respective governments, institutions or organizations.
iii) Members of the Steering Committee will serve for a 2-year
period, renewable once.
44. The CFS Bureau will designate an ad hoc technical selection
committee comprised of representatives from among the Rome-based
food/agriculture agencies (FAO, WFP, IFAD, CGIAR/Bioversity, a
CSO/NGO rep) to choose the Steering Committee members. The ad
hoc technical selection committee will submit its
recommendations to the CFS Bureau for approval.
45. Early in 2010, the first 10 members of the HLPE Steering
Committee will be selected. The HLPE Steering Committee will
then designate its Chair and Co-Chair to begin its work in
anticipation of the CFS October 2010 Session, based on explicit
instructions from the CFS Bureau. Additional members could be
chosen shortly after October 2010 Plenary
46. Members of the HLPE ad-hoc project teams will be chosen by
the HLPE Steering Committee notably drawn from a database of
experts to which CFS stakeholders can nominate experts at any
time.
F. SECRETARIAL SERVICES
47. The joint CFS Secretariat, will assist the work of the HLPE
Steering Committee and its Chair. Its functions will include,
though are not limited to:
i) Maintain a roster of experts.
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ii) Organize meetings of the HLPE Steering Committee and assist
project teams, as needed.
iii) Maintain system of communications, including posting of
relevant reports/analyses.
iv) Assist with preparation of working budget and other support
documentation.
G. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE HLPE STEERING COMMITTEE
48. Immediately following adoption of this agreement during the
October 2009 CFS Plenary, a letter co-signed by the CFS Chair
and FAO Director General will be sent to CFS members and others,
soliciting nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee. This
letter would explain the structure of the new process, and
contain the agreed Terms of Reference.
VI. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
A. LEGAL MATTERS
49. The extent to which CFS reform proposals would require
changes to the General Rules and Regulations of FAO governance
aspects such as CFS membership, composition of the Bureau and
Secretariat, and reporting arrangements, would require
adjustments to legal dimensions of the CFS will be addressed by
FAO Legal Counsel once the nature of the proposed changes is
established.
B. COST AND FUNDING
50. The cost of a reformed CFS will be influenced by the nature
and extent of functions and activities ascribed to it,
particularly to its Bureau and Secretariat. Funding implications
include considerations such as whether the costs of the new CFS
would be shared by the main agencies involved, and to what
extent (as per paragraphs 32-34). A preliminary budget and
modalities of funding for the next biennium, including the use
of voluntary contributions and trust funds for the HLPE, has
been prepared by the Bureau and presented to the October plenary
session for consideration by Members with a view to gain
approval by FAO Conference. Resource mobilization strategies to
cover the costs of participation by NGOs/CSOs from developing
countries will also need to be addressed, as agreed by the CFS
at its Thirty-Fourth Session.
C. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
51. Bearing in mind the complexity of the tasks ahead and with a
view to improving the effectiveness of CFS, the Committee should
focus on tangible outputs and outcomes as well as a roadmap for
the progressive attainment of the renewed vision. More specific
outcomes will have to be defined by the revitalized CFS in its
forthcoming Sessions. It is proposed that, at its next
Session, the CFS agrees on a phased and results-based plan to
implement reform as outlined in this document. With this in
mind, it is suggested that at its 35th Session, the CFS be
invited to:
Task Proposed deadline
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1 Approve CFS Reform document Oct 2009
2 Election of CFS Bureau (paras 29-32) Oct 2009
3 Bureau to present a draft budget and financing strategy for
the reformed CFS including the HLPE (para 49) Oct 2009
4 Call for nominations to the HLPE Steering Committee Oct 2009
5 Legal Office to finalize changes to the General Rules of FAO
and the Rules of Procedure of the CFS (para 48) Nov 2009
6 Bureau to designate the ad-hoc technical selection committee
for HLPE Steering Committee members (para 46) Nov 2009
7 Bureau to establish an Advisory Group (para 32) Jan 2010
8 Make arrangements to establish a Secretariat (paras 33-35) Jan
2010
9 Designate the HLPE Steering Committee members (para 44)Jan 2010
10 First joint meeting of the HLPE Steering Committee and CFS
Bureau and Secretariat to discuss areas requiring advice from
the HLPE and agree on a timetable for delivery (para 45) Feb 2010
11 Bureau to develop a work programme through a consultative
process
Apr 2010
12 Bureau to submit a proposal for a work programme including
implementation of (some parts of) Phase II, to the 36th Session
of CFS Oct 2010
52. The Committee may wish to endorse this document and entrust
the Bureau to proceed with implementation as outlined above.
End Text.
COUSIN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USDA FOR RIEMENSCHNEIDER, TREASURY FOR L.MORRIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: REFORM OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
REF: USUN Rome 59 (NOTAL)
1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.
2. (SBU) Summary. From October 14-17, the U.S. delegation to
the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) worked with other
delegations to reform the FAO technical committee into a body
that will provide value-added support and advice to the ongoing
global effort to enhance food security. The 120-member group
reached agreement on a final reform blueprint (text in paragraph
nine) that will be reported to FAO Conference November 18-23 for
its approval. The document sets the stage for a more productive
CFS that supports country-led food security planning, builds
upon the UN's Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),and
institutes a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) that will
provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice. In
an unexpected move, a Chinese-led bloc of Asian countries
supported a successful Philippine candidate for Chairman of the
CFS Bureau over the Argentinean incumbent. End Summary.
3. (U) A technical committee of the UN's Food and Agriculture
Organization formed in 1974, the Committee on World Food
Security (CFS) brings member states together once a year to
address food security and nutrition issues. After demonstrating
several years of diminishing results, the 2008 Session of CFS
instructed its Bureau and Secretariat to consider and propose a
reform of CFS in 2009. Over the past nine months, the
Argentinean-chaired Bureau convened negotiations among member
states, FAO, WFP, IFAD, NGOs/CSOs, the UN High-Level Task Force
(HLTF),and other stakeholders on a detailed CFS reform text.
4. (U) During the October 14-17 Session of the CFS, the U.S.
delegation sought to improve the Bureau proposed CFS reform text
in line with the emerging U.S. food security strategy. In
particular, the U.S. worked closely with other delegations to
clarify CFS' coordinating role as a component of the Global
Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition
(GPAFS); ensure CFS would be supportive of country-led food
security planning and execution; and, prevent CFS from becoming
a costly new UN body.
5. (U) Because the U.S. showed a strong commitment to
strengthening multilateral action and helped drive the plenary
towards a consensus, other delegations responded positively,
including some surprising but welcome compromises by the G-77
and others. The U.S. delegation succeeded in convincing the
G-77 and a number of European countries to drop their insistence
that the CFS "is" the GPAFS, and instead agree that the CFS
would be "a central component of the evolving GPAFS." Likewise,
the U.S. delegation helped ensure the CFS is limited to
facilitating support and/or advice "at country and/or region
request" - as opposed to directly guiding "nationally and
regionally-owned plans of action."
6. (U) U.S. efforts helped convince other countries that the CFS
"will build upon existing frameworks such as the UN's
Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP),and the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security." The CFS reform process will continue in a second
phase (para 6 of text) that will be determined by future
sessions of the CFS Plenary based on the experience of this
first phase CFS reforms and the possible need for an expanded
role for the CFS. For instance, some see a role for a reformed
CFS to eventually assume some responsibilities now undertaken by
the UN's HLTF, if/when the latter body dissolves. Furthermore,
the proposed budget for the reformed CFS for the 2010-2011
biennium reflect modest medium-term aspirations for the CFS.
7. (U) To assist the reformed CFS, the member states established
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a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) composed of internationally
recognized experts in food security and nutrition. Responding
to the direction of the CFS Plenary and Bureau, the HLPE will
assess the underlying causes of food insecurity and nutrition,
provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice on
specific policy-relevant issues, identify emerging issues, and
help members prioritize action on key areas. Advocated strongly
by French President Sarkozy, and now funded by a French
voluntary contribution, the HLPE will be constituted in the
coming months, following an upcoming written call for
nominations by the CFS Bureau Chair and FAO Director General.
The panel, at the direction of the Bureau, will identify project
teams to prepare research papers for discussion at the 2010 CFS
plenary session. As a newly- elected member of the CFS Bureau,
the United States will have significant opportunity to influence
the development of the HLPE and the selection of the most
appropriate scientific experts.
8. (SBU) At this session, the CFS Bureau was expanded from five
to 13 members and will include a USUN Rome staff member to
represent North America. On the last day of plenary, G-77
members struggled to agree on a candidate for Bureau Chair,
after the Asia bloc refused to allow the Argentinean incumbent
to remain in place. Led largely by China, the group felt it had
been largely ignored by the Bureau Chair during the CFS reform
process. Over the strong objections of Brazil and others in
GRULAC, the Philippino Deputy Permanent Representative was
eventually endorsed by the entire CFS. The Mission knows De
Luna well and believes he will be a strong ally in our continued
efforts to make the CFS relevant and well-managed.
9. (U) Begin text of CFS reform document (note internal
numbering):
I. CONTEXT
1. The rise in food prices in 2007-08, followed by the financial
and economic crisis in 2009, has highlighted the unacceptable
levels of structural poverty and hunger around the world. The
food and financial crisis threatens global food security and
nutrition and the achievement of the 1996 World Food Summit
target and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for reducing
hunger and malnutrition. It is now estimated that more than a
billion people, one in every six human beings may be suffering
from under-nourishment. These are mainly small holder food
producers, particularly women, and other rural inhabitants.
2. Faced with rising hunger and a weak performing Committee on
World Food Security (CFS),Member nations agreed at the 34th
Session of CFS in October 2008 to embark on a reform of the CFS
so that it can fully play its vital role in the area of food
security and nutrition, including international coordination.
The reforms are designed to redefine the CFS' vision and
role to focus on the key challenges of eradicating hunger;
expanding participation in CFS to ensure that voices of all
relevant stakeholders are heard in the policy debate on food and
agriculture; adapt its rules and procedures with the aim to
become the central United Nations political platform dealing
with food security and nutrition; strengthening its linkages
with regional, national and local levels; and supporting CFS
discussions with structured expertise through the creation of a
High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) so that the decisions and the
work of the CFS are based on hard evidence and state of the art
knowledge. FAO Council considered "the CFS reform to be crucial
to the governance of world food security, with a view toward
exploring synergies with the emerging Global Partnership for
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition" (CL 136/REP, paragraph
29). CFS reform has been a topic of discussion in several for a
including G8, G20 and the UN General Assembly and is on the
agenda for the World Summit on Food Security 2009.
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Concept of Food Security
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have
physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life. The four pillars of food
security are availability, access, utilization and stability.
The nutritional dimension is integral to the concept of food
security and to the work of CFS.
Reform process
The reform proposals made in this document are the results of
deliberations between the CFS Bureau and an open Contact Group
established to advise the Bureau on all aspects of CFS reform.
This participatory process included representatives from FAO
Membership, WFP, IFAD, Bioversity International, the UN-High
Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis (HLTF),the
Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, and NGOs/CSOs/private
sector.
3. In order to realize this goal and ensure better coordination,
CFS Members agreed on three key guiding principles for the
reform - inclusiveness, strong linkages to the field to ensure
the process is based on the reality on the ground and
flexibility in implementation so that CFS can respond to a
changing external environment and membership needs. Members
agreed that effective implementation of CFS' new roles will be
carried out in phases. Starting after the Committee's meeting in
mid-October 2009, CFS' activities, particularly in areas of
coordination at the global level, policy convergence,
facilitated support and advice to countries and regions will be
the first to be implemented. While implementing Phase I, CFS
will work on better defining the implementation details of other
activities. In Phase II, CFS will gradually take on additional
roles such as coordination at national and regional levels,
promoting accountability and sharing best practices at all
levels and developing a global strategic framework for food
security and nutrition (see Section V for proposed
implementation plan).
II. VISION AND ROLE
A. VISION
4. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee in FAO.
The reformed CFS as a central component of the evolving Global
Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition will
constitute the foremost inclusive international and
intergovernmental platform for a broad range of committed
stakeholders to work together in a coordinated manner and in
support of country-led processes towards the elimination of
hunger and ensuring food security and nutrition for all human
beings. The CFS will strive for a world free from hunger where
countries implement the voluntary guidelines for the progressive
realization of the right to adequate food in
the context of national food security.
B. ROLE
5. The roles of the CFS will be:
i) Coordination at global level. Provide a platform for
discussion and
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coordination to strengthen collaborative action among
governments, regional organizations, international organizations
and agencies, NGOs, CSOs, food producers' organizations, private
sector organizations, philanthropic organizations, and other
relevant stakeholders, in a manner that is in alignment with
each country's specific context and needs.
ii) Policy convergence. Promote greater policy convergence and
coordination, including through the development of international
strategies and voluntary guidelines on food security and
nutrition on the basis of best practices, lessons learned from
local experience, inputs received from the national and regional
levels, and expert advice and opinions from different
stakeholders.
iii) Support and advice to countries and regions. At country
and/or region request, facilitate support and/or advice in the
development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their
nationally and regionally owned plans of action for the
elimination of hunger, the achievement of food security and the
practical application of the "Voluntary Guidelines for the Right
to Food" that shall be based on the principles of participation,
transparency and
accountability.
6. In Phase II, the CFS will gradually take on additional roles
such as:
i) Coordination at national and regional levels. Serve as a
platform to promote greater coordination and alignment of
actions in the field, encourage more efficient use of resources
and identify resource gaps. As the reform progresses, the CFS
will build, as appropriate, on the coordination work of the
United Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF). One guiding
principle to support this role will be to build on and
strengthen existing structures and linkages with key partners at
all levels. Key partners include national mechanisms and
networks for food security and nutrition, the UN country teams
and other coordination mechanisms such as the International
Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) and its National Alliances, food
security thematic groups, regional intergovernmental bodies and
a large number of civil society networks and private sector
associations operating at the regional and national levels. In
each case, the functional contributions they could make, as well
as how the CFS could strengthen linkages and enhance synergy
with such partners would have to be established.
ii) Promote accountability and share best practices at all
levels. One of the main functions of the CFS has been to
"monitor actively the implementation of the 1996 World Food
Summit Plan of Action" (WFS-PoA). Although countries are taking
measures to address food insecurity, the specific programmes as
they are presented do not necessarily help to report
quantitatively on progress towards realizing the WFS-PoA
objectives. The CFS should help countries and regions, as
appropriate, address the questions of whether objectives are
being achieved and how food insecurity and malnutrition can be
reduced more quickly and effectively. This will entail
developing an innovative mechanism, including the definition of
common indicators, to monitor progress towards these agreed upon
objectives and actions taking into account lessons learned from
previous CFS and other monitoring attempts1. Comments by all CFS
stakeholders will have to be taken into account and new
mechanisms will build on existing structures.
iii) Develop a Global Strategic Framework for food security and
nutrition in order to improve coordination and guide
synchronized action by a wide range of stakeholders. The Global
Strategic Framework will be flexible so that it can be adjusted
as priorities change. It will build upon existing frameworks
such as the UN's Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA),the
Comprehensive
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Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP),and the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security.
III. COMPOSITION, MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION, AND CONSULTATION
/ COORDINATION MECHANISMS
A. COMPOSITION AND MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION
7. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee. It
will be composed of members, participants and observers and will
seek to achieve a balance between inclusiveness and
effectiveness. Its composition will ensure that the voices of
all relevant stakeholders - particularly those most affected by
food insecurity - are heard. It shall further take into account
the fact that the overall CFS includes not only an annual global
meeting, but also a series of intersessional activities at
various levels.
B. MEMBERS
8. The membership of the Committee shall be open to all Members
of FAO, WFP or IFAD, or non-member States of FAO that are member
States of the United Nations.
9. Member States are encouraged to participate in Committee
sessions at the highest level possible (Ministerial or cabinet
level is desirable),insofar as possible representing a common,
inter-ministerial governmental position. In those countries
where there is a multi-stakeholder, inter-ministerial national
body or mechanism concerning food security and nutrition, Member
States are encouraged to include its representatives in their
delegations to the Committee.
10. Members take part fully in the work of the Committee with
the right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions,
approve meeting documents and agendas, submit and present
documents and formal proposals, and interact with the Bureau
during the inter-sessional period. Voting and decision taking is
the exclusive prerogative of Members, including drafting the
final report of CFS Plenary sessions.
C. PARTICIPANTS
11. The Committee shall be open to participants from the
following categories of organizations and entities:
i) Representatives of UN agencies and bodies with a specific
mandate in the field of food security and nutrition such as FAO,
IFAD, WFP, the HLTF (as a coordinating mechanism of the UN-SG)
and representatives of other relevant
UN System bodies whose overall work is related to attaining food
security,
nutrition, and the right to food such as the Special Rapporteur
on the Right to Food, the Office of the UN High Commissioner on
Human Rights, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, Standing Committee on Nutrition
(SCN).
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ii) Civil society and non-governmental organizations and their
networks with strong relevance to issues of food security and
nutrition with particular attention to organizations
representing smallholder family farmers, artisanal fisherfolk,
herders/pastoralists, landless, urban poor, agricultural and
food workers, women, youth, consumers, Indigenous Peoples, and
International NGOs whose mandates and activities are
concentrated in the areas of concern to the Committee. This
group will aim to achieve gender and geographic balance in their
representation.
iii) International agricultural research systems, such as
through representatives of the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others.
iv) International and regional Financial Institutions including
World Bank,
International Monetary Fund, regional development banks and
World Trade Organization (WTO).
v) Representatives of private sector associations2 and private
philanthropic foundations active in the areas of concern to the
Committee.
12. Participants take part in the work of the Committee with the
right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions to
contribute to preparation of meeting documents and agendas,
submit and present documents and formal proposals. They commit
to contribute regularly to intersessional activities of the
Committee at all levels and interact with the Bureau during the
intersessional period through the Advisory Group established by
the Bureau.
D. OBSERVERS
13. The Committee or its Bureau may invite other interested
organizations relevant to its work to observe entire sessions or
on specific agenda items. Such organizations or bodies may also
apply to the Committee for Observer status to participate
regularly, periodically or exceptionally on specific issues
subject to the decision of the Committee or its Bureau. Such
organizations could include:
i) Regional associations of countries and regional
intergovernmental development institutions;
ii) Local, national, regional and global CSOs/NGOs, other than
those attending as participants, which are active in areas
related to food security, nutrition, and the right to food,
particularly organizations which are linked to a regional or
global network;
iii) Other networks or associative organizations including local
authorities, foundations and research or technical institutions.
14. Observers at Committee sessions may be invited by the Chair
to intervene during discussions.
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15. Mechanisms for enhancing the effectiveness of CFS Plenary
discussions will be explored, such as that of holding
preparatory consultations of regional groups and of Participant
constituencies (civil society, private sector, etc.) to define
positions and nominate spokespersons. Plenary sessions of the
Committee should be organized in a way that are manageable and
produce concrete outcomes. There is no limit to the
participation by Members. The Bureau will determine the
allocation of seats for Participants and Observers in
consultation with the CSO/NGO coordination mechanisms. The quota
assigned to civil society organizations and NGOs will be such as
to ensure their visible and effective participation, equitable
geographic representation, with particular attention to the
categories of organizations detailed in paragraph 11(ii).
E. CONSULTATION/COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND ACTIVITIES
16. Civil society organizations/NGOs and their networks will be
invited to autonomously establish a global mechanism for food
security and nutrition which will function as a facilitating
body for CSO/NGOs consultation and participation in the CFS.
Such mechanisms will also serve inter-sessional global, regional
and national actions in which organizations of those sectors of
the population most affected by food insecurity, would be
accorded priority representation. Civil society
organizations/NGOs will submit to the CFS Bureau a proposal
regarding how they intend to organize their participation in the
CFS in a way that ensures broad and balanced participation by
regions and types of organizations keeping in mind the
principles approved by the CFS at its Thirty-Fourth Session in
October 2008 (CFS: 2008/5; CL 135/10: paragraph 15). The
activities of the mechanism will include:
i) broad and regular exchange of information, analysis and
experience;
ii) developing common positions as appropriate;
iii) communicating to the CFS and, as appropriate, its Bureau
through representatives designated by an internal self-selection
process within each civil society category;
iv) convening a civil society forum as a preparatory event
before CFS sessions if so decided by the civil society mechanism.
17. Private sector associations, private philanthropic
organizations and other CFS stakeholders active in areas related
to food security, nutrition, and the right to food are
encouraged to autonomously establish and maintain a permanent
coordination mechanism for participation in the CFS and for
actions derived from that participation at global, regional and
national levels. They are invited to communicate a proposal to
that effect to the CFS Bureau.
IV. MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES
A. OVERALL PROCESS AND STRUCTURE
18. Bearing in mind that CFS will include a Plenary, as well as
intersessional activities at different levels, the process of
defining strategies and actions to be adopted by Members should
be transparent and take into consideration the views of all
participants and stakeholders to the fullest extent possible in
order to foster ownership and full participation during
implementation of these strategies and actions.
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19. The CFS will include:
i) The Plenary of the CFS
ii) The CFS Bureau and its Advisory Group
iii) The High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) - a
multi-disciplinary scientific advisory body to the CFS
iv) The Secretariat serving the CFS (Plenary, Bureau and its
Advisory Group, and HLPE)
B. THE PLENARY
20. The Plenary is the central body for decision-taking, debate,
coordination, lesson-learning and convergence by all
stakeholders at global level on issues pertaining to food
security and nutrition and on the implementation of the
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food
Security. It should focus on relevant and specific issues
related to food security and nutrition in order to provide
guidance and actionable recommendations to assist all
stakeholders in eradicating hunger.
21. Regular Plenary Sessions shall be held annually.
Extraordinary sessions may be requested by its Members and
approved by the Bureau after consultation with CFS Members. The
results of the CFS Plenary shall be reported to the FAO
Conference and to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) through ECOSOC.
The Chair of the CFS should consult with ECOSOC and take all
necessary actions so that modalities for meaningful reporting be
established and implemented. CFS Participants, including UN and
other intergovernmental agencies, NGOs and CSOs are encouraged
to consider in their respective governing bodies the outcomes of
the CFS which are relevant to their own activities.
22. Any specific recommendations adopted by the Plenary of the
CFS which affect the programme or finances and legal or
constitutional aspects of concerned UN entities shall be
reported to their appropriate bodies for consideration.
C. LINKAGES BETWEEN CFS AND THE REGIONAL AND COUNTRY LEVELS
23. It is crucial that the work of the CFS is based on the
reality on the ground. It will be fundamental for the CFS,
through its Bureau and Advisory Group, to nurture and maintain
linkages with different actors at regional, sub regional and
local levels to ensure on going, two way exchange of information
among these stakeholders during intersessional periods. This
will ensure that at its annual sessions the Plenary is made
aware of latest developments on the ground, and that,
conversely, results of the deliberations of the Plenary are
widely disseminated at regional, sub-regional and country as
well as global levels. Existing linkages should be strengthened,
such as through the FAO Regional Conferences, and other regional
and subregional bodies dealing with food security and nutrition
related issues.
24. CFS Members States are encouraged, at their discretion, to
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constitute or strengthen multidisciplinary national mechanisms
(e.g. food security networks, national alliances, national CFS)
including all key stakeholders dedicated to advance food
security at national and local levels. Through renewed
mobilization and coordination of key stakeholders, such
mechanisms will enable more effective identification and
implementation of food security and nutrition policies and
programmes.
25. Existing structures should be used to ensure programmes are
better integrated with each other and aligned with on-going
national and local food security and nutrition priorities. This
would take advantage of the field presence of stakeholders
involved in the CFS. Key partners will include United Nations
Country Teams, the United Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF),
the International Alliance against Hunger and its National
Alliances, national and regional food security thematic groups,
and a large number of civil society networks and private sector
associations operating at the regional and national levels.
26. Such mechanisms could contribute to the elaboration of
national plans against hunger and assist with the monitoring and
evaluation of agreed actions and outcomes designed to combat
hunger and food insecurity. They could also be instrumental in
informing regional bodies and the CFS Plenary about successes
achieved as well as remaining challenges and needs with a view
to soliciting guidance and assistance in this regard.
27. Establishing linkages with the country level is likely to be
more challenging in countries with weak capacity or in those
without a central organization to address food security and
nutrition in a multisectoral manner. Nevertheless, it is
precisely in such cases that the CFS Plenary should ensure that
consultation with and input from the national level takes place.
Ways of enabling such linkages need to be found.
28. FAO Regional Conferences and regional meetings of WFP, IFAD
and other concerned organizations are encouraged to devote part
of their agendas to disseminate CFS conclusions and
recommendations and to provide inputs to the CFS. Such regional
bodies should, in coordination with the CFS Bureau and Advisory
Group, open themselves to the participation of regional
representatives of CFS participants and observers, including
active participation by relevant regional intergovernmental and
CSO organizations and networks, and to regional development
institutions. The possibility of the CFS establishing and
maintaining contacts through its Bureau to other regional
organizations, such as NEPAD/CAADP, MERCOSUR, Arab Organization
for
Agriculture Development, Community of Independent States, and
others, including regional CSO networks, should also be kept
open.
D. BUREAU
29. The CFS Bureau represents the broader membership of the CFS
between plenary sessions. It ensures coordination among all
actors and levels and advances tasks in preparation for CFS
plenary sessions.
30. The Bureau will perform tasks delegated to it by the Plenary
including the preparation of documents and proposals such as
setting the agenda and sending requests to and receiving inputs
from the High Level Panel of Experts. It will facilitate
coordination among relevant actors and levels to advance
intersessional tasks entrusted to it. The Bureau should also
deal with matters related to the implementation of the reform
proposed in this document.
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31. The Bureau shall be composed of the Chairperson and twelve
members, two coming from each of the following geographic
regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean,
Near East, and one from both North America and South-West
Pacific. The CFS Chairperson, on a rotational basis among
regions, and other members of the Bureau shall be elected in CFS
Plenary for a term of two years.
32. The Bureau, immediately following its election, will
establish an Advisory Group composed of representatives of FAO,
WFP and IFAD and other non-Member CFS Participants (see para
11). The Advisory Group will have the same tenure as the Bureau.
The Bureau will invite the different constituencies of CFS
Participants to designate their representatives to this Group,
which normally will not exceed that of the CFS Bureau in
numbers. The function of the Advisory Group is to provide input
to the Bureau regarding the range of tasks which the CFS Plenary
has instructed it to perform. Decision making will be in the
hands of the member States. It is expected that members of the
Advisory Group should be able to contribute substantive work and
provide advice to the CFS Bureau.
E. CFS SECRETARIAT
33. There should be a small, permanent CFS Secretariat located
in FAO Rome. Its task will be to assist the Plenary, the Bureau
and Advisory Group, and the High Level Panel of Experts in their
work.
34. For the biennium 2010-2011, the Secretariat will be headed
by a Secretary from FAO and include staff from the other
Rome-based agencies (WFP and IFAD). Further arrangements
regarding the Secretary, including possible rotation among the
three Rome-based agencies, and the inclusion in the Secretariat
of other UN entities directly concerned with food security and
nutrition, should be decided by the CFS plenary in 2011.
35. The present CFS Secretariat will continue to perform its
functions until final decisions of CFS Plenary as per paragraph
34 are adopted and implemented.
V. EXPERT INPUT TOWARD REVITALIZED CFS
A. HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF EXPERTS ON FOOD SECURITY AND
NUTRITION (HLPE)
36. In line with efforts to revitalize the Committee on World
Food Security, members called for regular inclusion of
structured food security and nutrition-related expertise to
better inform its sessions. This effort should help create
synergies between world class academic/scientific knowledge,
field experience, knowledge from social actors and practical
application in various settings. Given the multidisciplinary
complexity of food security, the effort is aimed at improving
communication and information-sharing among the different
stakeholders in food security and nutrition. Its products will
focus on better understanding current food insecurity situations
and will also look forward toward emerging issues. The expert
process will, through Plenary and the Bureau, aim to support CFS
members and other stakeholders in designing strategies and
programs for addressing food insecurity. Participants in this
expert process will utilize and synthesize available
research/analyses and add value to the work performed already by
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numerous agencies, organizations, and academic institutions,
among others.
B. KEY FUNCTIONS OF HLPE
37. As directed by the CFS Plenary and Bureau, the HLPE will:
i) Assess and analyze the current state of food security and
nutrition and its underlying causes.
ii) Provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice
on specific policy-relevant issues, utilizing existing high
quality research, data and technical studies.
iii) Identify emerging issues, and help members prioritize
future actions and attentions on key focal areas.
C. STRUCTURE AND MODUS OPERANDI OF HLPE
38. The HLPE will have two main components:
i) A Steering Committee composed of at least 10 and not
exceeding 15 internationally recognized experts in a variety of
food security and nutrition related fields.
ii) Ad hoc project teams constituting a larger subsidiary
network of food security and nutrition experts acting on a
project-specific basis, selected and managed by the HLPE
Steering Committee to analyze/report on specific issues.
39. Led by a Chair and Vice-Chair, elected among the members of
the Steering Committee, the HLPE will:
i) Ensure state-of-the-art studies/analyses for consideration by
CFS sessions on a variety of food security and nutrition issues.
ii) Assemble expert "project teams" to prepare studies/analyses
for CFS sessions.
iii) Determine working methodologies and terms of reference for
project teams, and manage their work.
iv) Normally meet two times per year in Rome and possibly more
in extraordinary circumstances, to review work methodologies and
prepare work plans/products.
40. Led by a team leader, the time-bound expert "project teams"
will be responsible for drafting of studies/analyses under the
HLPE Steering Committee direction and oversight.
D. OUTPUT OF HLPE
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41. By request of the CFS Plenary or Bureau, the Steering
Committee will provide scientifically sound, clear and concise
written reports/analyses for Plenary or inter-sessional purposes.
42. Following its introduction as an item on the agenda by the
Bureau and according to the nature and purpose of a project, a
report, its conclusions and recommendations could be introduced
in CFS Plenary by the Chair of the HLPE Steering Committee in
possible conjunction with the head of a specific project team.
E. COMPOSITION / SELECTION OF THE HLPE
43. The CFS Bureau, in close cooperation with FAO management and
drawing from applicable FAO legal texts, will solicit
nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee.
i) The Steering Committee should reflect an assortment of
technical disciplines, regional expertise and representation.
Ideal candidates will have relevant experience working with
cross-disciplinary expert processes.
ii) Members of the Steering Committee will participate in their
individual capacities, and not as representatives of their
respective governments, institutions or organizations.
iii) Members of the Steering Committee will serve for a 2-year
period, renewable once.
44. The CFS Bureau will designate an ad hoc technical selection
committee comprised of representatives from among the Rome-based
food/agriculture agencies (FAO, WFP, IFAD, CGIAR/Bioversity, a
CSO/NGO rep) to choose the Steering Committee members. The ad
hoc technical selection committee will submit its
recommendations to the CFS Bureau for approval.
45. Early in 2010, the first 10 members of the HLPE Steering
Committee will be selected. The HLPE Steering Committee will
then designate its Chair and Co-Chair to begin its work in
anticipation of the CFS October 2010 Session, based on explicit
instructions from the CFS Bureau. Additional members could be
chosen shortly after October 2010 Plenary
46. Members of the HLPE ad-hoc project teams will be chosen by
the HLPE Steering Committee notably drawn from a database of
experts to which CFS stakeholders can nominate experts at any
time.
F. SECRETARIAL SERVICES
47. The joint CFS Secretariat, will assist the work of the HLPE
Steering Committee and its Chair. Its functions will include,
though are not limited to:
i) Maintain a roster of experts.
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ii) Organize meetings of the HLPE Steering Committee and assist
project teams, as needed.
iii) Maintain system of communications, including posting of
relevant reports/analyses.
iv) Assist with preparation of working budget and other support
documentation.
G. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE HLPE STEERING COMMITTEE
48. Immediately following adoption of this agreement during the
October 2009 CFS Plenary, a letter co-signed by the CFS Chair
and FAO Director General will be sent to CFS members and others,
soliciting nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee. This
letter would explain the structure of the new process, and
contain the agreed Terms of Reference.
VI. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
A. LEGAL MATTERS
49. The extent to which CFS reform proposals would require
changes to the General Rules and Regulations of FAO governance
aspects such as CFS membership, composition of the Bureau and
Secretariat, and reporting arrangements, would require
adjustments to legal dimensions of the CFS will be addressed by
FAO Legal Counsel once the nature of the proposed changes is
established.
B. COST AND FUNDING
50. The cost of a reformed CFS will be influenced by the nature
and extent of functions and activities ascribed to it,
particularly to its Bureau and Secretariat. Funding implications
include considerations such as whether the costs of the new CFS
would be shared by the main agencies involved, and to what
extent (as per paragraphs 32-34). A preliminary budget and
modalities of funding for the next biennium, including the use
of voluntary contributions and trust funds for the HLPE, has
been prepared by the Bureau and presented to the October plenary
session for consideration by Members with a view to gain
approval by FAO Conference. Resource mobilization strategies to
cover the costs of participation by NGOs/CSOs from developing
countries will also need to be addressed, as agreed by the CFS
at its Thirty-Fourth Session.
C. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
51. Bearing in mind the complexity of the tasks ahead and with a
view to improving the effectiveness of CFS, the Committee should
focus on tangible outputs and outcomes as well as a roadmap for
the progressive attainment of the renewed vision. More specific
outcomes will have to be defined by the revitalized CFS in its
forthcoming Sessions. It is proposed that, at its next
Session, the CFS agrees on a phased and results-based plan to
implement reform as outlined in this document. With this in
mind, it is suggested that at its 35th Session, the CFS be
invited to:
Task Proposed deadline
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1 Approve CFS Reform document Oct 2009
2 Election of CFS Bureau (paras 29-32) Oct 2009
3 Bureau to present a draft budget and financing strategy for
the reformed CFS including the HLPE (para 49) Oct 2009
4 Call for nominations to the HLPE Steering Committee Oct 2009
5 Legal Office to finalize changes to the General Rules of FAO
and the Rules of Procedure of the CFS (para 48) Nov 2009
6 Bureau to designate the ad-hoc technical selection committee
for HLPE Steering Committee members (para 46) Nov 2009
7 Bureau to establish an Advisory Group (para 32) Jan 2010
8 Make arrangements to establish a Secretariat (paras 33-35) Jan
2010
9 Designate the HLPE Steering Committee members (para 44)Jan 2010
10 First joint meeting of the HLPE Steering Committee and CFS
Bureau and Secretariat to discuss areas requiring advice from
the HLPE and agree on a timetable for delivery (para 45) Feb 2010
11 Bureau to develop a work programme through a consultative
process
Apr 2010
12 Bureau to submit a proposal for a work programme including
implementation of (some parts of) Phase II, to the 36th Session
of CFS Oct 2010
52. The Committee may wish to endorse this document and entrust
the Bureau to proceed with implementation as outlined above.
End Text.
COUSIN