Facing food security challenges in the Sahel and West Africa: The action of SWAC and its regional partners

1. Facing food security challenges in the Sahel and West Africa: The action of SWAC and its regional partners Jean S. ZOUNDI, Head of Unit Rural Transformation and Sustainable Development Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) SPG, Berlin, January 25-26, 2007

2. Outline • Introduction: Context of Food Security • Major challenges • Action of the SWAC and regional partners • Conclusion

3. The recent 2005 food crisis: the region remains vulnerable in spite of accomplished progress 1 Introduction Context

4. Food crises: Not synonymous with a stagnation of the agricultural growth 2 Demographic growth: One of the challenges of food security in the region Introduction Context

5. In West Africa In the Sahel: CILSS countries • Increase 1990-2000: • Population: 32% • Maize Production: 12,3% • Rice Production: 26,7% • Total cereals: 25,4% • Beef meat: 29,4% • Yield increase 1980 – 2000 • Rice (t/ha): 0,83 – 1,04 • Maize (t/ha): 1,09 – 1,38 Introduction Context Agricultural growth was not so although it still remains lower than expectations!!!

6. FRAGILE ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Shift of the isohyets of 100 -150 km in 30 years (1961-1990) • DEMOGRAPHY • The population increased three times between 1960 and 2006 • 85 to 300 million • 430 million expected • between 2020 – 2025 • Youth • More than 65% < 25 years • Urbanization of the region • 13% in 1960 • 40% in 2000 • 65% in 2020 2 3 1 • BEYOND THE AGRARIAN LANDSCAPES • Constraints to food access • Poverty • Market/Price • Etc. Major challenges Significant facts…

7. How will the question of food insecurity be tackled now and in the coming years in light of demographic trends? • Global response to food demand: Beyond the • management of food crises!!! • Rural-Urban relations; Specific needs for livestock;… 1 2 • How to integrate the complexity of the problem? • Beyond food availability: Accessibility • (market, price, poverty…), Nutritional aspects • Spatial dimension: Regional market (cross border • dimension, Sahelian - Coastal countries relations…) • Political dimensions: Agricultural, Trade • Peace and human security: Conflicts Major challenges Facts raising questions!!!

8. Strengthening the capacities for circumstantial food crises prevention and management while… 1 1 Focusing the energies in the search of sustainable solutions to the structural causes Action of SWAC and Regional partners Context of the action - Approach

9. 1 Re-investment of SWAC in the co-animation of the Food Crises Prevention Network (FCPN) with CILSS • Main goals: To revitalize the network – To focus the efforts towards the action • Capitalization of the recommendations • Set up of a monitoring mechanism for the assessment of • their implementation Action of SWAC and Regional partners 1. Contribution to the debate and the mobilization of actors for action Prevention and management of the crises

10. 2 Contribution to the reinforcement of the regional approach to food security: Joint initiative (K2M) SWAC-CILSS-FEWS NET – WFP – RESIMAO/FAO - UNICEF Highlighting key factors related to the market (regional availability of food) Identifying Opportunities that take into account the food security concerns in the cross border cooperation dynamics Action of SWAC and Regional partners 1. Contribution to the debate and the mobilization of actors for action Prevention and management of the crises

11. 1 Support of civil society actors for the search of strategies aiming at food security reinforcement: ROPPA Food Sovereignty Forum Relevance of multi-stakeholders dialogue on Food Security Urgency of a reinvestment in agricultural and rural sector – As regard to the Maputo commitment Urgency of agricultural and commercial policies more in supportof food security Action of SWAC and Regional partners 1. Contribution to the debate and the mobilization of actors for action Policies and actions focused on food security

12. 2 Livestock – Regional market – Food security – Poverty reduction • Key messages (Policy Notes) on strategies for: • Valorizing regional complementarities; • Reinforcing the regional market; • Supporting changes in Transhumant Pastoralism; • Reinforcing the capacities of professionals in the sector; • Optimizing the contribution of Science and Technology as a response to future challenges of the livestock sector Action of SWAC and Regional partners 1. Contribution to the debate and the mobilization of actors for action Policies and actions focused on food security

13. 1 Food Security Information Note (FOSIN) Information tool oriented towards action to: (i) Provide reliable information and analysis; (ii) Avoid any surprise and mobilize actors for action Action of SWAC and Regional partners 2. Contribution to the information and the decision-making for action NISA (FOSIN): Tool of information for action

14. 2 Aim - Goal To synthesize, centralize and to valorize the information To be used as surveillance mechanism and to support the access of useful information for action Action of SWAC and Regional partners 2. Contribution to the information and the decision-making for action FCPN Web Site

15. Many progress achieved, but nothing is completely solved The increasing evolution of food demand in line with demographic growth and urbanization will remain an undeniable fact How to mobilize regional actors and various partners for action and the search for sustainable solutions to structural food insecurity? What rural transformations in the next 20years? Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS

16. 1 Rural Transformation and issues related to Food Security One goal: To anticipate changes in the future to guide actions of the present - Immediate decision-making and actions in terms of appropriate policies and strategies Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

17. 2 Food Aid in a new context: New actors, Conflicts… Action: Commitment Club-CILSS and other partners for the evaluation of the Food Aid Charter & its eventual review Aim: To eventually allow the negotiation of a new consensus between the major actors of the Food Aid Charter in a new environment Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

18. 3 Regional surveillance, warning and response mechanism for desert locust One Goal:To build capacities in the region to control, circumscribe, and to stop desert locust invasion at local level before its propagation The Approach:To take into account the current environment: Existence of local actors able to decide and to act: Rural Producer’s Organizations, Local Governments… Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

19. 4 Country Profile “Food Security” in the Sahel and WA • Objectives: • To provide indicators allowing a better comprehension of the causes of the food crises and their persistence; • To support decision-making; • To allow a better appreciation of the investment effort • in food security Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

20. 4 Country profile “Food Security” in the Sahel and WA Some indicators A – Availability: (i) Natural factors & climate change; (ii) Productive resources; (iii) Agricultural vulnerability index B – Accessibility & utilization: (i) Socio-economic factors & demographic; (iii) Markets & commercialization chains C – Policy and investment efforts of countries in Food Security D – Indicators relating to social actors Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

21. 5 6 Land – Vulnerability – Food Security Water control: Agricultural growth - Income diversification – Sustainable FS Goals: (i) Targeted Recommendations as regards food crises management strategies (ii) To supply the ongoing reflections: African land reform; Land Charter… • SARDI: Sahel Agricultural • and Rural Development • Initiative • WARDA: Optimizing in valley • low-lands water use Action of SWAC and Regional partners 3. Dealing with the future stakes and challenges as regards to FS Joint initiatives between SWAC and Regional actors in prospect: Reflection & Action

22. The SWAC contribution as regards the challenges of the FS is the result of strong partnerships built with regional actors – Formalization of some partnerships in 2006 (CILSS, ECOWAS) 1 2 The future commitment of the SWAC and the regional actors in FS will result in the consolidation and the formalization of other partnerships: ROPPA, WAEMU, CORAF/WECARD… • One Goal: To mobilize and revitalize the efforts on common initiatives targeting food security, and specifically allowing: • Responses to structural causes • More emphasis to a regional approach CONCLUSION Important reference points

23. Aid to SSA Agriculture (% of total Aid to SSA) The challenge of investment in agriculture and rural sector But agricultural growth in itself is not enough 1980-84 1996-2000 2001 4 3 The challenge of vulnerable populations: Nearly 8 million in the Sahel 20 8 7 Aid to SSA Agriculture (millions USD) The challenge of support services to agriculture 1990 2000 Food stock management mechanisms 2,202 1,091 Agro-processing industries Market - Commercialization CONCLUSION Need for going beyond the management of crises

24. Thanks for your attention