CSOs/NGOs creating alliances to fight hunger

As customary, a debate between NGOs/CSOs and representatives from government and UN agencies was held during this year's World Food Day (WFD) at FAO headquarters. This year's debate was focused on the NGO/CSO initiatives inspired by the International Alliance against Hunger (IAAH). The debate was chaired by Mr. Henri Carsalade, and Ms. Louise Fresco, Assistant Director-Generals of the Technical Cooperation Department and the Agriculture Department, respectively, of FAO.

Under the theme "We can and must stop hunger! Civil Society plays its part" Mr. Antonio Onorati and Mr. Mario Ahumada from the International NGO/CSO Planning Committee for the WFS:fyl (IPC) along with Mr. Sergio Marelli from the Association of Italian ONGs, Ms. Ursula Goh, from the Associated Country Women of the World and Mr. Karel Zelinica from Caritas Internationalis, introduced the debate agreeing on the essence of the IAAH and its emphasis in mobilizing political will to end hunger. An appeal was also made by Mr. Onorati to propose a farmer's organisation representative as the keynote speaker for the next WFD celebration.

Among the civil society initiatives presented during the debate were the recently launched campaigns: "Africa can Feed itself" and "What agriculture for NEPAD?" organized by the ROPPA (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs Agricoles de l'Afrique de l'Ouest / Network of Farmers' Organizations and Agricultural Producers in West Africa) and the "More and Better international advocacy campaign" led by several international NGOs. On behalf of ROPPA, Mr. Saliou Sarr presented the main goals of the campaign and gave an overall view of the situation of farmers and producers in West African countries. Ms. Laura Amore, from the International Campaign Secretariat made a brief synthesis of international, regional and national aims of the advocacy campaign (For more information on these campaigns please read the interview featured in the October update).

The activities and focus in the fight against hunger carried out by the organization Bread for the World, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS), the International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS) and the Campaign against famine in Ethiopia were also presented during the debate.

The reactions on behalf of Rome-based food agencies: FAO, WFP, IFAD and IPGRI as well as representatives of several governments like Zimbabwe and Brazil were very positive towards the different campaigns presented. FAO stressed the importance of adopting a twin-track approach to fight hunger as today's biggest problem is access to food and not availability. IFAD talked about the importance of building a strong civil society to activate political will. "Much has been done in the battle against hunger", said WFP

For further information on the advocacy campaigns recently launched, please contact Laura Amore at internazionale@focsiv.it and Saliou Sarr at info@roppa-ao.org