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Formation of Food Security Working Groups. FSTS Training on Food Security Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) 25 – 27 October 2010. Food Insecurity – Multi-sectoral Dimension. Successful strategies to eliminate food insecurity combines these diverse sectors.
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Formation of Food Security Working Groups FSTS Training on Food Security Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) 25 – 27 October 2010
Food Insecurity – Multi-sectoral Dimension Successful strategies to eliminate food insecurity combines these diverse sectors
Formation of Food Security Working Group • One possible mechanism for generating an integrated food security analysis: • To establish independent structures dedicated to gathering and analyzing a wide range of food security data?? • Two major disadvantages of independent structures: • They tend to be very costly to operate • They are often completely independent of national structure • Not Sustainable – heavy loaded institutional setup creates dependency…
Solution is Interdependent Coordination Group? • Because of complex livelihood crises - requiring a range of strategies and responses that cut across mandates and institutions • Minimizes inadequate knowledge and helps to understand interlocking vulnerabilities and encourages multi-sectoral responses • Strengthens the capacity of the government by ensuring timely and accurate warning to initiate early and appropriate responses Light weighted office structure- advantages of networking
Advantages … • Ensures continuous early warning information exchange between the EWS and different agencies • Increase consensus between donors, humanitarian agencies and the Government on emergency needs and how to address them • Aavoids duplication of data collection by decreasing establishment of parallel system – helps to keep costs at a minimum • Increase participation in and use of the results of the government-led working groups by other partners • Helps to develop an appropriate quantitative andstandard methodology – creates the necessary platform for policy related discussions
Advantages … • Increases credibility when preceded by a consensus based planning process • Ensures a demand for routine data exchange network to facilitate a smooth information exchange • Improves connectivity between federal line ministries and states/localities • Helps to follow up on response, analyze gaps and update and circulate information to decision makers as required
Linkages b/n National & Sub-national FSIS • FSIS is increasingly needed to support decision making at the local level. • By building the capacity of the decentralized FSIS • Appropriate institutional relationships between national and sub-national information system activities • Mostly it is vertically integrated with data collected at lower administrative levels
Sub-sectors and Focal Points • Possible sectoral sub-working groups and their possible chairs: • Agriculture and Livestock – possible chair- MoAF, MoARF and/or FAO • Water and Environmental Sanitation – possible chair MoWR, and/or UNICEF • Health and Nutrition – possible chair MoH and/or UNICEF • Food and Consumption – possible chair HAC, MoT, MoAF, SMA, MoFNE and/or WFP • Education and other demographic issues – possible chair - Ministry of Education, CBS, MoIC, MoSW and/or NPC • Sectoral working group chairs of the government will serve as focal points for food security/livelihood working group
Potential membership • Membership should be open to all government and non-government agencies and organizations directly working on FS • Government line ministry members may include MoAF, CBS, SMSO, Mapping Authority, HAC, MoFNE, NIC, MoH, MoWR, etc. • Core members outside the government may include: UN/OCHA and/or RCO, WFP, UNICEF, FAO,USAID, EC, etc. • NGOs: CARE, SC-UK, SC-USA, CRS, OXFAM, World Vision, ERCS, AOAD, FHI, Goal, etc. • Similar structures are recommended for Federal and State levels
Major Activities of the working groups • The activities of the Food Security and/or livelihood Working Group can be defined via annual work-planning process. • Review of the Sudan food security monitoring system with the aim of developing a single standardized approach • Ensure coordination and coherence between the various information systems of the Government • Review, advise and develop a standing system of sectoral and cross-sectoral coordination at federal and state levels. • Providing technical advice and guidance on food security and drought mgt to the Government, donors and partners.
Sustainability • The leadership of the government should be ensured and well articulated • Without Government leadership, other agencies would continue to lead sectors to their own objectives. • This is now functioning in uncoordinated manner and has the potential to result in more debate and less consensus • Best example – Case of Kadugli – DG chairing FSLCG
Possible Constraints • Lack of sustained commitment and resource and capacity (human and financial resources) • Hence strong support required, at least at its initial stages • Institutional agenda may sometimes set in • Frequency of lengthy meetings may increase • Network partners may not always conform to deadlines