THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS for a world without hunger

1. International workshop on the economics of global justice and sustainable economic development Milan, 23 January 2009 The Right to Food in the context of the global governance of food security Kostas Stamoulis Director Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA) FAO, Rome THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

2. State of Global Food Security • Prevalence of hunger in the world (2003-05) was worrisome even before prices shot up (~ stagnant at 850 million since 1990-92) • World hunger is increasing - high food prices share much of the blame (+75 million, + 40 million) • Rural and urban poor, landless farmers and female-headed households are the worst hit by high food prices • Global response should follow a twin-track approach strengthened by a third track to improve food security governance THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

3. The number of undernourished is increasing

4. Largest Increases are in Asia and Africa (2007)

5. The poor are hit the hardest by an increase in the price of food staples

6. Consumption of cereals accelerated THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

7. What next? - financial crisis will affect food security • World growth is expected to slow and with it demand and prices of commodities • Lower food prices: good for consumers but impact of slower growth may erode the benefits • Net incentives for producers: mixed (output prices, input prices, market volatility) • Tightened credit for public and private borrowers in world credit markets • Reduced ODA under budget pressures THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

8. Turbulent times... ... but we must not lose sight of 923 million hungry • The number of undernourished has been increasing even before food prices started rising • Sudden worsening of chronic problem • Concerns over food/commodity price variations should not divert attention from long-term concerns: • demographic growth and urbanization • growing demand for biofuels • land and environmental constraints • climate change THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

9. What Needs to be Done? • Global problems call for a global response • Pledges for assistance to developing countries must be fulfilled and expanded (invest!) • Sound policies that address the root causes of hunger and are assessed against the impact on the food insecure • A twin-track approach remains valid: safety nets/social protection and investment in agriculture • Improved governance within a right to food approach is the third track in the fight against hunger. THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

10. What is the Right to Food? • Enshrined into International binding law: The right of everyone to an adequate standard of living - including adequate food. The fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger • Political commitment made in WFS 1996 and Millennium Declaration • Identifies rights and obligations • States agreed on practical action to realize right to food in practice by adopting a set of Right to Food Guidelines THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

11. Right to Adequate Food NON-DISCRIMINATION HUMAN DIGNITY EMPOWERMENT RULE OF LAW PARTICIPATION TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY Acknowledgment of human rights Food Security and the Right to Food Food Security • The Right to Adequate Food complements the Food Security concept and programmes with: • the human rights principles, and • the legal aspects of human rights. AVAILABILITY OF FOOD ACCESS TO FOOD FOOD UTILIZATION STABILITY

12. Twin Track Approach Direct Assistance Enabling Environment Governance

13. The third track: Value added of Right to Food • Coherent framework to address critical governance dimensions in the fight against hunger and malnutrition: • Empowerment and voice to the food insecure • Principles that govern decision-making and implementation processes (HR principles) • Legal framework, the concepts of rights and obligations • Mechanisms for increased accountability and the rule of law • Participatory process of policy formulation THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

14. For example - Right to Food perspectives on twin-track • Do programme recipients have their say in the design of the programme? Is the process transparent and participatory? • Is the principle of non-discrimination applied? Are rules and responsibilities clear? • Is aid provided as per design ? • Is aid targeted to the poorest? • Is there an exit strategy to avoid dependency? Will recipients become actors of their own development? • Is access to agricultural resources provided and protected ? • Are there accountability mechanisms through which eligible persons can seek remedy in case the programme does not reach them? THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

15. Why It has not been done • Lack of political will • Lack of sufficient resources and conducive policy frameworks • Inadequate system of global food security governance to influence policies and to improve implementation • Absence of access to sound scientific basis for policy decisions ( non-ideological, evidence and experience based) THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

16. Improved governance mechanism for food security needed • Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security needed to respond to the various threats: • A truly representative, action-oriented body • with strong political support • credible scientific basis and • adequate financial support • Addresses shortcomings of past efforts THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

17. How the Right to Food fits into the Global Partnership REQUIRED ACTIONS Policy Tools Dissemination Financial Tools Decision making body of Outputs Multi - stakeholder Forum National/Regional Scientific inputs experiences

18. Tasks of national alliances and national/regional networks • Platform for sharing diverse stakeholder perspectives on hunger, malnutrition and food security • Space for stakeholders to participate in identifying priorities, establishing programmes and initiatives • Monitor progress on targets, policies and resource mobilization to achieve them • Promote accountability, openness of governance institutions • Improved coordination between all key actors in food security and agriculture at regional and national levels THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

19. How RtF can strengthen national and regional networks • Right to Food Guidelines offer a coherent framework: • HR instrument adopted by Governments • Generic plan of action • Basis for formulating multidimensional solution for cross-cutting sector • Human Rights principles guide composition of networks: • Broad participation by all stakeholders/diversity • Transparency in selection of members/clear criteria • Coordination necessary but not sufficient • Mutual accountability of all members THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

20. Conclusions • Food insecurity – a chronic problem that suddenly worsened • Result of political choices and insufficient political will • Many threats to food security looming • What needs to be done? • A Global Mechanism underpinned by right to food principles could foster political will that actually leads to decisive action THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSfor a world without hunger

21. Thank you - grazie! www.fao.org THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSAGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS DIVISION-ESA for a world without hunger