Brussels Briefing n. 30Agricultural Resilience in the Face of Crises and

Shocks4th March 2013

http://brusselsbriefings.net

The EU approach to resilience: learning from food security crises .

Philippe Thomas, Head of Sector, Food Crisis, DG DEVCO, European Commission

The EU Approach to Resilience:

Learning from Food Security Crisis

An increasing fragile World

Food crises

Food and nutrition insecurity

Poverty and limited access to productive assets

Inappropriate land tenure systems

Environmental degradation and desertification

Climate change

Pressure on natural

resources

Demography and urbanization

Exposure to natural hazards

Exposure to economic shocks and political conflicts

Food prices fluctuation

Resilience - Definition

Resilience is the ability of an individual, a household, a community, a country or a region to withstand, to adapt, and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks.

Resilience at different levels, with various dimensions

International

National

Local/communities

Individual/householdS

ocia

lPo

litics and in

stitutio

ns

Hu

man

Educa

tion, H

ealth

Ph

ysic

al

Infra

structu

re

Natu

ral

wate

r, land, fo

rest

Econ

om

ic

Areas of resilience improvement

Strengthening CapacitiesAvailability•Improved inputs (e.g. resistant varieties)

•Sustainable agriculture

•Good practices of DRR

Access• Social protection (e.g. social transfers)

• Alternative incomes• Food self-production

Stability• Food and agri-input stocks• Food assistance• Strengthening of local markets

• Insurance schemes

Utilization•Hygiene and nutrition education

•Diet diversification and food quality improvement

Food Crises

SHARE and AGIR: 2 pilot initiatives

Sah

el re

cu

rren

t d

rou

gh

t AGIR Initiative• Environmental crises

• 18 million affected people• Major agricultural losses• Food crisis

• end hunger and malnutrition• achieve a substantial and durable

improvement in the resilience of the most vulnerable populations

Global Partnership between West Africa countries and regional organizations (ECOWAS UEMOA and CILSS) and their international partners, civil society and private sector

500 m € for the EU Action Plan

Horn

of

Afr

ica

pro

tracte

d c

rises SHARE Initiative

• Political, economic and environmental crisis• 12 million affected people• Soaring food insecurity and

undernutrition• Food crises

• treatment of severe malnutrition in infants

• improved management of natural resources, livestock health and trade, agriculture

• alternative income generating activities

• basic services (water, sanitation)

• DRR

Partnership with IGAD- Global Alliance

260 m € for the recovery

Resilience supported by EDF- Regional ProgrammesRéserve régionale de sécurité alimentaire pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest

(pilot phase: 56 millions €, à partir de 2013)« Répondre efficacement aux crises alimentaires aux côtés des Etats et des acteurs, tout en contribuant à la mise en œuvre de l’ECOWAP/PDDAA dans une perspective de sécurité et de souveraineté alimentaires régionales » 

Three level of intervention:- Local stocks (at local community level)- National reserves (managed by each country)- Regional reserves (managed through regional institutions)

Sites of storage:1. North Nigeria/south Niger2. South Mali/South Burkina/North Ghana3. Senegal 4. Guinea/ Liberia/Sierra Leone

Mobilization of the stocks done on the pay back principle!!!

Sustainable agriculture

o Improved and more resilient agricultural techniques and practices

o Seeds varieties resistant to pests and extreme weather

o Sustainable use of water and other natural resources

o Improved positive interaction between agriculture and natural

resources

o Better management of waste and reduced post-harvest losses

o Reduce dependence from energy and non-renewable resources

(fossil fuels, mineral fertilizers)

o Sustainable intensification of agriculture

What is the Commission proposing? (1)

1. Resilience as a priority for EU funding: support to partner countries' own resilience strategies

2. A new strategic approach - Address root causes of vulnerability - Long term commitment

- Strengthening capacities at all levels – from individual to regional institutions

- Coordinated planning and programming between humanitarian and development actors

- Flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances

- Local ownership and working in partnership

What is the Commission proposing? (2)

3. Developping a deeper understanding of risk reduction and management (methodologies+ replication of successful approaches)

4. International advocacy

5. Developping new instruments: innovative approaches to risk reduction and management, use of trust funds…

?

?

LDC LMIC

??

UMIC & Graduated

?

Way forwards: Geographical evidence - lack of resilience to food crises

Next steps:

- Action Plan in 2013

- Council Conclusions

- EDF / DCI 2014-2020 & AGIR

Political commitment should be translated into practice ! …

Package for 2013: overview of EU policy initiatives

Food security policy (2010) +

Council Conclusions

Nutrition policy (2013)

+ Commission Action Plan to achieve 2012

commitment to reduce stunting in 7 million

children by 2025 (annex)

Resilience approach (2012)

Food and nutrition security implementation plan (2013)

Joint undertaking: Commission and Member States

Thank you !