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Seventh meeting of the Working Group "Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative"

Guatemala City, Guatemala, 21st and 22nd of November, 2013

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REPORT OF THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE GT 2025

Meeting Chair: Guatemala Alternate Chair: GRULAC Secretariat: FAO RLC

1. ABOUT THE MEETING

Background

The Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative 2025 (HFLACI) stems from the commitment of the region´s countries and organizations, with the support of FAO - who took on the role of the project´s technical secretariat - to eradicate hunger within a generation and ensure the food and nutritional security of all inhabitants within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In September 2005, in Guatemala, the idea was presented and discussed during the Latin American Summit on Chronic Hunger. Later, in the Declaration of the Presidents of Central America and Brazil, on the 13th of September, 2005, an outline was presented for the Initiative, receiving support from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Brazil. Throughout 2006, the initiative received the support of the Presidents of Brazil and Guatemala. Assistance was requested from FAO, and the support of the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the United Nations (GRULAC) was formalized. In response to these requests the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Support Project was formed, which has enjoyed financial support from the Kingdom of Spain through the Spain-FAO Trust Fund, and in recent years the support of the FAO-Brazil International Cooperation Fund. The project, code GCP/RLA/160/SPA, began operating on the 3rd October 2006. In the 29th FAO Regional Conference (Caracas, April 2006), GRULAC requested that the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAO RLC) take on the coordination of the project. At the same Conference it was determined, in addition to giving the project operating space and functionality, to create the Initiative´s Working Group (GT 2025), formed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. Subsequently, the Working Group was opened to the participation of all the countries of the region. It was agreed that the GT 2025 would meet annually to maintain communication between Nations. In addition it was agreed to hold the First Meeting of the GT 2025 in Guatemala, in November of the same year. Subsequently, the Initiative was presented during the 32

nd Committee on World Food Security (CFS), and was included as a standing

item on the Committee´s agenda. In October 2006, the FAO project began operating with the support of AECID. This agreement was reiterated in the 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd FAO Regional Conferences and FAO was asked to continue to act as the technical secretariat of the HFLACI. The commitment of the countries of the region to the HFLACI was also reflected in the Statements of the I and II meetings of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States - CELAC-, in Santiago de Chile 2013 and La Habana 2014. The second meeting of the GT 2025 was held in Bogota in September 2007; the third in Buenos Aires in October 2008; the fourth in Quito in March 2010; the fifth in Lima in May 2011; and the sixth in Georgetown in July 2012, which was the first to be held in a country of the Caribbean and in which there was a significant participation from the subregion. Participants agreed on: the importance of the focal points for the HFLACI, and the participation of regional integration bodies; that the Secretariat of the HFLACI continue systematizing and exchanging knowledge and experiences; to advance in South-South cooperation; to promote dialogue with stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, academic institutions, NGOs and other stakeholders in FNS issues within the region; to support the Parliamentary Front against Hunger and the Observatory on the Right to Food; to develop internal management of HFLAC mechanisms, including funding; and to advance in the incorporation of regional integration bodies in the CFS.



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Context

The Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative (HFLACI) is a commitment by the countries of the region to create conditions that will help eradicate hunger permanently by the year 2025. It was first presented in the first Latin American Conference on Chronic Hunger, held in Guatemala in 2005, and its specific objective is to support the reduction of the incidence of chronic malnutrition to below 2.5%, in all countries of the region by the year 2025. The Initiative is a space for exchange, reflection and cooperation among the countries of the region for the realization of the human right to food of all people in Latin American and the Caribbean. Since its inception the initiative earned the strong support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation for Development (AECID). At the request of the countries, FAO serves as the Initiative´s Secretariat, as well as providing technical support.

Today it is recognized that Latin America and the Caribbean is the region of the world that has made the most progress in reducing food insecurity over the past two decades. The proportion of people who suffer malnutrition has been reduced by 25% and the region is close to achieving the hunger-related Millennium Development Goals. Among the various reasons that explain these developments is the greater commitment of the states to the promotion of more inclusive public policies and legal and institutional frameworks; favourable economic conditions within the region have combined with the promotion of policies and effective programmes for capacity building, social protection and the promotion of sustainable production among traditionally disadvantaged populations.

Despite the undoubted progress, the region is diverse in terms of the achievements and challenges that it faces. Countries with significant progress and lessons to share with the region coexist with other countries which still face major challenges in designing and implementing more effective policies for the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

Objectives

The seventh meeting of the 2025 Working Group of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative pursued the following objectives:

To analyse the situation of food and nutritional security in the region and reflect on the main achievements and challenges to eliminate hunger by the year 2025.

To review the major advances in public policy for the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in the region, with emphasis on national experiences aimed at mobilizing commitment in the fight against hunger, and the promotion of policies, programmes and projects in favour of family farming and food and nutrition security.

To define the types of political commitment necessary to promote public policy and state initiatives consistent with the challenge of ending hunger.

To identify and establish possibilities of collaboration and regional support in the fight against hunger (South-South cooperation)

To define proposals for the countries to become actively involved in the elaboration of the Post 2015 Development Agenda

To define how the Initiative can continue to play an important role in the eradication of hunger and the achievement of food and nutritional security in the region.



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Meeting Participants

The seventh meeting of the 2025 Working Group of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative (GT 2025) was attended by important political and technical stakeholders of the region. As the host country, the Guatemalan Government was represented by authorities including the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, Mr. Elmer Alberto López Rodríguez; the Permanent Representative Ambassador of Guatemala to FAO and representative of GRULAC, Stephanie Hochstetter; and Luis Enrique Monterroso, Secretary of the National Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security (SESAN), as well as a large technical group mostly composed of personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture and the SESAN. Also present were His Excellency José Roberto De Almeida Pinto, Ambassador of Brazil, and the Honourable Mr. Miguel Angel Encinas, General Coordinator of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, on behalf of the Ambassador of Spain. The event was attended by official representatives of 16 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela. Also participating were delegates of regional integration bodies, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). Also present were the World Food Programme (WFP) represented by Alzira Ferreira, the Regional Representative, and the respective representatives in Colombia and Honduras; and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID). The Latin American Parliamentary Front against Hunger was represented by its Coordinator Guadalupe Valdez, Member of Parliament for the Dominican Republic. In attendance as civil society and on behalf of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in the region, was Mirna Taylor of the Organization of Indigenous Women of the Continent. FAO, as the institution responsible for the Secretariat of the Initiative, facilitated and coordinated the organization in conjunction with the Government of Guatemala (the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Present from FAO were Ignacio Rivera Rodriguez, FAO´s Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica; Ernesto Sinopoli, Rafael Zavala and Maria Julia Cardenas, FAO representatives in Guatemala, Colombia and Honduras respectively; Carmelo Gallardo, Coordinator of SPFS Central America; and Ricardo Rapallo, Coordinator of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Support Project, and Antonieta Surawski from the Support Project´s team in FAO-RLC. The events programme can be found in Annex 1 and a list of participants in Annex 2.

Inauguration

After registration the formal meeting began with the opening ceremony. The opening speakers were Ignacio Rivera Rodriguez, Subregional Coordinator of FAO for Mesoamerica; Elmer Alberto López Rodríguez, the Guatemalan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food; and Luis Enrique Monterroso, Secretary of the Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security of Guatemala (SESAN). They were accompanied at the head table by His Excellency José Roberto De Almeida Pinto, Ambassador of Brazil, and the Honorable Mr. Miguel Angel Encinas, Coordinator of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, on behalf of the Ambassador of Spain.



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FAO´s Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica thanked Guatemala for its hospitality and support in the organization of the meeting. He referred to the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative as a commitment of the highest level by the countries for a huger free region by the year 2025, which has been ratified by all countries in the region in various forums and international summits. The Working Group (GT2025) is composed of the Initiative´s national focal points, and it reviews the progress of the region in the fight against hunger, experiences in public policy on food and nutrition security are presented, and exchange activities and strategies for collaboration between countries are agreed to overcome this scourge in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also emphasized that, since the beginning of the Initiative, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), together with other agencies of the United Nations and international cooperation bodies such as the Spanish and Brazilian agencies have joined in supporting this regional commitment. He referred to the region´s advances in hunger reduction, and the need to accelerate these achievements, solving access problems and taking cross-sectoral and twin-track measures. For this reason he emphasized the need to support a political approach, as expressed by the HFLAC Initiative, through national and subregional political commitments and South-South cooperation. He highlighted the large-scale efforts by countries to combat hunger and malnutrition, such as the case of Guatemala with the Zero Hunger Pact, as well as supra-national actions taken by regional integration bodies. He stressed that the Initiative belongs to and is the responsibility of many stakeholders, including regional organizations, Governments, parliamentarians, academics, civil society, and the private sector. Moreover, FAO´s new strategic framework builds on the experience of the HFLAC Initiative, particularly in its approach to political-institutional aspects, integrating this perspective in the planning and implementation of cooperation in all FAO offices in the world as of 2014. The Guatemalan Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food explained that the issue of hunger has been growing and positioning itself on the public agenda. Especially in Guatemala, this has been a problem for a long time, and dealing with it requires a change of route. The national situation is tough, with some municipalities having up to 91% chronic undernourishment. This is why the Government is giving priority attention, including weekly field visits by senior officials and technical staff, with the aim of achieving substantial and sustainable changes. He thanked Brazil, Spain, the World Food Programme (WFP) and all the United Nations agencies for the aid received, in conjunction with other countries that are cooperating so that the population has food and greater storage capacity through silos. He said that the small scale farming system should be strengthened, in particular the food production sector, where economic policies must go hand in hand with social policies on food, health and education. To do this, the Guatemalan Government needs to build its capacity to work on these issues in a fully coordinated manner.

Constitution of the Committee

Thereafter followed the election of the members of the Committee for the VII meeting of the GT2025. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, the Ambassador of Brazil, and the representatives of AECID and FAO left the inaugural table. Ricardo Rapallo, Coordinator of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Support Project, which acts as the technical secretariat of the Initiative and of this Working Group, joined the main table to accompany the President of the VII meeting of the GT2015, the focal point of Guatemala, Luis Monterroso. It was unanimously decided that the host country, Guatemala, should preside over the Committee. The motion of the Venezuelan representative that the alternate chair be held by Mexico was agreed. The Secretariat of the meeting was assumed by the Coordinator of the HFLAC Initiative Support Project, together with the host country team.

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2. INITIAL PRESENTATIONS

"Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Progress Report"

Commencing the normal activities of the meeting of the 2025 Working Group of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative, the Coordinator of the HFLAC Initiative Support Project informed the focal points and the meeting´s participants on the main actions and activities carried out by countries and the HFLAC Initiative Support Project over the past 12 months. In the framework of the Agreements reached at the VI meeting of the HFLAC Initiative in Guyana, the focal points decided to incorporate within the Working Group a representative of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean, representatives of regional integration bodies and a representative of civil society through its mechanism of representation in the World Food Security Committee. In fact, representatives from these sectors have actively participated in the annual meetings of the GT in recent years, integrating their approaches in the discussions. Work by the technical secretariat has been consistent with the agreement to continue enhancing work with countries and regional integration bodies, and has also supported the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Group of countries of the Petrocaribe Economic Zone in the development of their respective strategies and programmes for food security and the eradication of poverty, and as a basis for South-South cooperation. In addition, it continues to drive the generation and dissemination of knowledge through specialized meetings, training, exchange of experiences, publications, and other means, making considerable contributions in issues of nutrition, governance and family farming. The approach, guidelines, learning and experience of the HFLAC Initiative have constituted significant inputs for the design of the FAO´s new strategic framework at the global level, including action guidelines and institutional priorities for 2014 and 2015. The progress report of the HFLAC Initiative Support Project began by contextualizing the subject, referring first of all to the positive trends which have been seen in the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in the region, attributing these results to a greater recognition of rights in more consolidated democracies, economic growth with increased levels of inclusion, and strengthened political commitment and governance, as shown by the development of various strategies, policies, programmes, and legal and institutional frameworks at regional and national levels to improve the food and nutritional security of the population. Policies are adopting a twin-track approach; with direct short-term actions to address the immediate causes of hunger, and longer term actions to impact their structural causes. These include policies in the areas of social protection, family agriculture, institutional arrangements, information systems, and capacity building. The HFLAC Initiative Support Project, in coordination with other FAO projects and programmes, has been contributing in these areas through regional integration bodies, National Governments and other actors such as parliamentarians, academics and organized civil society. Current challenges include the need to continue advancing until achieving the full eradication of hunger in the region, and to address the increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight in all age groups, particularly in the child population.

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Parliamentary Front against Hunger

Guadalupe Valdez, the Coordinator of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger of Latin America and the Caribbean (PFH), Member of Parliament of the Dominican Republic, presented the main activities developed by the Front last year, and the challenges that the future brings. As well as acknowledging Guatemala´s welcome, she told the participants how the commitment of parliamentarians during the past four years has lead to progress in political processes, legal frameworks, strategic alliances, negotiations, dialogues and learning among the hundreds of legislators from 20 countries that now make up the Front. The contribution to the establishment of a regulatory framework in the area of FNS has meant that the region is today at the forefront in the recognition of the right to food. At the supranational legislative level, PARLATINO has passed framework laws on the right to food, and recently on school feeding. However, it is urgent to take actions regarding the 48 million people in the region that suffer from hunger, which was recently addressed in the IV Forum of the PFH in Bolivia and is reflected in lines of work. Also international and regional bodies- such as OAS, CELAC, SICA - are giving priority to the issue of FNS and assuming a political commitment in this regard. Taking stock, the national PFH are established and in operation, with a plural vision of commitment, responsibility and political will to bring about changes and promote the common good.

Keynote Speech

The Secretary of the Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security - SESAN - Luis Enrique Monterroso, began the first working session by reflecting on the need for strong political commitment in order to make progress in the achievement of results in the fight against hunger. In this sense, the region has a range of valuable experiences at different levels where this commitment is being backed by concrete actions. The speech made specific reference to the Zero Hunger Pact in Guatemala.

3. ROUND TABLES The meeting adopted the methodology of round tables in order to focus the discussion on specific topics. The tables addressed four topics, each one being started in plenary presentations by countries/agencies, followed by questions, comments and exchange. The four topics (Annexes 3, 4, 5 and 6) were discussed in more depth through working groups composed of various stakeholders (Annex 7), under the leadership of a moderator to motivate the discussion. For each topic a list of suggested questions was prepared, in order to contribute to the preparation of thematic conclusions. The discussion incorporated the question regarding the role that the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative can play in promoting work in each of these areas. The conclusions of the working groups served as input for the final declaration of the VII meeting of GT 2025, supported by its participants, as a contribution to progress in the fight against food and nutrition insecurity in the region.

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First Round Table. Regional/national political commitment to achieve food and nutritional security in Latin America and the Caribbean

This round table addressed the objectives related to the political commitment necessary to promote public policy and state initiatives for the fight against hunger as well as identifying possibilities for collaboration and regional support in the field of food and nutrition security. There are national and regional examples that strong political commitment, which also involves society and other state actors, is essential to making progress in the eradication of hunger in the region. The round table reflected on the importance of articulating instances of dialogue and action at the regional, subregional and national levels.

Jorge Ferrer, Minister-Counsellor at the Cuban Ministry of External Affairs, whose country holds the Chair Pro Tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), referred to this organization as very young having been created in Caracas in 2011, and stated that one of its main concerns has been food security and its relationship with poverty, education and agriculture. During the founding summit it was agreed to exchange technologies, to seek the coordination of initiatives related to the four pillars of food and nutrition security and the need to design a plan to this effect, in agreement with the Caracas Plan of Action. Pursuant to this Plan, a meeting of Social Ministers was convened, in which proposals were raised for the eradication of hunger and poverty, including the promotion of policies; access for all to safe food; respect for the diversity of food habits; and stable production in case of disasters that may affect access. On the other hand, in the Family Farming meeting held in Brasilia in November 2013, it was agreed to promote cooperation, monitoring and support for the year of family farming, among others actions. He said that the first steps of commitment and cooperation are being taken, and presented the agenda that is being developed by this regional body in the fight against hunger and poverty, in addition to the national experience in food and nutrition security. He finished by saying that cooperation and resources are required, but above all it is the will of the members that is most needed. María de la Luz B´Hamel, Director of International Economic Organizations for the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment and Focal Point of the HFLACI in Cuba, spoke of the need to promote and strengthen South-South cooperation for food and nutrition security and the permanent eradication of hunger. She stressed the importance of identifying specific areas of cooperation, focusing on capacity building, and presented a proposal for capacity building in food and nutrition security based on a network of academic centres managed by the University of Havana with a view to forming a regional training centre on the subject. The detailed proposal for training as an area of South-South cooperation within the framework of the HFLACI includes a first stage of partnership between national entities: the University of Habana, the National Centre of Agricultural Health (CENSA) and the Institute of Animal Science. It proposes short courses, postgraduate studies, English courses, and courses on technical agricultural subjects, among others. Manuel Vásquez, Advisor on International Affairs and Cooperation of the Ministry of Social Development of Uruguay, presented the progress made over the last two years by the Working Group on Food Security and the Fight against Malnutrition (GT SAN UNASUR), part of the South American Council of Social Development of UNASUR and its respective Plan of Action. The group´s future lines of action contemplate continuing the debate on food security and sovereignty; promoting South-South cooperation; deepening and strengthening policies and improving articulation between national governmental actors. To finish, Gladys Urbaneja, Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations agencies based in Rome, presented the experience of her country in the field of food and nutrition security, and the leadership that it is developing in the collaboration and exchange with different countries of the region through subregional integration and effective cooperation instruments, such as Petrocaribe/ALBA.

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Second Round Table. South-South Cooperation for the eradication of hunger: experiences and approaches

Since its inception the countries of the region have seen the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative as a privileged space for promoting the exchange of experiences and successful actions for food and nutritional security. Indeed, this region is the most advanced in the world in reducing hunger indicators, and is also a region that in net terms produces more food than in principle would be required for all its inhabitants. Therefore, there are concrete examples and possibilities for articulation between the countries to jointly put an end to this scourge. Daniel Díaz, of the National Coordination of Institutional Relations, Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and MDS, spoke about the Argentina-Haiti cooperation, specifically the Haitian Pro-Huerta Programme "Promotion of Growing Fresh Food in Haitian Home Gardens", a food security programme that promotes a balanced diet and the active participation of the population involved through the small scale organic production of fresh food. This experience is based on Pro-Huerta´s 23 years of experience, which began in Haiti as a cooperation activity in 2005 and has gradually incorporated more actors and resources to expand its national coverage. It has grown to encompass more than 154,000 families and more than 22,000 vegetable gardens as at September 2013, covering aspects of crop management, water, farms, seeds, tools and nutrition education. It is focused on processes, promoting values such as self-esteem, cooperation, participation and creativity, improving social capital through sustainability and ownership. Alfredo Mayén Mena, Deputy Director-General of the General Coordination of the Meso America Project, Mexican Agency of International Cooperation for Development, introduced the proposal of Hunger Free Mesoamerica within the framework of South-South cooperation. The proposal is based on the experience of countries and agencies, in their progress towards the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. It recognizes political commitment as essential, manifested through agreements and consensus among key stakeholders; and likewise the multisectoral approach to food and nutrition security, including adaptation of the institutional framework, resources and legal frameworks. Underlying this approach is an understanding of economic, social, gender and ethnic inequalities as being the most relevant to be addressed in the region in order to move towards food and nutrition security. The proposal is in line with the Zero Hunger Challenge, and its themes include political commitment and governance for FNS; adequate nutrition; strengthening of family farming; vulnerability reduction. The proposal is being prepared and will be defined with the countries involved and other agencies during 2014, in order to be presented at the XIV Summit of Tuxtla that will possibly be held in December 2014. Maria Silvia Laurindo, Minister Counsellor of Brazil in Guatemala underscored the commitment that his country has maintained to the right to food in the region since the beginning of the HFLACI. This is why it has promoted, among other things, an extensive programme of activities and projects of South-South cooperation to facilitate the exchange of experiences in public policy to achieve food security. Third Round Table. Post-2015 Agenda for the fight against hunger. As the date at which countries pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals draws near, debate is being promoted at the global level regarding the lessons learned on these objectives, and above all, the steps to be followed after 2015.

This reflection is being coordinated according to the thematic areas by different countries, with the support and assistance of the United Nations agencies with a mandate on these issues. In relation to food and nutrition security, two countries present at the meeting are leading the discussion: Colombia and Spain.

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Carlota Merchán, of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, explained to the participants the important place given to food and nutrition security in the 2013-2016 Master Plan of Spanish Cooperation, in addition to the support delivered to the United Nations during the process of collecting input from various bodies for the construction of the Post-2015 Agenda. She highlighted the High-Level Consultation in April 2013 co-hosted by Colombia and Spain, and the emergence of the thematic pillars of Spain´s stand point, which include: the fight against hunger as the main development challenge; the right to food as the basis of a comprehensive approach; nutrition; family farming; the role of women; investment and leadership; protection and social cohesion; and resilience. The main challenges of the new agenda include feeding more than 9 billion people living mostly in cities; the Millennium Declaration as a normative frame of reference; the incorporation of new dimensions absent from the Millennium Development Goals; the social support of the agenda and its accountability; sustainability; poverty and inequality; adequate and predictable funding; and the double role of middle-income countries. Alonso Lozada De La Cruz, Colombia's Consul in Guatemala City, explained the developments that are taking place in the region in the discussion of the so-called Sustainable Development Goals of the Post 2015 Agenda and his country´s position on this matter. From the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia, Claribel Rodríguez spoke about the National Plan for Food and Nutrition Security 2012-2019, launched in March 2013 by the Intersectoral Committee on Food and Nutrition Security (CISAN). The Plan seeks to reach the poorest and most vulnerable people, and responds to the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy, with 35 indicators whose monitoring and evaluation may be consulted by users. Fourth Round Table. Policies and Programmes for Family Farming and Political Commitment to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition Family Farming is an essential topic for food security, especially the food security of the rural population, as this is the sector of the population that most suffers the scourge of hunger and poverty. At the same time it significantly contributes to the food security of the entire population of the countries. This takes on even more importance in the context of the Year of Family Farming during 2014. Keynote Speech

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, Elmer López, introduced the topic of family farming with a presentation of the Family Farming Programme and Rural Development Learning Centres., which are an essential part of the Guatemalan Government´s National Policy of Integrated Rural Development. He explained the model of social change that is currently driving the Government, promoting people-centred development and seeking to break paternalistic schemes, through the Family Farming Programme for Strengthening the Peasant Economy (PAFFEC). This programme supports communities in facing for themselves the factors of their context that have contributed to their marginalization. Successful experiences of strategic partnerships between Governments, FAO and the WFP The experiences of two countries were presented in which work among these three instances has been coordinated in a way that has permitted the enhancement of existing processes through support and partnerships with different stakeholders, creating synergies and producing more effective results for food and nutritional security. Experiences like these are helping to build a regional vision of FAO and WFP, supporting family farming to further the objective of the food and nutrition security of the poor, as

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endorsed by Alzira Ferreira, Deputy Regional Director of the WFP for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Ignacio Rivera Rodríguez, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica. In the case of Honduras, a presentation was made by Mariano Jiménez, Director of the technical unit of food and nutrition security (UTSAN); María Julia Cardenas, FAO representative in Honduras; and Pasqualina Di Sirio, WFP representative in this country. This is a strategy of sustainable commercial insertion into the value chain of basic grains in Honduras, through the joint implementation of the Agro-chains and Purchases for Progress Project (P4P), which is generating changes in the producers´ trade relations and in the structures for cooperation between the Government, FAO and WFP. Capacity building in organizations, communities and Government through technical and strategic support is strengthening the participation of local farmers as suppliers of production chains and associative trading. The case of Colombia was presented by the FAO and PMA representatives in this country- Rafael Zavala and Miguel Barreto respectively. The Experience of WFP-FAO Joint Work in Colombia addressed the generation of processes and opportunities for strategic actions - including other agencies-, through the identification of comparative advantages; leadership and institutional coordination; identification of joint financing; inter-agency coordination with the Government; development of the FNS cluster in information and coordination; and awareness of opportunities. Examples of joint experiences include the FNS Territorial Plan in the municipality of Soacha; work with indigenous and afro communities of Chocó; the strengthening of family farming for self-sufficiency and the production of surpluses in Nariño and Antioquia; and supporting the Council of Bogotá in the generation of opportunities for small producers to access the institutional market. National experiences in Family Farming Tracey-Ann Wright, of the Policy Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, presented the experience of Jamaica, explaining that Agriculture is concentrated in rural areas and is its main source of income, with two-thirds of farms being no bigger than one hectare. Alongside a decrease in the export of traditional crops (sugar, bananas, coffee, coconut, citrus, cocoa), there has been an increase in the export of non-traditional products such as vegetables, aquatic products and tubers. Among the challenges faced is the growing value of food imports (which quadrupled between 2004 and 2012), increasing rural poverty, the high cost of inputs and low agricultural productivity. While Jamaica has made progress in reducing poverty and reaching MDG 1, crises and external debt are serious threats. She listed a series of national actions that have been undertaken, together with the allocation of the necessary resources, to improve local productivity and reduce dependence on imported products. Among them she mentioned progress in policies, programmes, partnerships with different actors, investments and loans, technology, infrastructure and marketing. She highlighted the National Food Security Policy, which has already been formalized, and its corresponding Action Plan. Both are a political priority and involve the commitment of multiple sectors, which, it is hoped, will lead to the future enactment of a Food Security Law. Pedro Bavaresco, General Coordinator of Marketing of the Secretariat of Family Farming of the Ministry of Agrarian Development, presented the case of Brazil, where 85% of farms are devoted to family farming, with a participation of 75% of the agricultural labour force. Although they occupy less than 25% of the agricultural area, they contribute 38% of the gross value of agricultural production. He mentioned the evolution of regulations, referring to the Programme of Food Purchases from Family Farming of 2003, and later in 2009 the federal law that requires that the National School Feeding Programme buy 30% directly from family farming. As key elements of success he highlighted the decentralization of resources, social participation in its formulation and control, the promotion of short production and consumption circuits, and attention to local food customs and the seasonality of produce. Among the obstacles are difficulties for entering metropolitan regions, the invisibility of family farmers, the lack of logistical structures and

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http://www.slideshare.net/FAONoticias/honduras-estrategia-de-insercin-comercial-sostenible-en-la-cadena-de-valor-de-granos-bsicoshttp:/www.slideshare.net/FAONoticias/honduras-estrategia-de-insercin-comercial-sostenible-en-la-cadena-de-valor-de-granos-bsicos

http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/FAONoticias/rafael-zavala-colombia-experiencia-trabajo-conjunto-faopma/1

http://www.slideshare.net/FAONoticias/traceyann-wright-jamaica-experiencias-nacionales-en-agricultura-familiar

http://www.slideshare.net/FAONoticias/pedro-bavaresco-brasil-agricultura-familiar



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regulation of activities, and the excess of bureaucracy in public procurement. Measures taken to address these problems include the Feed Brazil Project and the integration of programmes, the presenter concluding with the emphatic recommendation to promote public procurement to encourage small farmers to realize healthy, decentralized and socially fair production.

4. WORKING SESSIONS First Round Table. Regional/national political commitment to achieve food and nutritional security in Latin America and the Caribbean

The discussion focused on the following questions:

1. How is political commitment defined and which are its political and technical foundations? (consider, among other factors, who participates, sectors involved, scope, mechanisms, national/regional agenda)

2. How is backing given to this political commitment and how this translates into effective action in the fight against hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition?

3. How can the HFLAC Initiative continue contributing to strengthen and expand the political commitment at national and regional levels with different actors?

A summary of the main points regarding political commitment and effective actions:

Political commitment must be part of an ethic of common good, and be supported in terms of transparency, accountability, citizen participation and cross-sectoral, inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination.

Policies must be addressed with a twin-track approach: emergency and immediate attention to extreme poverty, and proposals aimed at medium and long-term development. Political commitment is not isolated from other sectors and factors, which must be identified and addressed in a complementary way, including decent employment schemes. In addition, public policies should take into account the territorial and cultural particularities of each country.

While the political commitments to the eradication of hunger are relatively 'easy' to achieve, this is contradicted by the percentage of the budget allocated to Agriculture, which has been in constant decline. It is necessary to allocate more resources for agriculture and associated investments, instead of importing cheap food.

CARICOM, as an integration body in the subregion of the Caribbean, constitutes a regional platform for agreements that can be translated into national policies and monitoring mechanisms.

It is necessary to promote local governance in public policy, including participatory organization from the local level and communities. In Central America, municipal committees play a key role.

Coordination by and with the Executive power improves the viability of the proposals. Among the effective actions to realize political commitments to eradicate hunger is the coordination for FNS in close institutional collaboration with the Presidency.

The participation and commitment of the whole society must be encouraged, including the integration of state, private, civil society, and parliamentary sectors, promoting public-private partnerships, leadership and participation for decision-making and monitoring of implemented actions.

The indigenous population requires specific attention to prevent their situation from being blurred by national media, considering aspects such as food sovereignty, management of natural resources, cultural aspects of production and consumption, etc.



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Special attention is required by women of childbearing age, with emphasis on the crucial period of the first thousand days. Care of the mother is crucial, as it is she who is responsible for nurturing the new being. This involves strengthening care provided by public services. It is suggested to explore the option of breast milk banks.

Immediate attention must be given to emergencies, especially to persons not covered by sectoral programmes.

The need to strengthen information, training and oversight systems. Information must be comparable. Clear indicators are required.

The beneficiaries of policies and programmes should receive guidance and education, promoting their empowerment.

Food security and reproductive education must be present in the school curriculum.

It is necessary to address the negative publicity campaigns by major food corporations and their influence on the food system as a whole, especially consumption. Experts consider that malnutrition due to excess will be more difficult to combat than undernourishment.

The Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative can support in various ways:

Through the recognition given by FAO to St. Vincent with respect to the fulfilment of the MDG1, the country pledged to reduce the target to 0. The HFLACI can continue to facilitate the exchange of information and best practices for the eradication of hunger.

The participation of the HFLACI in regional forums, such as for example CARICOMs Week of Agriculture, can help to further the political aspects of food security.

Mapping and data collection with the support of the HFLACI can help sustain arguments on the specific issues of each subregion or country.

It is important to measure the levels of commitment of the countries, and FAO can contribute in these processes through some tools, such as the methodology of FNS Capacity Profile, a tool to analyse and improve the capacities of countries with the perspective of building an institutional political environment to deal with food insecurity and malnutrition.

Second Round Table. South-South Cooperation for the eradication of hunger: experiences and approaches


1. What are the challenges posed by current cooperation models, their advantages and disadvantages? 2. What strategies and mechanisms are proposed to strengthen South-South cooperation in the

region? 3. How can the HFLAC Initiative be used as a regional commitment and instance for the promotion and

facilitation of South-South cooperation channels?

A summary of the main proposals for strategies and mechanisms to promote South-South cooperation:

An open information platform is needed which shows the strengths, weaknesses, and existing capabilities and resources, and which enables the effective design and use of cooperation mechanisms. Information should include: institutions in the region and their lines of action; experiences underway; lessons learned, best practices and systematization; inventory of policies for FNS at the national and regional level. A matrix of cooperation by country can expedite the provision or receipt of cooperation in different areas related to the fight against hunger.



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Cooperation should promote the autonomy of countries over intervention. However, the need to strengthen and promote triangular cooperation or another mechanism that provides greater fluidity is recognized.

The difficulties associated with the articulation of political and technical language should be addressed.

Guatemala shows examples of interest to other countries. Though its actions of participation and operation in food and nutrition security carried out by the local, municipal and departmental levels, the SESAN has a food security information system. The way in which cultural and ethnic differences are approached has highlighted the need to adapt cooperation instruments to suit national and local conditions.

Rural areas should be considered for the strengthening of cooperation platforms. While many rural leaders may not conform to the profile traditionally required for cooperation projects, they possess a broad and valuable experience. Such leaders can be trained and assume roles as replicators, facilitators, trainers, etc.

It is necessary to overcome language difficulties so that English-speaking countries can learn from the progress made by Latin American countries. In this same vein, the current mechanism of technical training of English-speaking students in Spanish speaking countries should be capitalized as those who learn Spanish have more advantages for deepening exchanges and building networks.

The technical working group on food and nutritional security in the Caribbean is a good opportunity to follow-up on national policies, monitoring and evaluation, drawing lessons from the experience of other countries.

The concept of rural life in the context of the Caribbean should be revised, as it has different nuances to the traditional concept of rurality in the Latin American context. Therefore, a generic approach is not appropriate in the subregion.

In the Caribbean subregion, post harvest food loss is a specific issue that should be addressed by cooperation.


Food and nutrition security is a multidimensional problem. The Initiative´s Forum is an opportunity for reflection that contributes to the exchange of experiences and cooperation, promoting investment in other countries.

The Initiative can contribute to advocacy and lobbying for the right to food and its inclusion in the Constitution and other normative frameworks, as well as the promotion of guidelines in various fields.

Promotion of the institutionalization of programmes and strategies that contribute to food and nutrition security, seeking their consolidation and sustainability beyond political changes.

As a political tool for Governmental use, the Initiative can support the realization of advertising campaigns for healthy eating, countering the negative publicity by major food corporations, and promoting exercise and the consumption of healthy and varied foods, as in the case of Mexico.

The Initiative can help boost the role and responsibility of the private sector, through programmes of social responsibility and public-private partnerships to end hunger, as shown by several examples in the region.

Some topics should be further enhanced and developed, such as national economic structures and the role of agriculture in such structures, especially family farming; malnutrition in terms of overweight, obesity and nutritional deficiency, promoting local food production to substitute imports and achieve a more healthy diet, as well as healthy food systems integrated into national plans and with adequate resources.



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In the context of the initiative, the Caribbean can acquire more visibility, become more aware and take advantage of the progress made and lessons learned elsewhere in the region.

Third Round Table. Policies and Programmes for Family Farming and political commitment to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition


1. How can family farming policy contribute to advance food security in the countries of the region, coordinating with other components of a national food security policy? 2. What approaches or factors should be considered in a family farming policy so that it might effectively contribute to the eradication of hunger and poverty? (political framework, sustainability, transparency, resources, links with other sectors, etc.) 3. What role can the HFLAC Initiative play to promote, strengthen and develop family farming policies in the region? (exchanges, learning, systematization, intersectoral approach, etc.)

A summary of the main proposals in the area of family farming:

Contextualisation of the concept of family farming, given the different forms that occur in the region. Some approaches suggest that we talk about small-scale farming; Brazil´s presentation speaks of subsistence agriculture; the small territories (islands) argue that some subsistence farms are also micro-enterprises; in Antigua and Barbuda they correspond to home vegetable gardens. In Belize the concept would be controversial and unacceptable, as child labour is prohibited; Guatemala considers that children can work as part of the family unit, reducing labour costs, but that they may not be hired by third parties.

Promotion of links with other sectors, such as tourism, education, infrastructure, markets (with emphasis on the substitution of imports in the Caribbean).

Promotion of the participation of all involved to ensure that the various interests and perspectives are represented.

Development of principles and mechanisms of governance, which also allow an appropriation and validation of this activity.

Promotion of the family approach to nutrition: education of mothers, the child as an agent of change, importance of changing cultural aspects, etc.

Deepen the approach of relevant aspects of family farming, which constitute critical challenges, especially from the perspective of CARICOM: sources of energy in small rural communities; technology to cope with climate change and natural disasters (droughts, floods, hurricanes) such as higher crops, hydroponics, etc.; storage facilities; safety at work, especially for children; access to credit and insurance, considering the high cost of fertilizers and agrochemicals and the high risk nature of agriculture.

Creation of partnerships with the private sector. For example in Santa Lucia, a supermarket chain developed a programme with small farmers, giving them credit and other benefits, improving the income and quality of life in rural areas for this group. In Belize, a forum was convened with all stakeholders (producers, intermediaries and businesses), in which contact was made between small producers and large companies.


Promote a broad view of family farming that takes into account local characteristics, especially in Caribbean countries, and which includes a broader area of work than just agriculture, especially



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with regard to the promotion of local food cultures (production and consumption), quality and safety, the sustainability of production systems and the importance of maternal and child health education for improving the living conditions of family farming. (This proposal was incorporated into the meetings final agreements).

Argue better the costs and benefits of family agriculture, so that it be seen less as a burden, highlighting its advantages and benefits to stakeholders.

Take advantage of the International Year of Family Farming to promote and give visibility to the nutritional aspect of Family Farming.

The round table discussion on the Post-2015 Agenda did not include a working group session.

5. AGREEMENTS OF THE VII MEETING OF GT2025, GUATEMALA, 22nd NOVEMBER 2013

The Technical Secretariat drafted a proposal of agreements considering the main elements of the discussions and conclusions of the working groups that met during the two-day meeting. The first draft was submitted for consensus during the closing plenary. Participants made their comments to produce a revised version of the agreements, and requested a further revision of the document. Accordingly, the draft - in Spanish and English - was circulated among the participants for further comments in the weeks after the meeting. The final version is presented below.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

1. The Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative (HFLACI) is a commitment made by the

countries in 2005. This commitment has been sustained and strengthened over time through

explicit ratifications in numerous summits of Heads of State, ministerial and high level meetings, as

well as reiterated by countries at the 2010 and 2012 FAO Regional Conferences.

2. The HFLACI has contributed to the progress made by the region in food and nutrition security and

in the realization of the right to food, by working with governments, parliamentarians, civil society

and other actors, as recognized by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food in

his last two reports to the General Assembly.

3. In spite of significant progress made by the region in the reduction of undernourishment and

reaching the targets set by the HFLACI and the Millennium Development Goals, there are still 47

million Latin American and Caribbean people who do not have the necessary daily food intake to

carry out a healthy and active lifestyle. This scourge is worsened by the increasingly serious

problems of overweight and obesity that have been affecting the region in the past decades.

4. As a sign of the regional commitment at the highest level to the fight against hunger, during the 1st

Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Santiago, Chile,

in January 2013, its members ratified their commitment “...to strengthen integration processes

regarding food issues and to join efforts in support of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the

Caribbean Initiative... “. Likewise, at the CELAC Ministerial meeting on social development and

hunger and poverty eradication, held in Caracas in July of 2013, a Community Social Action Plan



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project was presented, with proposals for a Latin American and Caribbean programme for hunger

and poverty eradication.

5. Since the onset of the Initiative, the FAO has been providing technical support to the countries

through the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. In this framework, the Spanish

International Development Cooperation Agency (AECID) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency have

supported a number of projects throughout the region.

6. The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), through its South American Council for Social

Development, has established Food Security and the Fight against Malnutrition as one of the topics

in the 2012 – 2014 Plan of Action, under the responsibility of the Food Security and Fight against

Hunger and Malnutrition Thematic Group coordinated by Uruguay, which is now working to

strengthen actions in this area.

7. The Central American region is developing a regional reflection process on food and nutrition

security, based on an intersectoral and flexible approach, together with a follow-up and evaluation

mechanism, in the context of the mandate of the SICA Summit of Heads of State and Government

(Managua, August 2012).

8. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is committed to food and nutrition security through its

Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Plan of Action, as a reference for the development

of national food and nutrition security policies in the Member States, which in some cases are

already being implemented.

9. The Parliamentary Front against Hunger, formed by national, subnational and regional

parliamentarians, is working jointly with representatives from civil society, indigenous people’s

organizations, and other actors, in the promotion of institutional frameworks favourable for the full

realization of the right to food in their respective countries.

10. The Committee on World Food Security (CFS), as the global forum of the United Nations for

reviewing and following-up of policies concerning world food security, and as the central platform

for decision-making, debate, coordination, lesson-learning and convergence by all stakeholders on

food security issues at the global level, considers the HFLACI as the preferred forum for dialogue

and exchange between the global and regional levels through multi-stakeholder participation.

11. Major steps have been taken towards the elaboration of a post 2015 development agenda,

including a high level consultation sponsored by Colombia and Spain in April 2013 regarding

hunger, food security and nutrition, giving rise to a common vision to work towards equitable and

inclusive governance and on a human rights-based approach, prioritizing the need of the most

vulnerable groups, and making a call for action to continue developing this agenda at the regional

and global levels.



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WE, focal points and participants appointed by the countries at the VII Meeting of the Hunger-Free Latin

America and the Caribbean Initiative Working Group 2025, AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Continue promoting, in the framework of the HFLACI, capacity building and exchange between the countries on topics related to public policy, strategies, legal frameworks, institutional development and governance for food and nutrition security.

2. Continue working with an inclusive participatory approach, creating and strengthening alliances with multiple actors in the region, such as parliamentarians, civil society, indigenous peoples’ organi ations, women s organi ations, universities and private sector, in order to ensure the sustainability of the achievements made in the fight against hunger.

3. Continue working in food and nutrition security in the context of the right to food, with an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach that addresses its different dimensions.

4. Promote and advance south-south cooperation based on national experience and knowledge on public policy, programmes and projects related to food and nutrition security, adding to the effort made by cooperation agencies in the different countries in the region.

5. Strengthen alliances with other actors, such as the FAO, WFP, other United Nations agencies related to the fight against hunger, and other international cooperation agencies and organizations.

6. Advocate for regional integration bodies to adopt and further the commitment made by the countries which they represent regarding the fight against hunger and malnutrition through the HFLACI.

7. Request that the CELAC consider in its Proposal for a Latin America and the Caribbean Programme for the Eradication of Hunger the inclusion of contents developed successfully by the HFLACI to date, as well as by the Working Group which monitors it. Additionally, to request that the CELAC, in coordination with FAO, develops concrete actions for the eradication of hunger, asking for the collaboration of countries and organizations with which it maintains a special relationship.

8. Adopt subregional proposals for south-south cooperation, among these the proposal made by Mexico to facilitate cooperation to the HFLACI through the Mesoamerica Project, with the support of the FAO and other cooperation bodies.

9. Adopt the proposal made by Cuba to create a Regional Training Centre in areas related to food and nutrition security, through Cuban universities and other academic institutions in the region, to offer workshops and courses at the graduate and doctoral levels. This proposal will be analyzed by the HFLACI Secretariat with a view to mobilize resources from various actors for implementation.

10. Thank Colombia and Spain for their presentation on the Post 2015 Agenda regarding food and nutrition security, and to ask the FAO and WFP that, in coordination with the countries in the region and in the framework of the HFLACI, they facilitate appropriate consultations in order for the countries in the region to have a better understanding of the Post 2015 Agenda on this topic, promoting possible agreements on the relevant issues in the region, and presenting them to the pertinent global forums.

11.Point out the positive performance of the Technical Secretariat of the HFLACI during the past year, and request that its role be strengthened for horizontal and south-south cooperation regarding technical assistance and policy formulation to combat hunger and malnutrition, with special emphasis on information systems between offering and demanding countries, and with increased attention to urban issues and to the reality and culture of indigenous peoples.



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12. Request that the Technical Secretariat promote more analysis and exchange of experiences to address malnutrition in terms of overweight and obesity, including a reflection that may lead to changing the name of the Initiative. To request the undertaking of a campaign to promote healthy eating habits that could be used by each of the governments in the region.

13.Move forward in integrating the issues affecting the Caribbean countries into the work programmes in support of the HFLACI, with special attention to language, cultural and territorial barriers.

14.Ask the United Nations agencies, in the framework of the Year of Family Farming in 2014, to promote the exchange of experiences on the diversity of institutional mechanisms being created in some countries in order to enhance the production and commercialization of family farming and its major contribution to food and nutrition security.

15.Ask the HFLACI Secretariat to promote a broad vision of family farming, taking into account local characteristics, particularly in Caribbean countries, and considering lines of work beyond agriculture, especially regarding the promotion of local food cultures (production and consumption), quality and safety, sustainability of productive systems and the significant value of mother-child education to improve family farming lifestyles and conditions.

16.Use public food procurement as a tool to promote family farming, developing mechanisms that allow agile purchasing of food produced under this modality (family farming).

17.Continue working in the legislative area with the Parliamentary Front against Hunger and other national and regional parliamentary forums, broadening support to include budgetary issues to facilitate public policy implementation and accountability.

18.Reiterate acknowledgement of the FAO and other international agencies and organizations such as the Spanish International Development Cooperation Agency (AECID) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) for their invaluable support to the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative.

19. Acknowledge the relevant support provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) to this meeting, hoping that this cooperation will continue.

20. Acknowledge the strong commitment of the Government of Guatemala to decidedly confront hunger in the country. To thank the people of Guatemala and its institutions for hosting and successfully organizing the VII Meeting of the Working Group of the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative.

21. Thank Mexico for its offer to host the next VIII Meeting of the Working Group of the Hunger- Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative.

The candidacy of Mexico as host for the VIII meeting of the GT2025 in 2014 was unanimously accepted.

6. CLOSURE Ignacio Rivera, The FAO Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica, gave thanks to the Government of Guatemala and the country in general for its warm welcome to the participants of the event. He also recognized the high level of involvement of different authorities and national technical staff throughout the preparatory phase, both in the substantive and logistical aspects. The presence of the SESAN and other local entities in the presentations and working groups also constituted a contribution to the dialogue and exchange from other perspectives at the regional level.



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Germán González, Technical Under Secretary of the Secretariat for Food and Nutrition Security of Guatemala (SESAN), conveyed the greetings of the President of the Republic and the Secretary of SESAN. He made reference to the Zero Hunger Pact and the need to deepen and strengthen its actions. Finally, Carlos Del Valle Anzueto, Vice Minister of Rural Economic Development of the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food closed the meeting by recalling the need to advance in the fight against hunger by addressing its structural causes and closing gaps to achieve equity. He stressed the meeting and the Initiative as a relevant space to draw lessons from experiences, promote exchange and strengthen commitments.



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ANNEX 1 Meeting programme Place: CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL. Avenida Las Americas 9-08, zone 13, Guatemala City (tel. 24225000)

Thursday, 21st November 2013

Central America Room (2nd floor)

8:00 Registration.

08:30-09:30

Opening

Ignacio Rivera Rodríguez, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica

Elmer Alberto López Rodríguez, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Luis Enrique Monterroso, Secretary of the Guatemalan Secretariat for Food and

Nutrition Security (SESAN)

His Excellency José Roberto De Almeida Pinto, Ambassador of Brazil,

accompaniment at the head table

Honorable Mr. Miguel Angel Encinas, Coordinator of the Spanish Agency for

International Cooperation, on behalf of the Ambassador of Spain, accompaniment at the

head table

09:30-09:40 Election of the Committee for the Seventh Meeting of the GT2025

Luis Enrique Monterroso, Secretary of the Guatemalan Secretariat for Food and

Nutrition Security (SESAN) and Focal Point for the HFLACI in Guatemala

09:40-10:00 HFLAC Initiative Progress Report

Ricardo Rapallo, Coordinator of the HFLACI Support Project

10:00-10:20


Regional Coordinator Member of Parliament Guadalupe Valdez

10:20-10:40 Coffee

Meeting rooms: South America, North America, Caribbean (2nd floor).

10:40-11:20 Keynote Speech Luis Enrique Monterroso, Secretary of the Guatemalan Secretariat for Food and

Nutrition Security (SESAN) Topic: Zero Hunger Covenant

11:20-13:00

1st Round table. Regional/national political commitment to achieve food and

nutrition security in Latin America and the Caribbean CELAC and CUBA: Jorge Ferrer, Minister Counsellor, Cuba; and María de la Luz B´Hamel,

Director of International Economic Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, and Focal point of the HFLACI in Cuba.

UNASUR: Manuel Vasquez, Unit of International Affairs and Cooperation, Uraguayan Ministry of Social Development VENEZUELA: Gladys Urbaneja, Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN agencies based in Rome

Constitution of four round tables for discussion and agreements

13:00-14:00 Lunch



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14:00-16:00 2nd Round table. South-South Cooperation for the eradication of hunger:

experiences and approaches ARGENTINA: Daniel Díaz. National Coordination of Institutional Relations.

Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and Ministry of Social

Development (MDS)

MEXICO: Alfredo Mayén Mena, Deputy of Liason of the

General Coordination of the Meso America Project.

BRAZIL: Maria Silvia Laurindo, Minister Counsellor of Brazil in Guatemala

Constitution of four workshops for discussion and agreements

16:00-16:15 Coffee

16:15-17:00 3rd Round table. Post-2015 Agenda for the fight against hunger

COLOMBIA: Alonso Lozada De La Cruz, Colombia's Consul in Guatemala City. ESPAÑA: Carlota Merchán. Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation España

Discussion, questions and conclusions

17:00-17:30 Keynote Speech

Elmer López, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food - MAGA- Topic: Family Farming Programme for Strengthening the Peasant Economy

-PAFFEC- and Cooperativism

19:00

Cultural Activity/ Cocktail

Place: Hotel Crowne Plaza, South America Room



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Friday, 22nd November 2013

Meeting rooms: Central America and South America (2nd Floor)

8:00-8:30 Challenges for the Family Farming Programme for Strengthening the Peasant Economy -PAFFEC-

Mr. Carlos Alfonso Anzueto Del Valle, Vice-Minister of Rural Economic Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food - MAGA-

8:30-8:45 Andrés Botrán

Guatemala: ten years experience in the fight against hunger

08:45-10:15 Policies and Programs for Family Farming and Political Commitment to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition

Successful experiences of strategic partnerships between Governments, FAO and the

WFP.

HONDURAS: Mariano Jiménez Director of the Technical Unit of Food and Nutrition Security (UTSAN), Maria Julia Cardenas, FAO representative in Honduras; Pasqualina Disirio, WFP Representative Honduras; COLOMBIA: Representative of the Government of Colombia, Rafael Zavala, FAO

Colombia representative; Miguel Barreto, representative, WFP Colombia

FAO and the WFP regional vision to advance food and nutrition security, the role of family farming

WFP: Alzira Ferreira, Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean PMA FAO Ignacio Rivera Rodríguez, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica

National experiences in Family Farming JAMAICA: Tracey-Ann Wright, Policy Unit, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries BRAZIL: Pedro Bavaresco, General Coordinator of Comercialization of the Secretariat of Family Farming in the Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development

10:15-10:30 Coffee

10:30-11:30

Constitution of four working groups for discussion and agreements

11:30-12:50

Conclusions and adoption of agreements Plenary on proposals and agreements of the working groups

Final Declaration

12:50-13:15 Closure of the session German González, Technical Undersecretary of the Guatemalan Secretariat for Food and

Nutrition Security (SESAN) Carlos Anzueto Del Valle, Vice-Minister of Rural Economic Development

13:15-14:30 Lunch



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ANNEX 2 List of participants

Name Country Position

Gregory Bailey

Antigua and Barbuda

Planning officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Land, Housing and Environment

Daniel Díaz

Argentina

Project Manager of International Technical Cooperation National Coordination of Institutional Relations, INTA

Belarmino Esquivel

Belize

Outreach Director, Ministry of Agriculture

Pedro Bavaresco

Brazil General Coordinator of Commercialization of the Secretariat of Family Farming, Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development

María Silvia Laurindo Brazil Minister Counsellor of Brazil in Guatemala

Claribel Rodriguez Nonato

Colombia Specialized Professional from the Department of Promotion and Prevention, Ministry of Health and Social Protection

Alonso Lozada Colombia Colombia's Consul in Guatemala City.

Cecilia Gamboa Cerda Costa Rica

Coordination of Food and Nutrition Security, and Child Malnutrition, Ministry of Health

María de la Luz B'Hamel Cuba

Director of International Organizations (DOEI) of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment

Jorge Ferrer Rodríguez Cuba

Minister Counsellor in charge of food issues in CELAC

Ana Beatriz Sánchez Zimmerman

El Salvador Head of the Nutrition Unit of the Ministry of Health

Mariano Jimenez Talavera

Honduras Director of the Technical Unit of Food and Nutrition Security (UTSAN), the Secretariat of State of the Presidential Office

Tracey-Ann M. Wright

Jamaica Policy Analyst, Ministry of Agriculture

Blanca Lilia García Mexico Deputy Director-General for International Relations and Special Projects, Secretariat of Social Development

Alfredo Mayén Mena

Mexico Deputy Director-General of Formulation of the General Coordination of the Meso America Project

Omar Garfias

Mexico

Technical Secretary of the National Crusade against Hunger



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Iván González de Alba

Mexico

SEDESOL Secretariat Advisor

Víctor Cabrera La Rosa

Peru Department of Agrarian Competitiveness, Ministry of Agriculture

Schamilar Carmelitha Bobb

St. Vincent Admin Cadet/Planning Officer, Ministry of Agriculture

Sunita Daniel St. Lucia Chief Agricultural Planning Officer, Ministry of Agriculture

María Rosa Curutchet

Uruguay FNS Observatory, National Food Institute - Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Gladys Urbaneja Venezuela Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela before FAO

Elmer Alberto López Rodríguez

Guatemala Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Luis Enrique Monterroso

Guatemala Food and Nutrition Security Secretary

Leila Villatoro Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Director of Multilateral Relations

Edgar Ronaldo Leon Cáceres

Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Juan José Rodríguez Laines

Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Geovanny Martínez Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Carlos Acosta Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Mario Chamalé Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Saul Lima Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Sergio Ruano Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Horacio Juárez Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Edvin Ardon Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

José Miguel Duro Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Danilo González Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food

Thelma Elizabeth De Leon

Guatemala Departmental Delegate, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Edna Araceli López de Amado


Sergio Escobar Morales




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Fredy Eraimy Ramírez


Erik Roberto Orellana Guatemala Departmental Delegate, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Carlos Heer Guatemala Territorial Operations, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Ivan Mendoza Guatemala Institutional Strengthening, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Griselda González Guatemala Coordination of External Cooperation, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Eleonora Escribá Guatemala Coordination of External Cooperation, Food and Nutrition Security Secretariat SESAN

Noemi Racancoj Guatemala (soc. civil)

Civil society in Guatemala, Food and Nutrition Security INCOPASS

REGIONAL INTEGRATION BODIES

Name Body Position

Nisa Surujbally CARICOM Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry

Manuel Vasquez UNASUR Advisor of the Unit of International Affairs and Cooperation

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS/AGENCIES/INSTITUTIONS/NGOS

Name Entity Position

Miguel Angel Encina AECID Director of the Technical Office of Cooperation of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) in Guatemala

Carlota Merchan

AECID Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID)

José Luis Herranz AECID Advisor for Agriculture, Food and Environment (AECID) in Costa Rica

Stephanie Hochstetter

GRULAC

Guatemalan Ambassador to FAO

Alzira Ferreira WFP Regional Representative

Pasqualina Di Sirio WFP Representative in Honduras

Miguel Barreto WFP Representative in Colombia

Mario Touchette WFP Representative in Guatemala

Christine Grignon WFP Representation in Panama

Lenin Gradiz WFP National Coordinator of P4P in Honduras

Ignacio Rivera FAO Coordinator of the FAO Subregional Office for Central America

María Julia Cardenas

FAO Representative in Honduras

Carmelo Gallardo FAO Regional Coordinator of Special Programmes for the Food Security of Central America

Maynor Estrada

FAO FAO Guatemala



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Ricardo Rapallo

FAO Coordinator of the Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Support Project

Antonieta Surawski FAO Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative Support Project

ENTITIES SUPPORTED BY THE HUNGER FREE LATIN AMERICA AND TH CARIBBEAN INITIATIVE SUPPORT PROJECT

Guadalupe Valdez San Pedro


Member of Parliament of the Dominican Republic

Mirna Taylor

Civil Society Mechanism in the CFS

Organization of indigenous women of the continent



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ANNEX 3 ROUND TABLE 1

REGIONAL/NATIONAL POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY

IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROUND TABLES

METHODOLOGY The round tables or discussion groups will be carried out under the guidance of a moderator who will be an expert on the subject with the ability to motivate the discussion, with his or her own ideas and a list of suggested questions prepared for this purpose, which is presented in the following section. It is suggested that in the first instance, the actions of the moderator should be directed at achieving the event´s objectives; In addition he/she will aim to achieve the preparation of thematic conclusions derived from the round tables based on the questions prepared for this purpose. Each table will have a rapporteur who will take note of the contributions of the participants and at the end of the discussion will verify in his/her table the conclusions to be presented. The contributions of each table will be used by a specific Rapporteur committee, which will be

working during the event, to prepare the first draft of the meeting report. On the other hand, also

informing them that with inputs from the tables of dialogue, a "Declaration" endorsed by the

authorities of their countries, which we hope will be used as a tool for advocacy and management in

aspects related to the fight against nutritional food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition will be

produced as a result of the meeting.

QUESTIONS TO GUIDE THE PRESENTATIONS AND ROUND TABLES WITH THE AIM OF REACHING

AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS

(In red- questions about the role that the Initiative can play in these agreements)

1st Round table. Regional/national political commitment to achieve food and nutritional security in Latin America and the Caribbean

1. How is political commitment defined and which are its political and technical foundations?

(consider, among other factors, who participates, sectors involved, scope, mechanisms,

national/regional agenda)

2. How is backing given to this political commitment and how this translates into effective

action in the fight against hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition?

3. How can the HFLAC Initiative continue contributing to strengthen and expand the political

commitment of different actors at national and regional levels?



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SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION FOR THE ERADICATION OF HUNGER:

EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES


METHODOLOGY: The Round Tables or discussion groups will be carried out under the guidance of a moderator who will be an expert on the subject with the ability to motivate the discussion with his or her own ideas and a list of suggested questions prepared for this purpose, which is presented in the following section. It is suggested that in the first instance, the actions of the moderator should be directed at achieving the event´s objectives; In addition he/she will aim to achieve the preparation of thematic conclusions derived from the round tables based on the questions prepared for this purpose. Each table will have a rapporteur who will take note of the contributions of the participants and at the end of the discussion will verify in his/her table the conclusions to be presented. The contributions of each table will be used by a specific Rapporteur committee, which will be









2nd Round table. South-South Cooperation for the eradication of hunger: Experiences and approaches

1. What are the challenges posed by current cooperation models, their advantages and

disadvantages?

2. What strategies and mechanisms are proposed to strengthen South-South cooperation in the

region?

3. How can the HFLAC Initiative be used as a regional commitment and instance to promote and

facilitate South-South cooperation channels?



29


POST-2015 AGENDA FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER


METHODOLOGY: The Round Tables or discussion groups will be carried out under the guidance of a moderator who will

be an expert on the subject with the ability to motivate the discussion with his or her own ideas and a

list of suggested questions prepared for this purpose, which is presented in the following section.

It is suggested that in the first instance, the actions of the moderator should be directed at achieving

the event´s objectives; In addition he/she will aim to achieve the preparation of thematic conclusions

derived from the round tables based on the questions prepared for this purpose. Each table will have

a rapporteur who will take note of the contributions of the participants and at the end of the

discussion will verify in his/her table the conclusions to be presented.

The contributions of each table will be used by a specific Rapporteur committee, which will be









3rd Round table. Post-2015 Agenda for the Fight against Hunger

(Questions to guide the presentations and discussion, there will be no working group)

1. Can countries take actions to become more actively involved in the design of the Post-2015

Agenda?

2. How can the issues of food and nutrition security be adequately reflected in the contents of the

Post-2015 Agenda?

3. How can the HFLAC Initiative contribute to the promotion of mechanisms of participation in

the countries in the development of the Post-2015 Agenda and in the issue of food and

nutritional security?



30


FAMILY FARMING POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES AND POLITICAL COMMITMENT TO THE

ERADICATION OF HUNGER, FOOD INSECURITY AND MALNUTRITION


METHODOLOGY: The Round Tables or discussion groups will be carried out under the guidance of a moderator who will be an expert on the subject with the ability to motivate the discussion with his or her own ideas and a list of suggested questions prepared for this purpose, which is presented in the following section. It is suggested that in the first instance, the role of the moderator should be aimed at achieving the event´s objectives; In addition he/she will aim to achieve the preparation of thematic conclusions derived from the round tables based on the questions prepared for this purpose. Each table will have a rapporteur who will take note of the contributions of the participants and at the end of the discussion will verify with his/her table the conclusions to be presented. The contributions of each table will be used by a specific Rapporteur committee, which will be working during the event to prepare the first draft of the meeting report. On the other hand, inputs from the round tables, as a result of the meeting a "Declaration" will be produced, endorsed by the authorities of their countries, which we hope will be used as a tool for advocacy and management in aspects related to the fight against food and nutrition insecurity, Hunger and Undernourishment.

QUESTIONS TO GUIDE THE PRESENTATIONS AND ROUND TABLES WITH THE AIM OF REACHING AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS (In red- questions about the role that the Initiative can play in these agreements)

4th Round table. Policies and Programmes for Family Farming and Political Commitment to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition

1. How can family farming policy contribute to further food security in the countries of the

region, coordinating with other components of a national food security policy?

2. What approaches or factors should be considered in a family farming policy so that it might

effectively contribute to the eradication of hunger and poverty? (political framework,

sustainability, transparency, resources, links with other sectors, etc.)

3. What role can the HFLAC Initiative play to promote, strengthen and develop family farming

policies in the region? (exchanges, learning, systematization, intersectoral approach, etc.)



31

ANNEX 7 WORKING GROUPS FOR THEMATIC DISCUSSION GROUP 1

Manuel Vasquez - UNASUR

Blanca Garcia - MEXICO

Jorge Ferrer - CUBA-CELAC

Claribel Rodriguez - COLOMBIA

Paulina Di Sirio - WFP HONDURAS

Pedro Bavaresco - BRAZIL

Ignacio Rivera - REP FAO MESOAMERICA

Lenin Gradiz - WFP

José Luis Herranz - AECID

Ivan Mendoza - SESAN Guatemala

Local participants from government/organizations

GROUP 2

M. Rosa Curutchet - URUGUAY

Mirna Taylor - CIVIL SOCIETY

Omar Garfias - MEXICO

Carlota Merchán - AECID

Cristine Grignon - REGIONAL WFP

Daniel Díaz - ARGENTINA

Stephanie Hochstetter - GUATEMALA

Mariano Jiménez - HONDURAS

Ana Sanchez - EL SALVADOR

Carmelo Gallardo - FAO SLM


GROUP 3

Luz B'Hamel - CUBA

Victor Cabrera - PERU

Ivan Gonzalez - MEXICO

Guadalupe Valdez - FPH

Alzira Ferreira - REGIONAL WFP

Rafael Zavala - FAO COLOMBIA

Gladys Urbaneja - VENEZUELA

Cecilia Gamboa - COSTA RICA

Ricardo Rapallo - FAO RLC


GROUP 4

Belarmino Esquivel - BELIZE

Carmelite Bobb - ST. VINCENT

Sunita Daniel - ST. LUCIA

Tracey Ann Wright - JAMAICA

Gregory Bailey - ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Nisa Surujbally - CARICOM

Alfredo Mayén - MEXICO

M Julia Cardenas - FAO HONDURAS REP

Manuel Barreto - WFP COLOMBIA

Santiago Menéndez - Spanish representative to FAO

Antonieta Surawski - FAO RLC


Documents

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