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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify the institutions which have a stake in the process of food security policy formulation and implementation.

Define the role and functions of the relevant Define the role and functions of the relevant stakeholders in food security policy formulation and implementation.

• Indicate possible arrangements for a functional institutional set-up to ensure effective coordination of food security information and actions.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

INTRODUCTION

The formulation and implementation of FSPs

Food security is an overarching and cross-cutting issue

implementation of FSPsdepend on an active

involvement of various government institutions

as well as other key stakeholders…

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Government institutions involved in Food Security Policyformulation and implementation:

Ministry of Planning/ National Planning Commission

Ministry of Agriculture

Other Ministries Local Government Institutions

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

• Integrating FSP issues into other national Food Security

Ministry of Planning / National Planning Commission

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

FSP forms integral part of a National Policy & Planning Framework (NPPF).There are two principal ways to achieve such integration:

into other national development policies and strategies.

• Preparing a specific Food Security Policy document.

Food Security Policies

Food Security Policy

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

It plays a key role in the process.

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Ministry of Agriculture

• Contributing to sufficient and stable food supplies; and

• Improving access to food.

It is directly concerned with various core aspects of FS:

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

Example: Institutional Set-Up for Coordinating FSP in Lesotho

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) assumes an overall coordinating role in

In many countries, the Ministry of Agriculture is mandated to coordinate and promote food security in general

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

(MAFS) assumes an overall coordinating role in food security matters.

Within its conventional mandate, MAFS is responsible for all fields of agricultural development contributing to access, availability and stability.

There are pros and cons to the approach of entrusting the Ministry of Agriculture with overall coordination of FSPs.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Other Ministries

Ministry Food Security Policy issues

Ministry of Economic Development

Poverty alleviation.

Ministry of Education School feeding; school gardens; inclusion of food security aspects (nutrition, home gardening etc.) in security aspects (nutrition, home gardening etc.) in school and adult education curricula.

Ministry of Environment Natural resource conservation and rehabilitation for promoting sustainable development and long-term food security.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ International Cooperation

Negotiations and agreements with development partners (UN organizations, donors, NGOs) on support to food security policies and programmes.

Ministry of Finance Budget allocations and approval for food security policy interventions.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Other Ministries

Ministry Food Security Policy issues

Ministry of Health Nutrition /child nutrition, e.g. Mother and Child Health Care and Nutrition; (supplementary) child feeding programmes; also: nutrition education, sanitation.

Ministry of Labour/ Works

Employment generation- / public works- / cash-for-work, food-for-work-programmes.

Ministry of Marketing & Trade

Food price and marketing regulations; food export / import regulations; marketing organizations and infrastructure; cooperatives; subsidies.

Ministry of Social Affairs/ Women/ Youth

Social safety nets; social protection of vulnerable groups; special programmes for (particular groups of) women and youth with relevance for food security.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

Often a special agency is mandated with this function.

Disaster preparedness and management is another important field of food security policies.

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

UN structures may assume government role also with respect to food security policies.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

Provincial, district and community administrations:

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Local Government Institutions

• generate data and information on the FS situation,

• identify and articulate acute food security problems;

• are responsible for the implementation of food security policy measures.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS

Non-governmental stakeholders involved in Food Security Policy formulation and implementation:

Local and International NGOs

UN and donor agencies

Civil society Organizations (CSOs)

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

Local and International NGOs

Local and international NGOs operate a wide spectrum of FS related

programmes in a country.

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS

• advocacy and awareness creation of FS issues;

• mobilization and provision of material resources;

• technical assistance;

• training and capacity building;

• community mobilization.

They make substantial contributions in these fields:

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS

CSOs need to be actively involved particularly in issues such as:

Civil society Organizations (CSOs)

• Advocacy. • Provision of expertise.• Sensitization on relevant FS issues.• Proposals for projects and programmes.• Mobilization and organization of their members for action.• Monitoring of the implementation and impacts of FS

interventions.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

UN and donor agencies

Contributions by UN agencies

and bilateral donors, concern in particular:

ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS

• policy analysis and advice;

•provision of financial and material resources for FSrelated programmes;

• technical assistance;

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

Principles that should guide the establishment of an institutional set-up for the implementation of FSPs:

• Effective coordination and cooperation

• Efficient flow and exchange of FS information

• Responsiveness

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

There are some institutional arrangements that can help to put the principles for the establishment of an institutional set-up into practice:

Establishment of FS Focal Points at all relevant institutions

Formation of FS Committees at central and decentralized levelsrelevant institutions and decentralized levels

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

Establishment of FS Focal Points at all relevant institutions

Governmental institutions and NGOs designate a senior staff NGOs designate a senior staff member as Food Security Focal Point.

The FSFP serves as internal and external link for coordination and communication in matters of FS and will represent the institution in Food Security Committees.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

There are 3 types of Committees:

Formation of FS Committees at central and decentralized levels

• Steering Committee

One problem with FSCs is that they are often poorly resourced

• Technical Committee

• Committees at decentralised levels

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

WHO SHOULD LEAD THE FSP PROCESS

A high level Steering

A super-ministerial institutional body with the authority to coordinate all institutions involved

A high level Steering Committee, possibly chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office, would fulfill such role.

Often, however, it’is the Ministry of Agriculture thatinitiates the process of formulating and implementing FSPs.

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

WHO SHOULD LEAD THE FSP PROCESS

Chair

Food Security Policy Steering

Committee

Office of thePRIME MINISTER

Representatives of other organizations relevant for food security policies

(NGOs, CSOs, UN & donor agencies)

Other organizations

High ranking officials

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE &

Decentralized departments

&Local Government

Institutions

Food Security Technical Committee

Food Security Committees at

decentralised levels

Other organizations concerned with food

security issues at local levels

Other organizations concerned with

food security issues at national level

(NGOs, CSOs, UN & donor agencies)

AGRICULTURE &other MINISTRIES

Food Security Focal Points

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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation

Institutional Framework Food Security Policy

SUMMARY

The institutions that have a stake in the process of food security policy formulation and implementation are:

• Ministry of Planning/National Planning Commission;• Ministry of Agriculture;• Other ministries and government institutions (different from country to country); and

• Local Government Institutions.

The Non-Governmental stakeholders that should be involved in the FSP process are:

• Local and International NGOs;• Civil society Organizations (CSOs); and• UN and donor agencies.

The involvement of a wide range of state and non-state actors in the implementation of FSPs requires a functional institutional set-up with well functioning coordination structures, ensuring an efficient flow and exchange of food security information and coordinated effective actions.