Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNROME88
2009-12-29 15:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
UN Rome
Cable title:  

WANTED: AMERICAN FOOD SECURITY EXPERT(S) TO SERVE ON NEW

Tags:  EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7254
PP RUEHRN
DE RUEHRN #0088 3631528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291528Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION UN ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1241
INFO RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0442
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0057
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0341
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 1318
UNCLAS UN ROME 000088 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: WANTED: AMERICAN FOOD SECURITY EXPERT(S) TO SERVE ON NEW
HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF THE FAO'S COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY

REF: A. A) HEGADORN 12/18 E-MAIL (WEEK IN REVIEW)

B. B) UN ROME 61

C. C) 12/3 HLPE LETTER FROM FAO/CFS LETTER TO SEC STATE AND SEC AG

UNCLAS UN ROME 000088

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL FAO UN
SUBJECT: WANTED: AMERICAN FOOD SECURITY EXPERT(S) TO SERVE ON NEW
HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF THE FAO'S COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY

REF: A. A) HEGADORN 12/18 E-MAIL (WEEK IN REVIEW)

B. B) UN ROME 61

C. C) 12/3 HLPE LETTER FROM FAO/CFS LETTER TO SEC STATE AND SEC AG


1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs two and
four.




2. As part of a major reform plan for the FAO's Committee on
World Food Security (CFS) approved during an October 2009
plenary session (ref B),a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on
Food Security and Nutrition is being created under the CFS to
contribute substantive input toward future CFS policy debates on
a variety of food security and agriculture-related topics. A
ten-member Steering Committee will serve as the HLPE
coordinating body and nominations by FAO member states are due
by January 25. An ad-hoc selection committee comprised of
representatives of FAO, WFP, IFAD, CGIAR/Bioversity
International, and a Rome-based NGO representative will select
the ten Steering Committee members. ACTION REQUEST: Post hopes
that the U.S. Interagency Policy Committee on food security will
consider this subject and ensure consideration by all interested
USG agencies, to educate all on the HLPE and to widen the scope
of consideration for potential U.S. nominees. Once appropriate
nominees are identified, Post seeks a front-channel instruction
message on presenting nominations to the HLPE (up to three)
before the January 25 deadline. END ACTION REQUEST.




3. Originally a French-inspired proposal within the Group of
Eight, the HLPE was envisioned as one of the three "pillars" of
the Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security, and
later steered (and funded) by Paris and FAO Director General
Diouf toward its new home under the CFS. FAO Members spent the
majority of 2009 negotiating details of a plan to overhaul the
CFS, including how an HLPE would contribute to its future work.
With a minimum 10-member (not to exceed 15) Steering Committee,
the HLPE will assemble teams of renowned food, agriculture, and
nutrition experts to draft position papers on subjects chosen by
the CFS Bureau (topics not yet identified/agreed). The CFS
session planned for October, 2010 will include for the first
time input and debate on the work conducted by the HLPE and its
project teams. While designed to provide politically "neutral"
expert input to the CFS, it remains to be seen how the HLPE will
function in practice and what impact(s) it could have on
politically sensitive issues related to food and agriculture.




4. In a December 3 letter sent to the U.S. Secretaries of State
and Agriculture by FAO DG Diouf and the CFS Bureau Chairman,
nominations were solicited for the HLPE Steering Committee, with
a January 25 deadline. While some individual agencies may
already be seeking appropriate candidates for the HLPE, Post is
unaware of any formal process by which potential U.S. citizen
candidates might be informed about the HLPE Steering Committee,
the Panel's project team database of food security experts, or
officially nominated by USUN Rome. COMMENT: Post proposes that
Washington agencies consider creating a similar network of food
security experts in the U.S. to mirror that of the CFS/HLPE, as
a way to encourage broad discussion and debate among the
government, academic, farmer and private sector groups on issues
being addressed within the CFS and HLPE. Such a network could
help inform inter-USG debate on the subjects pertinent to global
food security, and provide a ready-made pool of potential
participants in the HLPE Steering Committee and its Project Team
members database. Drawing from the wide network of Land Grant
universities, think tanks, foundations and agro-industry groups
could help strengthen debate within the CFS while ensuring U.S.
policy interests are given due consideration.

GLOVER