The Current Status of the Right to Adequate Food in Food Security and Nutrition Policy Designs

Immink, M.;Agricultural Development Economics Division

The Current Status of the Right to Adequate Food in Food Security and Nutrition Policy Designs

Right to Food Thematic Study 1.

Year of publication 2014

Pages 48 p.

Author Immink, M.;Agricultural Development Economics Division

Product type Document

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) This Thematic Study reviewed the existing food security and nutrition (FSN) policy documents to determine the extent to which the designs of these policies have right to food underpinnings. Even after the Right to Food Guidelines were endorsed by most countries the right to food underpinnings of the FSN policy designs, with notable exceptions, tend to be weak. This tends to be true more for FSN policies in Africa and Asia, even though a few exceptions there can be found. Current FSN policies in Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to food more firmly integrated in their designs, in some cases with transformative qualities with respect to the right to food. A more complete assessment study should identify the facilitating or limiting factors that help explain these inter-regional differences. Currently more examples of FSN policy designs that have some right to food underpinnings may be found as compared to prior to 2005. FSN policies increasingly include guiding principle s for policy implementation that are in part human rights-based. Participation and gender equality are often included. However, what is missing in the policy designs are specific actions to ensure that the conditions exist for the implementation of these principles. In order to strengthen the right to adequate food underpinnings of future FSN policy designs national governments should be encouraged to formulate food security and nutrition policies that are in line with the state obligation to f acilitate the progressive realization of the right to adequate food. National governments should review and periodically update the design of existing FNS policies with the objective to turn these policies into effective instruments that contribute to the protection and realization of the right to adequate food. With the aim of strengthening the right to food underpinnings of FSN policy designs, a complete right to food assessment should be undertaken, which covers an analysis of the FSN situati on, as well as the legal, policy and institutional frameworks relevant to the right to food, to ensure that the right to food contents of FSN policies are evidence-based. The FSN situation analysis needs to focus more on identifying and characterizing the most vulnerable groups and on drawing out the structural inequities in FSN outcomes. Greater and more effective participation in the formulation (and implementation) of FSN policies by the human rights community, specifically any human rights i nstitution that may exist as well as civil society organizations that focus on human rights, should contribute to strengthening the right to food underpinnings of FSN policies.

Language English

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This volume outlines a simple and practical way to analyse the design and implementation of food and nutrition security (FNS) policies and programmes from a right to food perspective. The right to food approach, as an instrument to help formulate FNS policies and programmes, is emphasized. The primary focus is on national overarching FNS policies. The question of how to assess sector policies that may have direct or indirect impacts on food security and nutrition security is also addressed. Good policies need an enabling implementation environment, which includes evidence-based decisions, adequate financial and human resources and sound governance. These aspects are addressed within the context of the formulation and implementation of FNS policies. Programmes are operational instruments designed to implement policies. FNS policies with strong right to food underpinnings should give rise to action plans and programmes that translate such underpinnings into practice. For this reason, FN S programmes are analysed from a right to food perspective to assess whether are developed and implemented with full respect for right to food principles. The analytical and methodological approaches outlined here can be applied at two different stages: (a) when an FNS policy or programme is being formulated for the first time, or (b) when an existing FNS policy or programme and its impacts and implementation process are being assessed. This reference guide complements existing relevant methodo logical reference guides, such as are found in the Right to Food Methodological Toolbox.
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Guidance Note: Integrating the Right to Adequate Food into food and nutrition security programmes 2013

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This Guidance Note is a practical tool for practitioners who want to integrate the right to food into food and nutrition security programmes. It builds a bridge between the normative dimensions of the right to food and practical work on programme design, implementation and monitoring at country level. This tool does so by briefly explaining the conceptual, legal and operational dimensions of the right to food. Then it looks at four key entry points for integrating the right to food into fo od and nutrition security programmes: roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, legal aspects, monitoring, and recourse and claim mechanisms. Then uses specific examples and cases to illustrate how this can be done. The Guidance Note consolidates the right to food as both an objective and a tool for achieving food security for all. It shows that the right to food can provide an overarching framework that guides efforts to address hunger and malnutrition. At the same time, adopting an app roach based on the right to adequate food in the design, implementation and monitoring of programmes increases the chances of enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of efforts. This publication is the result of an inter-departmental participatory process and close collaboration between the Integrated Food Security Support Service (TCSF) of the Policy and Programme Support Division and the Right to Food Team of the Agricultural Development Economics Division ( ESA), with numerous contributions from practitioners and experts from the field and headquarters. It was authored by Carmen Lahoz and Enrique De Loma-Ossorio from the Instituto de Estudios del Hambre (IEH) in Madrid. Available in English, French and Spanish.
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The objective of this Thematic Study is to show, through current global processes and debates and country-level best practices, how nutrition is an integral part of the right to food, and how education and awareness raising are essential vehicles to facilitate its fulfilment. It argues that nutritious diets and access to education are not only instrumental, but vital to achieving people’s full physical and cognitive potential and health, concepts which are interdependent, indivisible and interre lated with regard to the right to food. The study addresses the benefits of using a human rights-based approach and the PANTHER principles in nutrition, education and awareness interventions, by looking at concrete examples which translate into practice, in whole or in part, some of the guidelines relevant to these topics. These examples illustrate how, by taking targeted, country-level action in a participatory, accountable and non-discriminatory manner, it is possible to create a stronger fou ndation for the realization of the right to food in the long run. Finally, after taking a closer look at the last ten year’s positive evolution in both international and national agendas, the study addresses some of the gaps and challenges primarily related to the implementation of Guidelines 10 and 11, as well as the intrinsically connected Guidelines 13 and 17.