Post on 26-Dec-2015
Discussions Points from the CISANET workshop
Presented by Edson Musopole
Introduction
The meeting took place in Lilongwe – Sheaffer Conference Centre
Meeting Outline Presentations from the experts - situational analysis
Group Discussions – divided into two -- Agro-economy issues -- Macro-economic issues
Macro-Economy Issues
Macro-Economic Issues
What are the gaps? Governance aspects - Legal framework –- articulate Constitutional freedoms & other freedoms e.g. “Right to
Food” -- remedial & punitive measures against ‘perpertrators’
- [Strong] Political will (to implement)/low interferance
- Accountability - Commitment to set the environment working
by Government
Macro-Economic Issues cont’d
Budgetary Allocations to Food Security - Country agreements –- commitment of Malawi Government to implement international agreements e.g.
NEPAD’s 10% of budget for agriculture & food security etc.
- [National] resource allocation -- low apportionment btwn admin. Vs. service delivery budget lines
Removal/tax exemption form agricultural inputs & equipment
-- spare parts etc.
Targetted production subsidies (as opposed
to consumption subsidies)
Macro-Economic Issues cont’d
Food Management - Community Grain Banking -- Macro (SGR) to microlevel (community) linkages
- Food Shortage -- [Strong] Linkage of SGR facility to national food vulnerability -- Food Aid not to undermine local production e.g. its effects on local
producer prices -- GM policy linked to ‘Right to Food’ -- Suggest changes to all policies that conflict food management issues
e.g. open right to import vs. stimulating local production -- Encourage local, regional sourcing of food
Macro-Economic Issues cont’d
Food Management - Disaster Management/Food Shortage cont’d
-- Encourage local, regional sourcing of food -- Facilitating agencies (Govt., NGO) to change mind-set of
recipients -- Resolve conflicting nature of relief vs. development services
-- transition from relief to development activities I.e. develop exit strategies
Macro-Economic Issues cont’d
Linkages -- decentralisation emphasis -- [Strong] Inter-ministerial linkages -- links between macro policies with all relevant sectors –
‘challenge’
Micro-Credit Issues - Lack of code of conduct
Conditions for Policy Feasibility - Depoliticising food security issues/political will - [Sufficient] Capacity to implement - Diversify food reserves i.e. not only maize but other crops
Agro-Economy Issues
Agro-Economic Issues
Information Systems - Catalogue stakeholders involved in collection,
processing, purposes and end-users of information
Link information systems with decentralised structures i.e. include grass-roots as end-users – strategies
Uniformity/standardisation of key/primary information
Development of guiding principles in collection and release of information
Agro-Economic Issues cont’d
Nutrition Situational Analysis - Coordination lapse -- different players doing it alone -- situation: ’pockets’ of operations
Lack of nutrition knowledge amongst field staff Field staff specialised in Nutrition lacking
Agro-Economic Issues cont’d
Nutrition Policy Actions - Commitment by donors, Govt., NGOs to the
establishment of a national structure on nutrition
[Intensive] Nutrition training of existing agricultural staff
Deliberate actions to mitigate HIV/AIDS - HIV/AIDS mainstreaming at Ministry & hh level interventions
Agro-Economic Issues cont’d
Agro-Economy - At national level, recognition of livestock as
a safety net measure Agricultural intervention need to be multi-
sectoral i.e. not only crop-based
Community empowerment to enhance food security & related issues
-- Community grainbanks, irrigation revolving funds, health & nutrition
-- Development & promotion of HIV/AIDS friendly technologies -- Gender: recognition of women as major labour providers &
reflect them in policies