Food Security: institutional dimensions ODI, 4 July 2001

Transcription

1 Food Security: institutional dimensions ODI, 4 July 2001 This presentation is based on Food and Human Security:Retrospective and an Agenda for Change Chapter 16 of Edward Clay and Olav Stokke edited, Food Aid and Human Security, EADI Book Series 24 Frank Cass, London 407pp ISBN (paper) Copies of the paperback version of this book are available from ODI Publication Department for (+p&p) - publications@odi.org.uk

2 Ensuring an enabling environment is the first of the seven areas of commitment in the Declaration of the World Food Summit (WFS) in That implies an appropriate set of institutional arrangements at an international as well as national level. Currently institutional change appears to be difficult, if not blocked at an international level. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to think about what sorts of institutional arrangements are required at an international level, involving multi-lateral bodies and agencies to facilitate food security for the food insecure. The intention should be to build an agenda for institutional change that could be attempted during the next five to ten years. These more appropriate, stronger arrangements will then contribute to addressing food insecurity in the subsequent decade The FAO secretariat itself in a background document for the recent committee on World Food Security acknowledges: There is a need to make a careful examination of the adequacy of current institutional arrangements for international cooperation for addressing major global challenges to food security. (FAO Committee on World Food Security, New Challenges to the Achievements of the World Food Summit Goals, 27 th session, 28 th May - 1 st June 2001,Rome, paragraph 65) 2

3 Mandates and responsibilities the issue of coherence At least 12 international agencies have some role in food security Few recent changes in institutional arrangements Complex arrangements make international action difficult to achieve the WFS did not address this issue 3

4 Food Aid - an Example Most arrangements date from the 1960s and 1970s

5 Minimum commitments Food Aid Conventions since 1967 IGC Food Aid Committee

6 General food security policy FAO Committee on Food Security

7 Free trade principles WTO since 1994 FAO Committee on surplus disposal since 1955

8 Wider food aid policy issues and supervision of WFP WFP Executive Board

9 Humanitarian issues UN Office of Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) UNHCR UNICEF plus the Red Cross Federation and international NGOs 9

10 Food aid agencies The World Food Programme is the main international channel for food aid. It has become progressively more involved in supplying humanitarian relief as a response to EVENTS : ; 1979; 1984; 1995 WFP continues to see a role for food aid in combating chronic hunger and supporting development 10

11 1400 Figure 3: Distribution of food aid through WFP US$ (millionnes Development PROs Emergencies 11

12 What are the Options for change? 12

13 Repackaging or Model T Food Aid Using new labels - making formal statements about new sets of objectives. Continuing to provide the same products in more or less the same way. This is not is not a genuine change. 13

14 Adaptation of existing arrangements more flexibility in the use of food aid; and more integration with other aid instruments. 14

15 There are two problems temporary re-emergence of surpluses, as in , leads to WFP and NGOs handling more food aid without complementary resources, Current mismatch of many institutions and arrangements might not be resolved. 15

16 Reconstruction Address wider problems of poverty and food security based on a human right to food

17 Restructure food aid Replace FAC quantitative commitments by qualitative commitments to provide humanitarian relief and assist recovery; Agree an international Code of Conduct to reflect qualitative commitments, Merge WTO Marrakesh Decision on food import issues with the broader problems of low-income countries adapting to liberalisation; Streamline institutional arrangements; Reconstitute WFP as the UN s humanitarian and rehabilitation logistics and food support agency; People-centred regular assessments of humanitarian and crisis needs involving food aid. 17

18 Overall - the challenge lies in Agreeing a specific set of objectives for food assistance and linking them to those for food security. Mobilising and sustaining a coalition for institutional change Acknowledging and overcoming the real obstacles to change: 18

19 Obstacles to change the view that it is possible to simultaneously promote domestic agricultural interests and address global humanitarian and developmental concerns without tradeoffs; - bureaucratic resistance to changes that narrow institutional mandates; - the people and institutions of developing countries have to become involved in ways that enable them to recognise the advantages of change. 19