42nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 42)
Making a Difference in Food Security and Nutrition

On Tuesday, plenary held a dialogue session on “Food Security and Nutrition in the Post-2015 Development Agenda,” moderated by Frank Sesno, international journalist, and Director, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University.

In her keynote, Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, stressed, among other issues, that: progress on poverty and hunger requires progress on all SDGs, noting that linkages provide opportunities for co-benefits; human rights must inform action on SDGs, in particular on climate change; and gender equality is a precondition to achieve the SDGs.

During the ensuing discussion, participants addressed, among other issues: resource mobilization for SDG implementation; the importance of a holistic, integrated and inclusive approach to SDG implementation; and coordination of the work of UN agencies on SDG implementation within their specific mandates.

Plenary discussed and endorsed the fourth version of the Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition (GSF), introduced by Candice Sakamoto Vianna (Brazil), Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on the GSF; addressed the outcomes of the High-level Forum on Connecting Smallholders to Markets; and considered the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises.

An afternoon dialogue session focused on enhancing regional food supply systems and processes to improve nutrition. Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, delivered the keynote speech. Noting that one of every two people on the planet suffer from malnutrition, he said the global community faces a significant nutrition crisis, whether it is malnutrition, overweight/obesity, or the double burden of both. Calling the food system “broken,” because it leads to, rather than addresses, malnutrition, he said regional approaches can help overcome the stagnation caused by lack of statistics at the country-level. Saying, “we need a data revolution to deal with food security and nutrition,” he suggested that CFS can support policy alignment by convening regional platforms.

An evening group met to discuss the policy recommendations on water for food security and nutrition.