EVENTS
THEMATIC GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD
Asia
Europe
EVENTS
As reported in the April edition of 'News and Highlights', heads of State and Governments from around the world will gather in Rome to review progress made in implementing WFS goals at World Food Summit: Five Years Later (WFS:fyl). This global forum will be held at FAO Headquarters within the framework of the FAO Biennial Conference (2 - 13 November 2001).
Many national Thematic Groups affliated to the ACC Network are playing a strong catalytic role in coordinating and supporting government preparations for WFS: fyl.
Africa
In Burkina Faso, the Government of Burkina Faso has set up a national inter-ministerial committee to prepare for the country's participation to the WFS:fyl. The committee will ensure the participation of all stakeholders within the consultative framework of the national strategy for sustainable growth in the agricultural and livestock sectors. The national Thematic Group on Rural Development and Food Security in Burkina Faso organized a one-day workshop to review the national strategy for agricultural development and Horizon 2010.
In the Republic of the Congo, the newly-created Thematic Group is devoting its collective efforts to preparing the national WFS: fyl contribution and is enlarging Group membership to include NGOs, civil society, the private sector and donors for the exercise.
In Guinea, the existing Thematic Group has been re-activated and has set up an inter-ministerial committee specifically to prepare for WFS: fyl.
In Sierra Leone, the former Thematic Group on Agriculture of the Integrated Approach to Aid Coordination has been transformed into a ACC Network aflliated Thematic Group on Rural Development and Food Security, in order to plan and coordinate WFS: fyl input.
Asia
In Viet Nam, the Thematic Group is discussing concrete means to assist the government in WFS: fyl and is shortly to support a government seminar on food security.
In Sri Lanka and Niger, the national Theme Groups are currently collecting information and preparing an inventory of past projects and programmes in food security and agriculture implemented since 1996, which will contribute to WFS: fyl country papers.
Latin America and the Caribbean
In Ecuador, the national Thematic Group is networking widely and working in close collaboration with other institutions including civil society, private sector and government members that are preparing for WFS: fyl including: the National Executive Committee on Food Security (CENSA), the Food Security Projects Network (REDPESA) and the National Committee for the Food for All Campaign. All these institutions are working together in the WFS:fyl preparations (under coordination of the Foreign Affairs Ministry).
In Nicaragua, the national Thematic Group is preparing, in collaboration with the the Food security Unit of the Forestry and Livestock Ministry (MAGFOR), a country report on the progress made by the Government of Nicaragua in terms of food security after the WFS in 1996. This report will be considered as the Nicaraguan official contribution for WFS: fyl
In Uruguay, the Thematic Group will shortly hold a national workshop for development partners - including national NGOs and CSOs - to evaluate the experiences of national agricultural producers and to prepare a report on the state of food insecurity and the rural sector in Uruguay. The conclusions of the workshop will be used as working material for the National Committee of WFS: fyl.
Most countries of Latin America are holding similar workshops, supported by the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, to support the preparations for the WFS: fyl.
THEMATIC GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD
Asia
In Samoa, the UN Theme Group on Rural Development and Food has been creating awareness of the risks to food security posed by cyclones and strong winds and strengthening national capacities for emergency preparedness and recovery. The Group's recently published booklet "Combating the Effects of Cyclones on Food Security in Samoa" stresses the need for cyclone readiness at all times, and aims to provide the public and farmers in the country with information and practical guidance on what to do before, during and after cyclones to lessen damage to food crops (e.g. yam, cassava, sweet potato, taro, banana and breadfruit), and to shorten the period of recovery. The booklet, written by a local consultant in collaboration with the Theme Group, was based largely on interviews with farmers and government officers and is an important contribution to Samoa's National Disaster Management Plan (1997).
The booklet is to be published later this year on the Samoa UN Country Team Website (currently under development), and will be subsequently shared with ACC Network partners on these pages. For further information on the Thematic Group in Samoa, contact the FAO Sub-Regional Representative for the Pacific Islands and FAO Representative in Samoa, Mr. V.A. Fuavao, at: FAO-SAPA@field.fao.org
Europe
The Thematic Group on Rural Development and Food Security in Turkey acts as a central mechanism to bring the country's key development partners together to combat hunger. At a recent Thematic Group meeting, 70 participants from UN agencies, government agencies, NGOs, donors, universities, embassies, the media and private sector unanimously accepted that the Thematic Group take on the role of coordination on food and nutrition issues in the country. The meeting emphasized the need for a cross-cutting approach in combating poverty, and recommended that the Ministries and institutions dealing with rural development, food safety, processing, distribution, marketing, health and nutrition join forces and share information, to involve inter alia farmer's unions, NGOs, civil society, private sector, academic and research institutions.
Based on recommendations by the Thematic Group, a National Food and Nutrition Strategy Paper is now being prepared by the State Planning Organization. A special Committee has been formed to complete the task and its three working groups - comprising most members of the Thematic Group - are currently focussing on three key areas, 'food', 'nutrition' and the 'contributions made by international organizations' in the efforts to achieve food security. The document is to be finalized and printed by the end of June 2001 and will be used as the background paper at the forthcoming Economy Congress of Turkey (date to be determined).
For further information on the Thematic Group in Turkey, contact the FAO Representative a.i., Mr. A. Witschi-Cestari, at: FAO-TUR@field.fao.org