Posted 29 January 1999

News: December 1998-January 1999

Map shows the food supply gap between rich and poor countries

In December 1998, FAO released a world map with the latest authoritative figures on food availability, at national, regional and global levels. The map puts a figure on the food gap between the world's poorest and richest nations and shows significant differences in the types of foods that make up daily diets in different parts of the world.

The map gives daily energy supply (DES) figures for 177 nations and seven regional or socio-economic groups of countries. Topping the country list is Denmark with 3 780 kcal available per person per day, more than double what is available in Somalia - just 1 580 kcal available per person per day. If the available food were distributed according to need, it would be sufficient to feed everyone in the world, according to the map, providing 2 720 kcal per person per day. But the reality is that 17 countries have severe food supply problems, with a Daily Energy Supply of less than 2 000 kcal. A further 37 countries have DES levels between 2 000 and 2 299 kcal.

Based on data for the period 1994-96, the map does not reflect the effects of recent natural disasters, economic crises and conflicts.

For more information, go to: http://www.fao.org/NEWS/1998/981204-e.htm or contact the Food and Nutrition Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.

Thematic Group in Trinidad and Tobago

Major activities for the Thematic Group in Trinidad and Tobago so far have been in connection with the International Poverty Eradication Week that took place during 16-24 October 1998. For this event, a sub-committee of the Thematic Group undertook a number of events:

• Production of a video documentary focusing on strategies for breaking the cycle of poverty. The documentary provides concrete examples of positive and workable alternatives to the present afflictions of the poor. The video was presented to the Minister of Social and Community Development and was to be shown in communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago through networks established by the communications unit of the Change Management Unit for Poverty Eradication and Equity Building (CMU/PEEB).
• Breakfast meeting for policy makers and stakeholders Some 50 guests representing the public and private sectors, donors and NGOs were invited to a breakfast meeting, which presented the opportunity for the launching of the video documentary on breaking the cycle of poverty. The overall objective of the meeting was to build national commitment to eradicate poverty and achieve food security through strengthening the linkage of the United Nations System with policy makers, corporations, NGOs and concerned members of civil society. A paper outlining the role that the United Nations System could play in support of national efforts was also presented and discussed at the meeting.
• Media programmes A number of radio and television appearances and panel discussions were presented during the Poverty Eradication Week.
• Training of trainers A two-day workshop, sponsored jointly by AMOCO Oil Company, the United Nations Organizations and the CMU/PEEM was held to provide participants with a broad understanding regarding the principles of community building, of investing in the development of economically and socially depressed communities, for long lasting change and community empowerment.

Networking activities within and outside Trinidad and Tobago are only now being initiated. However, close collaboration has already been established with the Change Management Unit for Poverty Eradication and Equity Building (CMU/PEEB). The CMU/PEEB is the Secretariat for two Councils established by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to address the issues of poverty and equity. These councils are (a) the Inter-Ministerial Council on Social Development; and (b) the Civic Council on Social Development.

For more information about the Thematic Group in Trinidad and Tobago, contact FAO Representative Mr. D.E Robinson at: fao-tto@field.fao.org

Inter-Parliamentary Conference

The Specialized Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the topic "Attaining the World Food Summit's objectives through a sustainable development strategy" organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) with FAO support, took place in Rome from 29 November to 2 December 1998. Nearly 200 parliamentarians from some 80 countries met to provide further support to the commitments of the World Food Summit in combating hunger and malnutrition. In the WFS Plan of Action, States pledged themselves to the political commitment and national and international efforts required to meet the immediate objective - to reduce the number of undernourished people in the world to half the present level of over 800 million by no later than the year 2015.

Governments on behalf of States made the commitments of the World Food Summit. The commitments can, however, only be honored if parliaments and their members are fully involved in the implementation process. Indeed, combating food insecurity requires resolute and everyday action by parliaments, which must provide the necessary legislative framework. Parliaments are also required to adopt the national budget, allocating resources to agriculture and other sectors which are essential to achieving food security for all, and monitoring their most efficient use.

The final document, adopted by the parliamentarians, states that action to be taken should include the creation of an enabling environment acknowledging the primary role of agricultural and rural development (removing policies that discriminate against the agricultural and rural sector), promoting public and private investments, facilitating fair and equitable international trade, ensuring the involvement of civil society and encouraging action by the international community. Actions should aim at producing sufficient food, while maintaining the resource base and promoting the development of appropriate technology and human capital. Rural poverty eradication and emergency prevention and preparedness policies should be implemented targeting vulnerable groups in particular. These actions can only be successful if the critical role of women is explicitly acknowledged through their participation in development policy formulation and implementation, and if every appropriate level of civil society is involved.

The meeting mentioned the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security in that "states should in their own countries and individually, encourage FAO and its partner organizations to promote food security and sustainable development, in particular through cooperation between developing countries, through the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security."

It also supported the establishment of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) and recommended that parliaments and their members in each country:

• Establish specific mechanisms to facilitate a systematic and co-ordinated follow-up at the parliamentary level of the commitments undertaken by States at the various world summits organised by the United Nations system in the last decade of this century including the 1996 World Food Summit;
• Harmonise existing laws and, as appropriate, adopt new legislation so as to develop a comprehensive legislative framework conducive to achieving food security for all;
• Utilise fully the parliamentary oversight function with a view to ensuring governmental compliance with the commitments undertaken at the World Food Summit;
• Work towards the establishment of national food security councils with representation from relevant governmental agencies, civil society, academia and the research community, the media and other groups;
• Hold a parliamentary debate on food security issues every year on 16 October, World Food Day.

Summing up both the purpose of the gathering and its intended outcome, the Director-General of FAO in his closing remarks told participants that as parliamentarians, they represented the voice of the people, and that following the conference he hoped they would represent, in their parliaments, the voice of the hungry.

The final document and keynote speeches (in English and French) are available from FAO together with the agenda of the meeting and the participant list for possible contact by Thematic Groups of parliamentarians in their country.

For more information contact: The Office of the Special Adviser for Follow-up to the World Food Summit, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
e-mail RDFS-Net@fao.org