ANNEXES

ANNEX I: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

ANNEX II: OPENING ADDRESS BY ADG/RR

REGIONAL EXPERT CONSULTATION OF THE ASIA PACIFIC NETWORK FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION ON FIVIMS INITIATIVES IN THE RAP REGION AND THE MEETING ON FOOD INSECURITY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN ASIA

BANGKOK 15-18 NOVEMBER 2005

FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

OPENING ADDRESS

by

He Changchui
Assistant Director-General and
FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific

Distinguished participants
Colleagues from FAO
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed a pleasure for me to address this important Regional Expert Consultation of the Asia Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition (ANFN) on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) Initiatives in the RAP Region and the Meeting on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies and Lessons Learned in Asia. On behalf of the FAO Director-General, Jacques Diouf, and on my behalf, I welcome you all to the ANFN Consultation and FIVIMS Meeting. I understand that the former is fourth in the series of ANFN Consultations.

I would like to first acknowledge the generous support given by the Government of Japan through the Japan funded Trust Fund Project, known as the Asia FIVIMS Project, for this Meeting. Japan's collaboration and cooperation in FIVIMS and related activities is indeed noteworthy.

I note that we have an impressive group of experts representing various countries of the Asia-Pacific region, our colleagues from FAO (from the regional offices for Asia and the Pacific and Africa and from headquarters in Rome), the World Food Programme (from the Asia Office in Bangkok and from headquarters in Rome), UNESCAP, Bangkok, the Asia Disaster Preparedness Centre, Thailand, and our partners from Japan as well as other experts. I extend a warm welcome to all of you!

Since the UN Conferences of the 1990s, in particular the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) in 1992 and the World Food Summit (WFS) 1996 and the WFS: five years later in 2002, governments affirmed their commitment to achieving food security for all and the immediate goal of halving the number of undernourished by 2015. The WFS also recognized the need to target people and areas most at risk to hunger and malnutrition, identify their causes and take remedial actions. Almost all of FAO’s activities, in one way or another, have at their base the WFS and its target. FAO believes that the WFS and related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are attainable. The world already produces enough food for all. The problem is that the hungry and malnourished cannot take advantage of this opportunity.

At the outset, I would like to point out that measurement and monitoring of what happens in the world is one of the fundamental mandates of the United Nations. The responsibility of FAO is of course to monitor food and agriculture at the global level, but the promotion of these activities at the country and subnational levels is equally important. Such monitoring and measurement applied to the problem of food insecurity or, more specifically to food insecurity and vulnerability, serves the objective of identifying those who are malnourished, food insecure and vulnerable. This is critical for targeted and prioritized action.

FAO has been traditionally preparing estimates referring to the prevalence of undernourishment in connection with its World Food Survey reports. The principal aim of the estimates has been to provide information on the broad dimension of the hunger problem in developing countries. FAO has been key to promoting agriculture, nutrition, forestry, fisheries and rural development, and to facilitating achievement of the World Food Summit goal of eradicating hunger and malnutrition. The Organization is a world centre of food and agricultural information and knowledge and a forum for policy dialogue and forging agreements among nations. Its work in these areas, on standard setting and on provision of global public goods, both underpins and complements the activities that it directly targets in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

It is therefore very appropriate that the theme of this year’s Consultation and Meeting is “FIVIMS initiatives in the RAP Region and Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies and Lessons learned in Asia.”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Hunger and malnutrition inflict heavy costs on individuals and households, communities and nations, eroding human capital, reducing resilience to shocks and reducing productivity. Undernourishment and deficiencies in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) cost more than five million children their lives every year, cost households in the developing world more than 220 million years of productive life from family members whose lives are cut short or impaired by disabilities related to malnutrition, and cost developing countries billions of dollars in lost productivity and consumption.

It is crucial that FAO programmes step up action if we are to deliver on the pledges made at the Millennium Summit. The MDGs with their related time-bound targets and indicators are designed as an agenda for action by countries with support from the international community. FAO currently is reviewing how its own activities can assist countries in the urgent and ambitious effort of meeting the MDGs, and complement the work of UN partners.

An important first step in combating food insecurity is the identification of food insecure and vulnerable groups, the prevalence and degree of low food intake, the quality and quantity of diets and undernutrition among these groups and the causes of their food insecurity and vulnerability. Such information makes it possible to monitor and assess the situation and to design and, eventually, evaluate possible policies and interventions. Unfortunately, such information is lacking in many countries, both developing and developed.

An ongoing assessment of different environmental, economic, food and nutrition and social indicators with identification and monitoring for the information needed to tailor effective relief and rehabilitation measures is urgently required. Taking account of such differences in underlying causes of hunger and poverty and countries’ vulnerability to natural disasters and human-induced crises, monitoring potential hunger hotspots and responding effectively to the crises are also challenges for the FIVIMS Programme.

Tracking weather conditions and crop prospects in regions regularly buffeted by monsoons, droughts and other recurring weather patterns are other critical issues being addressed under the FIVIMS. Many countries that are plagued by unfavourable weather also face difficult economic conditions, with their governments implementing crisis prevention and mitigation programmes and establishing channels for relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Consequently, developing assessment and monitoring tools and methodologies represents a high priority on the agenda for FIVIMS. Many countries have established statistical services and systems that generate and analyse information. Some categories of existing national information systems include agricultural systems, health information systems, land, water and climatic information systems, early warning systems, household food security and nutrition information systems, market information systems and vulnerability assessment and mapping systems. At the national level, strengthened and more integrated food insecurity and vulnerability information systems will provide better and more up-to-date information. The policy-makers and members of civil society concerned with food security issues at all levels can thus facilitate the assessment of policy and programme options for improving nutrition situations. Insights from FIVIMS include recognition that there is a window of opportunity to improve the nutritional status of populations, especially among vulnerable groups of women, infants and young children.

It is urgent that our programmes reach out and facilitate countries to establish quality food insecurity information systems that will provide timely information needed both to formulate effective policies and programmes and to monitor progress on achieving global, national and local goals.

I am particularly pleased that the ANFN and Asia FIVIMS project have collaborated to organize this Consultation and Meeting. The ANFN has its track record of promoting food and nutrition activities with a multidisciplinary and developmental mandate and FIVIMS has provided an excellent opportunity to take this forward. I wish to laud the efforts and progress of the Asia FIVIMS Project in identifying technical entry points for assistance and collaboration in support of FIVIMS establishment and implementation in the region.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that FAO looks forward to your continued cooperation with the ANFN and the Asia FIVIMS Project. I wish you success in your deliberations and I am confident that with your expertise, you will work towards strengthening efforts along with FAO in its commitment towards meeting the goals of eliminating hunger and malnutrition.

ANNEX III: OPENING ADDRESS BY DONOR REPRESENTATIVE

REGIONAL EXPERT CONSULTATION OF THE ASIA PACIFIC NETWORK FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION ON FIVIMS INITIATIVES IN THE RAP REGION AND THE MEETING ON FOOD INSECURITY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN ASIA

BANGKOK 15-18 NOVEMBER 2005

FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
OPENING ADDRESS

by

Nobuhiko Kaho
Director for International Agricultural Organization
International Cooperation Division
International Affairs Department
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

On behalf of the Government of Japan, I have great pleasure and honor to attend this FIVIMS Regional Expert Consultation and to have the opportunity to give an opening address.

First of all, I would like to express my most sincere condolence over the victims of the earthquake disaster in Pakistan and India last month and the tsunami in Indonesia and other countries last December. Natural disaster-induced food insecurity may be comparatively smaller than those brought about by chronic food deficiencies, but FIVIMS rightly covers both kinds of food insecurity and vulnerability. I understand according to the program, that this issue will be discussed under agenda item 3 tomorrow.

Now let's recall the origin of the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information Mapping System or FIVIMS. As most of you here know, it goes back to the World Food Summit in Rome, just nine years and two days ago. I am afraid that it may take a little of your patience, but allow me to introduce the concerned part from the "World Food Summit Plan of Action".

It is mentioned in "paragraph 20 (a)" that:

The Government of Japan also approved of this initiative and our Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has provided financial contributions to FAO since 1997 in order to support the Asia component of the global FIVIMS. Its total assistance amounts to more than three million and three hundred thousand (3,300,000) US dollars so far. Our contribution extends also to human resources. In this regard, I would like to mention that one of the key persons of today's meeting is Mr. Minamiguchi. He has devoted himself to the Asia-FIVIMS Project since the beginning. As a donor of the Project, I would like not only to acknowledge his efforts but also pay my profound respect to him, together with all of you.

During the last few weeks my colleagues in Japan have been making requests for an additional funding of 320 thousand US dollars to the Finance Ministry, in order to complete this Asia-FIVIMS project in two years and a half. The Japanese government's budgetary system has a single-yearly basis and this kind of negotiation is carried out this season every year. The response of the financial authorities this year seems harder and more severe than usual, but we have been trying our best to realize full support to the Project.

Alongside, in the recent years, our Government has stepped up responsibility for the transparency and accountability of each governmental budget and policy including ODA, to our tax payers. Indeed, it goes without saying that we need an excellent outcome at every stage of the Project which would then need to be completed with an even more excellent final product.

The Government of Japan expects the participating countries to be more positively involved in this Project and to optimize use of the project so as to develop and periodically update their national FIVIMS. At the same time we would like to request the FAO Secretariat or FAO RAP not only to produce a useful system by the end of the Project but to also provide continuous technical assistance to the targeted countries as a knowledge, learning and capacity-building organization. We believe that FIVIMS including its related fields is one of the areas where FAO has a comparative advantage and the Government of Japan has therefore supported this initiative.

As you know, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is monitoring the progress of the World Food Summit's goals. In September next year this Committee is expected to make a mid-term review of the World Food Summit Plan of Action at its 32nd session in Rome. FIVIMS issues may be discussed then because it is one of the outcomes of the Plan of Action. We hope member countries, particularly Asian countries, will be able to report proudly their progress in this area, with the introduction of Japan's contribution, if possible.

This time I cannot be here with you until the end of the program because I have to attend the FAO Conference in Rome. However I came over to Bangkok as a representative of the donor, because I would like all the participants to know our strong intention and expectations that I have just mentioned. According to the schedule, a series of stimulating presentations and exciting discussions are awaiting for you. I hope to get an update later on the fruits of this meeting from the FAO Secretariat.

Last but not least, I would like to express my highest appreciation to Dr. Nandi, Mr. Minamiguchi and the team for all their effort in organizing this Meeting. I expect all of you to enhance the shared experiences and lessons learned and continue to give the much needed encouragement for better national, regional and global FIVIMS. I apologize finally for having laid too much stress just on FIVIMS in my speech.

Thank you for your attention.

ANNEX IV: OBJECTIVES, AGENDA, EXPECTED OUTPUTS

Regional Expert Consultation of the Asia Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition on FIVIMS Initiatives in the RAP Region and the Meeting on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies and Lessons Learned in Asia

Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, 15 - 18 November 2005

OBJECTIVES

1. Share experiences and lessons gained by participating countries

2. Review food insecurity and vulnerability methodologies utilized by selected FIVIMS countries in Asia

3. Discuss issues related to reducing vulnerability to food insecurity associated with natural disasters

4. Discuss the International Conference on Nutrition and World Food Summit:5yl follow-up activities

AGENDA

The workshop will include presentations by resource persons and participants as well as discussions that will lead to making concrete recommendations for follow-up actions. An annotated provisional agenda is:

1. Review of Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies
2. Selected Country Presentations on FIVIMS Status
3. Challenges to Reducing Vulnerability to Food Insecurity associated with Natural Disasters
4. Review of International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) / WFS:5yl Follow-Up Activities
5. Working Groups on Sharing FIVIMS Experiences and Lessons Learned

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The expected outputs of the workshop are:

1. A better understanding of the FIVIMS status particularly in Asia

2. FIVIMS methodologies and implementation and application issues reviewed and best practices identified

3. FIVIMS methodologies considered for adoption by those countries yet to establish FIVIMS, and improvement of methodologies by the countries where FIVIMS is operational in order to enhance the national capacity to identify the food insecure and vulnerable as well as to make timely and effective interventions

4. Recommendations for strengthening strategic food and nutrition actions and interventions

ANNEX V: TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

Regional Expert Consultation of the Asia Pacific Network for Food and Nutrition on FIVIMS Initiatives in the RAP Region and the Meeting on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies and Lessons Learned in Asia

Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, 15 - 18 November 2005

Programme

0830 hrs Registration

INTRODUCTION

AGENDA ITEM 1: REVIEW OF FOOD AND NUTRITION INSECURITY AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES

Facilitator: Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, FAO-Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok

Rapporteur: Maria Antonia G. Tuazon, College of Human Ecology and Director, Regional Training Programme on Food and Nutrition Planning, University of the Philippines at Los Banos, The Philippines

Facilitator: Mark Smulders, FIVIMS Coordinator, IAWG-FIVIMS Secretariat, Global Perspectives Studies Unit, FAO, Rome

Rapporteurs: R. Selvaraju, Research Scientist, Asia Disaster Prevention Center (ADPC), Thailand, and Arlene Reario, Chief, Nutritional Surveillance Division, National Nutrition Council, The Philippines

AGENDA ITEM 2: SELECTED COUNTRY PRESENTATION ON FIVIMS STATUS

Facilitator: Biplab K Nandi, Senior Food and Nutrition Officer, FAO RAP, Bangkok

Rapporteurs: Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutrition Consultant, Asia FIVIMS Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok, and Jintana Yhoung-Aree, Lecturer, Community Nutrition Division, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thailand

AGENDA ITEM 3: CHALLENGES TO REDUCING VULNERABILITY TO FOOD INSECURITY ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL DISASTERS

Facilitator: Christian Lovendal, Economist, Food Security and Agricultural Projects Analysis Service, FAO, Rome

Rapporteurs: Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, FAO-Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok, and Ranjith De Silva, Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

AGENDA ITEM 3 - CONTINUED

Facilitator and Rapporteur: Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, FAO-Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok

AGENDA ITEM 4: REVIEW OF ICN/WFS: 5YL FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES (COUNTRY PRESENTATION)

Facilitator: Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutrition Consultant, Asia FIVIMS Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok

Rapporteurs: Arlene Reario, Chief, Nutritional Surveillance Division, National Nutrition Council, The Philippines and Wasanthi Wickramasinghe, Senior Research Officer, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), Sri Lanka

AGENDA ITEM 5: SHARING FIVIMS EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNED: WORKING GROUPS

Facilitators: Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, and Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutrition Consultant, Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok

PRESENTATION OF WORKING GROUPS

Facilitators: Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, and Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutrition Consultant, Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, RAP, Bangkok

ADOPTION OF REPORT AND CONCLUSIONS

Facilitator: Biplab K Nandi, Senior Food and Nutrition Officer, RAP, Bangkok

ANNEX VI: WORKING GROUPS DISCUSSION

Day III 17 November 2005

AGENDA Item 5: SHARING FIVIMS EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS GAINED - WORKING GROUPS DISCUSSION

Facilitators:

• Naoki Minamiguchi, Vulnerability Analysis Coordinator, Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, FAO-RAP, Bangkok

• Lalita Bhattacharjee, Nutrition Consultant, Asia FIVIMS Trust Fund Project GCP/RAS/170/JPN, FAO-RAP, Bangkok

I. General Instructions to WG Participants

1. Please select a group leader and a rapporteur for your group.

2. Discuss and answer the questions as per the given terms of reference for the three discussion topics given below.

3. Please feel free to provide additional inputs and suggestions, as appropriate.

II. Discussion Topics

• Reviewing findings from the methodologies used

• Identifying and determining the strengths and weaknesses of FIVIMS methodologies

• Providing suggestions for strengthening FIVIMS approaches to improve the identification and targeting of vulnerable populations/areas as well as effective interventions

III. Terms of Reference for Working Groups

a) Highlight major national FIVIMS activities/programmes common/unique to countries

b)Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the FIVIMS methodologies used

c) Identify information and resource gaps and discuss challenges to the utilization of the FIVIMS methodologies and the constraints faced.

d) Provide doable suggestions for strengthening FIVIMS approaches to improve the identification and targeting of vulnerable populations and/or areas including the provision of policy support

e) Explore possibilities /options which would lead to effective and timely interventions, giving specific examples.

f) Make a presentation on the outcomes of the discussions.

IV. Expected Outputs

• Update on national/Regional FIVIMS and key related activities

• Identification of key constraints to the usage of methodologies with possible options for resolving/addressing them and promoting effective interventions and strengthening policy support for FIVIMS

• Recommendations for strengthening the currently used FIVIMS approaches with emphasis on improving the identification and targeting of food insecure and vulnerable groups, populations and/or areas.

V. Formation of Working Groups

Note:

1. The participants have been categorized into three groups based on their representation from countries/organizations where FIVIMS is in different stages of progress/FIVIMS support being provided.

2. It is intended that participants share lessons learned from those countries/country participants where FIVIMS has shown progress and possibly some success.

3. Constraints and problems faced by countries towards not having yet established FIVIMS/not having utilized FIVIMS methodologies will also need to be shared and discussed.

VI. Discussion Topics/Questions

Q1. Recalling the presentations and discussions made to date, highlight FIVIMS and related programmes and activities in operation/to be operationalized and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the FIVIMS methodologies used/to be used.

[Examples]

Strengths:

• Allow computation of multiple/number of food insecurity measures (poverty, food intake, household food consumption, consumption of food groups, dietary energy and nutrient intakes/levels, sanitation and health measures, agricultural assets, etc.)

• Allow multi-level monitoring and targeting

• Allow causal analysis for identifying actions to reduce food insecurity

• Provide reliable measurements because basic data are collected from households themselves rather than at a more aggregate level (estimates of food insecurity are likely to be reasonably reliable)

Weaknesses:

• Data are not collected regularly (infrequent/occasional frequency of collection)

• High collection and processing costs (data collection, computation costs in terms of time, money and technical skills are high)

• Weak linkages or channels of communication between food security analysts and decision/policy makers

• Issues of food access, consumption at individual/household levels not accounted for

• Reliability problems, bias in household level estimates, sampling errors

• Not yet used as a source of multiple, policy relevant and valid measures

• Not aroused convincing interest among policy makers, programmers

Q2. List other major national food security, nutrition and disaster programmes and activities that are recommended for the utilization of FIVIMS methodologies/approaches for effective and timely interventions and/or improved policy and decision making.

[Examples]

• National food security strategies and poverty alleviation programme

• Nutrition surveillance and monitoring programme

• Assessment of health and nutritional status of the people in flood prone areas

• Community-based disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation programme

• National early warning and crop production monitoring activities

Q3. Identify information and resource gaps and discuss challenges to the utilization of the FIVIMS methodologies and the constraints faced.

[Examples]

Challenges to Utilization:

• Lack of reliable data to address food insecurity situations at the district level, hampering advanced statistical analysis or livelihoods assessments at the district level

• Limited capacity of the FIVIMS personnel to undertake vulnerability analysis, policy making, interventions, etc

• Lack of funds to periodically carry out surveys (e.g. nutrition surveys; household socio-economic surveys) that allow identifying vulnerability factors at the household level, for example, every 3 to 5 years

Q4. Provide doable suggestions for strengthening FIVIMS approaches to improve the identification and targeting of vulnerable populations and/or areas including the provision of policy support

[Examples]

• Need for use of multiple indicators to capture multi-dimensions of the complex nature of vulnerability to food insecurity

• Combined use of nutrition-relevant quantitative and qualitative methods (e.g. anthropometry, food consumption, dietary diversity-related measures, and qualitative measures)

• Use of household-level data (e.g. household socio-economic survey data)

Q5. Explore possibilities/options which would lead to effective and timely interventions, giving specific examples.

[Examples]

• Broaden scope of FIVIMS methods to encompass multi-sectoral measures such as health, environment and livelihood issues

• Development of a channel of communication to effectively monitor and transfer information on food insecurity and vulnerability situations from district to province to central government levels

• Improved methodologies to better identify the locations of food insecure populations, common priorities, livelihoods, disaster prone areas, etc. as part of preparedness for timely interventions and food emergencies

• Establishment of low cost short-term food security monitoring systems (e.g.) using low resolution satellite imagery

ANNEX VII: MATRIX OF FIVIMS RELATED PROGRAMMES/ACTIVITIES: APPLICATION, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES