Meeting on 13-14 September to focus on moving beyond disaster relief to longer term development in areas of chronic food insecurity

Some two dozen countries around the globe are trapped in a state of protracted crisis, facing ongoing or repeated food shortages and a chronic and extremely high prevalence of hunger, due to a combination of natural disasters, conflict and weak institutions.

The proportion of undernourished people in regions experiencing such crises is on average almost three times as it is most other developing countries.

Two key questions facing the humanitarian and development community are: how to work together effectively to deliver aid in such contexts and what can be done to promote agricultural and economic development there in order to improve stability, self sufficiency and local food security? 

High-level panel of experts to propose core elements of action plan

On 13 and 14 September 2012, a high-level expert forum convened by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FAO, and the World Food Programme (WFP) under the auspices of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) will meet at FAO headquarters to discuss these issues, share recent experiences and explore opportunities for greater cooperation during relief efforts.

Food security experts and practitioners from food insecure, crisis-prone countries will be key participants.

A key outcome of the forum will be to produce the basic elements of an Agenda for Action for Addressing Food Insecurity in Protracted Crises, which will be presented and discussed at the next annual session of CFS in October 2012.

The event is open for accredited media. Accreditation may be arranged in advance at (+39) 06 570 53625 or FAO-Newsroom@fao.org, or requested upon arrival at the main FAO visitor’s entrance. A valid press card and photo ID, or valid photo ID and a letter of assignment on company stationery, are required.

Special presentation on lessons learned in Somalia on 13 September 2012, 12.30 – 14.00h | FAO headquarters, Iran Room (ground floor, bldg. B)

Feeding into the forum, on 13 September, FAO-Somalia, UNICEF-Somalia and WFP-Somalia will make a special presentation on their coordinated efforts to promote a medium-term strategy to enhance household and community resilience in Somalia, begun in 2011.