FSNFORUM-L Archives

FSN Forum, a knowledge network on Food Security and Nutrition

FSNFORUM-L@LISTSERV.FAO.ORG

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show HTML Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
FSN-Moderator <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
FSN-Moderator <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 3 Oct 2016 13:59:45 +0000
Content-Type:
multipart/related
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (13 kB) , text/html (50 kB) , image001.png (6 kB) , image002.png (6 kB) , image003.png (6 kB) , image004.jpg (70 kB) , image005.jpg (15 kB) , image006.jpg (40 kB) , image007.png (40 kB)
[FAO]





[FSN Forum]





DISCUSSION No. 132   •   FSN Forum digest No. 1262





Maximizing the Impact of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition



until 11 October 2016











[icon]How to participate



Send your contribution to

[log in to unmask]

<mailto:[log in to unmask]>or post it on the

FSN Forum website www.fao.org/fsnforum<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum>

[© FAO]

[DoA]









Dear Members,

We are happy to provide the latest digest of the online consultation Maximising the impact of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>, including the summaries of 15 new contributions together with some fresh feedback by Christine Campeau, the consultation's facilitator.

We are already hearing many interesting opinions on how to make this UN Decade truly successful and would like to join Christine in inviting you to let us know more about how you see the roles and responsibilities of the various actors.

Please also help us make this consultation as inclusive as possible by inviting your friends and colleagues to weigh in. Every voice counts and will contribute to strengthen the Decade.

For further information and background information please visit the FSN Forum webpage, available in all UN languages: English<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>, Arabic<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/ar/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>, Chinese<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/zh/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>, French<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>, Russian<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/ru/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition> and Spanish. <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/es/activities/discussions/decade_nutrition>

You can send your contributions to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or post them online upon registration to the FSN Forum<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/>.

We look forward to keep receiving your ideas.

Your FSN Forum team











Christine Campeau, facilitator of the discussion



Dear all,

Thank you again to everyone who has contributed to the conversation. We have covered a lot of territory; however, let me try to summarize some of the issues that have been addressed.



[Christine Campeau]



It’s been emphasized that - for the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition to achieve longstanding results - we need to be forward thinking and adaptive to the constantly evolving nutrition landscape. Emerging issues include modifications in dietary patterns, urbanisation and the effects of climate change on food availability. We have also heard that these pressures cause the greatest stress to those who are most vulnerable, and that this needs to be considered when designing and implementing policies. Attention has also been drawn to the potential to make significant gains in malnutrition by addressing food waste and post-harvest losses.

A recurring theme has been the complexity of malnutrition, as well as the need to involve multiple stakeholders. The UNSCN will do its part to support the UN “delivering as one” by helping to strengthen policy coherence, enhancing dialogue and identifying linkages to foster joint nutrition action, partnership, mutual accountability and advocacy on nutrition.

Isaac Bayor from Ghana suggested government departments and institutions be supported in order to build capacity to jointly plan, budget, implement, and monitor nutrition related goals. This would help avoid duplications and would ensure that policies are translated into actions that are routinely monitored, evaluated, reassessed and improved.

Wilma Freire Zaldumbide from Ecuador reminded us of the need to learn from nutrition success stories, such as from Brazil, Peru and Columbia. While solutions need to be context specific, peer-to-peer exchanges are one way to assess how the right policies implemented in the right countries can successfully reduce under nutrition in less than a decade.

On a similar theme, we have heard that nutrition programs must also be designed with and able to inform a wide range of actors. By building the capacities of front-line workers, food venders and local practitioners, we ensure that individuals are equipped to regulate against unsafe practices, uncover bottlenecks and create a demand for improved nutritional services. Building the knowledge amongst journalists is important in this respect, as the media has an important role to play in amplifying key messages and promoting healthy eating.

Contributors have also reminded us of the need for stronger collaboration between the nutrition and agriculture stakeholders to reshape the global food system for better nutritional outcomes. The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) called for “strengthening sustainable food systems”. The Decade takes that one step further by placing its support for the improvement of diet quality through sustainable food systems at the center of global action.

As our online conversation continues, it would be good to hear more about the roles and responsibilities of the various actors, as you see them. We know the longstanding issues so tell us what commitments you expect from whom to go beyond business as usual. How best, for example, can the Decade support women and girls’ nutrition?

We very much look forward to the next round of comments in the coming few days.

Christine Campeau

Technical Officer, UNSCN













CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED



[icon]Luis Fernando Medina Leguízamo, Colombia



Luis argues that FAO and other international organizations could collaborate with governments to achieve sustainable and fair use of food production resources, focusing on self-sufficiency and local food security.

Read the full contribution <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7423>







[icon]Mariela Contreras, Honduras



According to Mariela, governments should be hold accountable and nutrition should be a priority for them; this could for instance be done by engaging them in platforms such as the SUN Movement. In addition, nutrition interventions should be in line with conceptual frameworks that include immediate determinants of undernutrition, but also less commonly targeted underlying factors, such as inadequate women´s care. Mariela hopes that donors do not only prioritize undernutrition, but also overweight and micronutrient deficiencies.

Read the full contribution <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7424>







[icon]Román Jiménez-Vera, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Mexico



Román points out that although in Mexico many food security and nutrition programmes have been developed, the desired results have not been achieved. This can be ascribed to the fact that the rural communities are less engaged in farming, leaving many natural resources untapped.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7425>







[icon]Simeon Onya, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria



In his first contribution, Simeon stresses that in Nigeria, efforts should be made to eradicate corruption. Furthermore, local production of (agricultural) goods and services should be promoted, and small- and medium-scale farmers should be supported by providing them with improved inputs and subsidies. In rural Africa, non-farm activities should be encouraged to supplement farm incomes.



In his second contribution, Simeon refers to the fact that in developing countries, malnutrition is the cause of more than one out of three child deaths. Furthermore and with specific regard to Nigeria, he argues that interventions should focus on food production for the vulnerable people in the north of the country. Agricultural activities that provide employment opportunities (for women), access to innovative technologies, and micronutrient-rich crop varieties should be promoted.

Read the full contributions here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7426> and here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7433>







[icon]Komlan Assignon, Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique, Togo



Komlan hopes that the UN Decade leads to a global re-distribution of food supplies. He argues that in Togo, efforts should be strengthened with regard to the professionalization of agriculture, water control and mechanization. In addition, Komlan refers to the importance of committing to the agreement on allocating 10% of the national budget to agriculture, concluded at the Nairobi Summit. He thinks that civil society organisations should be given the necessary space to monitor relevant political developments and to make the Western world aware of the need to avoid food waste.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7427>







[icon]Temitope Ajayi, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria



According to Temitope, the UN should cooperate with stakeholders in the country to, inter alia, facilitate the following: 1) sensitization of the public on the effects of malnutrition and the importance of an adequate diet; 2) making seeds of different plant species available and affordable, and 3) the provision of land to people willing to engage in agriculture.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7428>







[icon]Diana Lee-Smith, Mazingira Institute, Kenya



Diana points out that the original thinking on food systems implicitly used the industrial model of food supply and distribution, whereas the majority of food consumed in places like sub-Saharan Africa is produced on small farms. She proposes to develop a more accurate definition of ‘food system’ and a typology of food systems in order to ensure a better assessment of the changes taking place in the transformation of food systems, and, eventually, sound evidence and future policies.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7429>







[icon]Ana Vasconcellos, FNDE, Brazil



Ana highlights that it is necessary to create a global network for nutrition protection in order to foster the debate on the regulation of the food and water market. A global forum on the protection of nutrition could provide guidance to countries in developing nutrition policies and in particular, regarding the production of food in a health-promoting and environent- friendly way.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7430>







[icon]Saul Lopez, Venezuelan Society of Agronomists, Venezuela



Saul elaborates on the situation in Venezuela, where agricultural policies have been determined by a strong anti-agricultural bias. Furthermore, Venezuela’s extremely high dependency on oil has been problematic as falling oil prices have adversely affected food availability. Yet, Saul has high expectations for the UN Decade. He argues that the private sector should play a substantial role, for instance in ensuring a better supply of nutritious food in schools.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7431>







[icon]Mohamed Moloud, El Shaab Newspaper, Mauritania



In his first contribution, Mohamed points out that despite the fact that the resources needed for food production are substantially present in his country, the majority of the population suffers from food insecurity and malnutrition.

In his second contribution, Mohamed expresses his doubts regarding the difference the UN Decade can make in improving food security and nutrition in his country, pointing to the limited effectiveness of policies and programmes that have been implemented in the past. He shares some figures on the situation in his country: for instance, half of the population does not have access to clean drinking water.

In his last contribution, Mohamed stresses that the UN Decade should focus on producers. He argues that in his country, agricultural and fish production should be boosted and that young people deserve special attention here; they should be supported in creating agricultural production activities.

Read the full contributions here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7432>, here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7434> and here<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7435>







[icon]Clement Goldson, YOS Marketing and Manufacturing, Jamaica



Clement focuses on the importance of adequate communication regarding nutrition: in particular, vulnerable populations must be informed about the importance of an appropriate diet. He also argues that foods that have been proven to be unhealthy should not be offered for sale to children and should at least have a label warning of the danger they pose. Clement also elaborates on the Global School Health Initiative of WHO, which has however not been implemented in Jamaica due to poor communication among the education community.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7436>







[icon]Jeevananda Reddy, Formerly Chief Technical Advisor WMO/UN, India



Jeevananda refers to India’s National Food Security bill of 2013 and argues that its implementation has been limited. Although the government has introduced minor millets, which are considered pollution-free foods, the state governments have failed to take care of their production, procurement and supply. In addition, she stresses that UN agencies should encourage her country to discourage supplying polluted food under the public distribution system. In addition, Jeevananda shares two articles.

Read the full contribution<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/7437>











www.fao.org/fsnforum<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/>



CONTACT US<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  •  DISCLAIMER<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/disclaimer-copyright>













########################################################################



To unsubscribe from the FSNFORUM-L list, click the following link:

https://listserv.fao.org/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=FSNFORUM-L&A=1


ATOM RSS1 RSS2