Sustainable Livelihoods for Sustainable Livelihoods for Food Security and Good Nutrition: Food Security and Good Nutrition:

the Role of Food and Agriculturethe Role of Food and Agriculture

Alexander MüllerAlexander MüllerAssistant Director-General,Assistant Director-General,Natural Resources Management andNatural Resources Management and

Environment DepartmentEnvironment Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the UNFood and Agriculture Organization of the UN

FAOFAO

Achieving food security for all is at Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's workthe heart of FAO's work

FAO's mandate is to raise levels of FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural nutrition, improve agricultural

productivity, better the lives of rural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the populations and contribute to the

growth of the world economy.growth of the world economy.

FAO in ActionFAO in Action

Putting information within reachPutting information within reach

Sharing policy expertiseSharing policy expertise

Providing a meeting place for Providing a meeting place for nationsnations

Bringing knowledge to the fieldBringing knowledge to the field

““Hunger and Hunger and malnutrition are malnutrition are

unacceptable in a unacceptable in a world that has both world that has both the knowledge and the knowledge and

resources to end resources to end this human this human

catastrophe”catastrophe”International Conference on Nutrition, 1992

PromisesPromises

Reduce the number of people hungryReduce the number of people hungry

by half by 2015 - WFS by half by 2015 - WFS

Reduce the proportion of people hungryReduce the proportion of people hungry

by half by 2015 - MDG1by half by 2015 - MDG1

ProgressProgress

Number of Undernourished People in the Developing World

Child Hunger and UndernutritionChild Hunger and Undernutrition

Every year Every year six million children die from six million children die from malnutritionmalnutrition before they reach five years of age before they reach five years of age

In developing countries In developing countries one out of every threeone out of every three children has children has stunted growthstunted growth and nearly the and nearly the same percent have low weight for their agesame percent have low weight for their age

The prevalence of stunting and underweight is The prevalence of stunting and underweight is highest in South Asiahighest in South Asia, where 44 percent of , where 44 percent of children are stunted and 46 percent are children are stunted and 46 percent are underweightunderweight

(Unicef, State of the World’s children, 2005)

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward

Recognising that poor child growth Recognising that poor child growth and development are and development are social and social and

economic problemseconomic problems, not just , not just medical and health problemsmedical and health problems

The Essential First Step to Sustainable The Essential First Step to Sustainable Progress?Progress?

Reducing Child Hunger and Undernutrition

This is the goal, but child-centred This is the goal, but child-centred interventions alone will not reach itinterventions alone will not reach it

The reality is that children do not exist The reality is that children do not exist in isolationin isolation

The key to reducing child hunger, The key to reducing child hunger, therefore, is reducing family hungertherefore, is reducing family hunger

Child growth and Child growth and development development depend on depend on adequateadequate

foodfood health health carecare

Challenges: global and localChallenges: global and local

Inequity – social and economicInequity – social and economic

Further population growthFurther population growth

Extensive rural poverty - accelerated Extensive rural poverty - accelerated urbanisation – increasing urban povertyurbanisation – increasing urban poverty

Aging of populationsAging of populations

Health – HIV/AIDS, other diseasesHealth – HIV/AIDS, other diseases

Bio-security risksBio-security risks

Changing patterns of consumption and supply Changing patterns of consumption and supply

Threats to environment Threats to environment

EmergenciesEmergencies

Basic Goal: Create conditions in which households secure the nutritional well-being of all

members

Food must be availableFood must be availableLive in healthy environmentsLive in healthy environmentsAccess to health and social servicesAccess to health and social servicesIncomeIncomeKnowledgeKnowledgeTime and opportunity for providing careTime and opportunity for providing careMotivationMotivation

Links to AgricultureLinks to Agriculture

SOFI 2006 SOFI 2006 Strengthening efforts to Strengthening efforts to

eradicate hungereradicate hunger

Hunger reduction is necessary for Hunger reduction is necessary for accelerating development and reducing accelerating development and reducing povertypoverty

Agriculture growth and rural development Agriculture growth and rural development are critical for reducing hungerare critical for reducing hunger

A twin-track approach of pro-poor A twin-track approach of pro-poor development coupled with direct action development coupled with direct action against hunger and malnutrition is required against hunger and malnutrition is required

Agricultural growth and hungerAgricultural growth and hunger

“… the only group of countries to “… the only group of countries to reduce hunger during the 1990s was reduce hunger during the 1990s was the group in which the agriculture the group in which the agriculture sector grew.”sector grew.”

Agricultural growth and hungerAgricultural growth and hunger

““Looking back at the figures for the last Looking back at the figures for the last 30 years, it can be shown that those 30 years, it can be shown that those

countries that have invested and countries that have invested and continue to invest most in agriculture – continue to invest most in agriculture –

both public and private – now both public and private – now experience the lowest levels of experience the lowest levels of

undernourishment.”undernourishment.”

Foreign Aid for Agriculture

Over the past 20 years, it has fallen Over the past 20 years, it has fallen dramatically – from over US$9 dramatically – from over US$9

billion per year in the early 1980s to billion per year in the early 1980s to less than US$5 billion in the late less than US$5 billion in the late

1990s1990s. .

Only investment in agriculture – Only investment in agriculture – together with supporttogether with support

for education and health – will for education and health – will turn this situationturn this situation

around. around.

Towards an effective policy agenda for Towards an effective policy agenda for reducing family and child hungerreducing family and child hunger

Focus on the poor and on creating Focus on the poor and on creating sustainable livelihoods sustainable livelihoods

Enhance productivity of smallholder Enhance productivity of smallholder agricultureagriculture

Stimulate private-sector investmentStimulate private-sector investment

Protect the environmentProtect the environment

Make trade work for the poorMake trade work for the poor

Invest in agriculture Invest in agriculture

Investing inInvesting in Nutrition Nutrition

Improve Livelihoods and Improve Livelihoods and Access to FoodAccess to Food

Production Incomes

on-farm

off-farm

Essential needs

Improve food supplies in Improve food supplies in poor areaspoor areas

Quantity

Quality

Variety

Availability

Improve Care and Feeding Improve Care and Feeding PracticesPractices

Knowledge

Time andOpportunity

Attitude and Motivation

Improve Health ConditionsImprove Health Conditions

Improve the Status and Capabilities Improve the Status and Capabilities of Women of Women

How can we work together How can we work together to end malnutrition?to end malnutrition?

Develop and apply a common goal and Develop and apply a common goal and vision vision

Support integrated approaches at local levelSupport integrated approaches at local level

Create conditions in which poor can Create conditions in which poor can participate in and benefit from developmentparticipate in and benefit from development

Design and monitor impact of pro-poor Design and monitor impact of pro-poor macro and sector policiesmacro and sector policies

Utilize macro-micro linkagesUtilize macro-micro linkages

Reviewing the food chain with a Reviewing the food chain with a nutrition lensnutrition lens

Adequacy of supply in local marketsAdequacy of supply in local markets

Income opportunitiesIncome opportunities

Processing for better nutritionProcessing for better nutrition

Marketing/supplyMarketing/supply

Food safetyFood safety

Promote Rights-based ApproachesPromote Rights-based Approaches

Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Right to Adequate Food in the

Context of National Food SecurityContext of National Food Security

FAO and the SCNFAO and the SCN

Eager to cooperate through Task Eager to cooperate through Task Forces:Forces:

Communication, Advocacy and Communication, Advocacy and PartnershipsPartnerships

Assessment, monitoring and Assessment, monitoring and evaluation evaluation

Integrated approaches at country Integrated approaches at country levellevel

Contribution to Communication, Contribution to Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships Task forceAdvocacy and Partnerships Task force

International Alliance Against HungerInternational Alliance Against Hunger

Communication for developmentCommunication for development

Knowledge managementKnowledge management

Contribution to Assessment, Contribution to Assessment, Monitoring, Evaluation Task ForceMonitoring, Evaluation Task Force

Reliable and timely food security and Reliable and timely food security and nutrition information is essential for nutrition information is essential for effectively addressing hunger and effectively addressing hunger and malnutritionmalnutrition

Strengthening food security and Strengthening food security and vulnerability analysis under FIVIMSvulnerability analysis under FIVIMS

Contribution to Integrated Approaches Contribution to Integrated Approaches at Country Level Task Forceat Country Level Task Force

Closer cooperation among UN Agencies is Closer cooperation among UN Agencies is imperative – “Delivering as One”imperative – “Delivering as One”

Government ownership is essentialGovernment ownership is essential

Respond to needs and demand, build on Respond to needs and demand, build on existing effortsexisting efforts

Move away from project and donor/supply-driven Move away from project and donor/supply-driven approaches approaches

Primary FAO contribution: Support for National Primary FAO contribution: Support for National Programmes for Food Security (NPFS)Programmes for Food Security (NPFS)

National Programmes for National Programmes for Food Security (NPFS)Food Security (NPFS)

Primary vehicle for FAO support to Primary vehicle for FAO support to Member CountriesMember Countries

Working together: the only solutionWorking together: the only solution

Common objectivesCommon objectives

Common targetsCommon targets

Complementary Approaches and Complementary Approaches and ActionsActions

FAO’s Country-level MissionFAO’s Country-level Mission

Support to National Programmes for Food Support to National Programmes for Food SecuritySecurity

Provide policy advice and technical support Provide policy advice and technical support (training, technical assistance, knowledge (training, technical assistance, knowledge management) to actors at country level management) to actors at country level

Foster FAO/IFAD/WFP collaboration Foster FAO/IFAD/WFP collaboration through country theme groupsthrough country theme groups

Seek opportunities to cooperate with other Seek opportunities to cooperate with other partnerspartners

Ending Child Hunger and Ending Child Hunger and Undernutrition Initiative (Undernutrition Initiative (ECHUI)ECHUI)

A welcome, timely initiativeA welcome, timely initiative

FAO commits itself to play an active roleFAO commits itself to play an active role

““Hunger and Hunger and malnutrition are malnutrition are

unacceptable in a unacceptable in a world that has both world that has both the knowledge and the knowledge and

resources to end resources to end this human this human

catastrophe”catastrophe”International Conference on Nutrition, 1992

Together, Together,

we can we can

make a make a

differencedifference