3rd Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition

3rd Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition

4-6 November 2013, Tunis, Tunisia

Year of publication 2013

Pages 56 p.

Product type Document

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) The Near East and North Africa region (NENA) faces many structural constraints in meeting its food security and nutrition requirements. High population growth coupled with high unemployment, rising urbanisation and single-sector economies are exacerbated by scarce natural resources (particularly arable land and water) and climate-change, which have made the Region dependent on imported food. The region has also been impacted by the global financial economic crises, global food price volatility, and the slowdown of economic investment. The ongoing social and political transition also poses several challenges; this includes social and political unrest such as armed conflict, civil insecurity, disruption of economic activities and interruptions to cross-border livelihood movements, as well as the rising costs of subsidies The above mentioned as well as numerous other food security challenges in the region continue to be a source of concern for policy makers. As a result, during the 31st F AO Near East Regional Conference (NERC) held in Rome, Italy, from the 14th-18th May 2012, the Member Countries agreed on the importance of organising a regional food security and nutrition workshop to prepare for the 39th CFS Plenary Session. Building on the successful experiences of the first and second Regional Multi-Stakeholder Workshops on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN), that took place in Cairo and Khartoum in 2011 and 2012, respectively, the event’s objective was to contribute to a more effective food security and nutrition governance mechanism. The workshop also provided a platform where countries and other participants could provide policy inputs into the Committee on World Food Security’s (CFS) consultative process on responsible agricultural investment (RAI) and an agenda for action on food security in protracted crises, a draft technical paper on food security in the NENA region and a draft strategy document on the reduction of food waste and food loss. Key topics of rele vance to the region and to the CFS were discussed through a participatory process in order to ensure that the CFS Plenary sessions and inter-sessional activities are based on latest developments on the ground.

Meeting Session Number 3rd

Language English

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

Book (stand-alone)
Multi-stakeholder partnerships to finance and improve food security and nutrition in the framework of the 2030 Agenda
A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition June 2018
2018

Also available in:

Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
Spanish

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda encouraged the use of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) to complement the efforts of national governments and intergovernmental organizations in ending hunger and poverty and achieving sustainable development. In this context, MSPs are gaining traction, as a part of a new approach to governance, and as a topic for science. Yet, evidence and data are still limited and quickly evolving. Considering this increased importance of MPSs in the global arena, during its 43rd Plenary Session (17-21 October 2016), the CFS requested the HLPE to produce a report on “Multistakeholder Partnerships to Finance and Improve Food Security and Nutrition in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda” to be presented at CFS45 Plenary session in October 2018. This report highlights transparency and accountability as key conditions: to align MSPs’ work with the progressive realization of the right to adequate food; to better use existing resources for FSN and sustainable development; and even to potentially attract new resources. This report also suggests a set of criteria to enable governments and non-state actors to perform their own assessments of MSPs following a common methodology, as well as pathways to improve their contribution to financing and improving FSN.
Document

FAO/ WHO Multi-stakeholder Policy Workshop: Leveraging food systems to combat obesity in the Near East and North Africa region. Draft report
23-24 September 2019, Cairo, Egypt
2020

Also available in:

No results found.

A food systems approach is acknowledged to be key to efforts to combat obesity and eliminate other forms of malnutrition in the countries of FAO’s Near East and North Africa Region (NENA) and WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region. A two-day regional multi-stakeholder consultation workshop, entitled Leveraging Food Systems to Combat Obesity in the Near East and North Africa Region, held in Cairo on 23-24 September 2019, brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss food systems for healthy and sustainable diets. The workshop identified a series of conclusions and recommendations, with a strong emphasis on the need for multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approaches. It is also clear that close cooperation and networking between Member States is important, in collaboration with FAO, WHO and UNICEF and other international partner organizations. Robust policy responses, many of which have already been agreed internationally, are needed to transform food systems, create healthy food environments and ensure access to healthy, sustainable diets for all. The UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016 - 2025 presents a key opportunity to focus political attention on these efforts. Key challenges that were identified include a lack of leadership and of coordination, undue influence of vested interests, difficulties in convincing other sectors and actors of their relevance and/or role, a lack of infrastructure and investment, as well as addressing long-term health challenges in a crisis context. Support needs expressed included support to develop clear argumentation on the social and economic case for action and technical support from FAO/WHO to help countries
Book (stand-alone)

The High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on Food Losses and Food Waste in Asia and the Pacific Region 2014

Also available in:

No results found.

Approximately one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. Food losses are prevalent in developing countries owing to poor handling of the produce from the field through to the market place. Food waste is food that is thrown away even though it is still suitable for human consumption. Food waste is prevalent in developed countries, but is a growing problem in developing countries. Food loss and waste squander resources, including water, land, energy, labour and capital. The Food an d Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Save Food Initiative in 2011. Under the banner of this initiative, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific launched a region-wide campaign - the Save Food Asia-Pacific Campaign - on 28 August 2013 during a high-level multi-stakeholder consultation in Bangkok, Thailand. This report provides the outcome of the proceedings.