Posted 26 August 1998
The Twenty-fourth Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the body entrusted by the World Food Summit (WFS) for monitoring the implementation of the Summit's Plan of Action, was held at FAO Headquarters in Rome from 2 to 5 June 1998. The Committee "stressed the importance of close co-operation between FAO, WFP, IFAD, the World Bank, the IMF, the UNDP, UNICEF, and other international organisations as well as with bilateral co-operation institutions in the efforts to implement the WFS Plan of Action.
In this connection, the Committee welcomed the operationalization of the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security established to promote information exchange and interactive networking between United Nations agencies at all levels, and co-operation at country level through thematic groups for rural development and food security established within the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator System." The development of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) was an important item on the CFS's agenda. The Committee noted the importance of FIVIMS as a follow-up activity to the World Food Summit and recognised the "role of the Thematic Groups of the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security in the promotion of FIVIMS at country level."
Pre-session documents for the CFS are available on-line . The CFS report containing the main conclusions and decisions made during the Session is will shortly be posted on-line.
This month's special thematic article features the international programme on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS), information systems that assemble and disseminate information about people who are underfed, undernourished, or at-risk of becoming so. FIVIMS provides information on who the food insecure are, where they are located, and why they are food insecure and nutritionally vulnerable. It provides a useful analytical tool for monitoring implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action and for assessing progress in reaching the Summit's goals for reducing undernutrition. and achieving food security for all.
See the full feature article on FIVIMS in our Themes section.
This month we report on the progress which has been made by the Network's thematic group in Yemen. Information on the thematic group, its membership, mandate and planned activities are presented here. Thematic groups in other countries are encouraged to contribute relevant information on their achievements and activities which could be posted on-line in future updates of this Web site. See our Countries list for other examples.
The ACC recently adopted a "Statement on Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in the work of the United Nations System: A commitment for Action", prepared by the Inter-Agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality. This statement sends a strong signal of renewed commitment, from the highest level of the UN system, in support of gender equality and gender mainstreaming throughout the work of different UN organizations. It is intended to give momentum to the work of the UN system in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and other global agreements.
For information on UN global conferences and women, visit the UN Internet Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women - "WomenWatch".
To find out more about the activities of FAO's Women in Development Service, including information on how FAO is implementing its own Plan of Action for Women in Development (1996-2001) in support of the Beijing Platform for Action.