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