Food and nutrition security in Timor-Leste

This report is a literature review on Food and Nutrition Security in Timor-Leste based on data from surveys conducted by the Timor-Leste National Statistics Directorate, as well as from national and international organizations working in Timor-Leste. This review was supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-funded project “Strategy for Investment in Fisheries in East Timor”. This report describes the current food and nutrition situation in Timor-Leste for the purpose of planning and implementing interventions aimed at improving food and nutrition security, especially within aquatic agricultural systems. The potential role of aquaculture in improving food and nutrition security is considered, with reference to the recently endorsed Timor-Leste National Aquaculture Development Strategy (2012-2030) developed by the National Directorate of Fisheries and Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Nutritional Situation of Young Children in Rwanda: An Analysis of Anthropometric Data Collected by the Household Living Conditions Survey, 1999-2001

Food Security Research Project (FSRP)1 and Division of Agricultural Statistics (DSA) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry MINAGRIfood security, food policy, Rwanda, nutrition, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q18,

Water and Nutrition: Harmonizing actions for the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition and the United Nations Water Action Decade

Progress for both SDG 2 and SDG 6 has been unsatisfactory, with several indicators worsening over time, including an increase in the number of undernourished, overweight and obese people, as well as rapid increases in the number of people at risk of severe water shortages. This lack of progress is exacerbated by climate change and growing regional and global inequities in food and water security, including access to good quality diets, leading to increased violation of the human rights to water and food. Reversing these trends will require a much greater effort on the part of water, food security, and nutrition communities, including stronger performances by the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition and the United Nations International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development. To date, increased collaboration by these two landmark initiatives is lacking, as neither work program has systematically explored linkages or possibilities for joint interventions. Collaboration is especially imperative given the fundamental challenges that characterize the promotion of one priority over another. Without coordination across the water, food security, and nutrition communities, actions toward achieving SDG2 on zero hunger may contribute to further degradation of the world’s water resources and as such, further derail achievement of the UN Decade of Action on Water and SDG 6 on water and sanitation. Conversely, actions to enhance SDG 6 may well reduce progress on the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and SDG 2. This paper reviews these challenges as part of a broader analysis of the complex web of pathways that link water, food security and nutrition outcomes. Climate change and the growing demand for water resources are also considered, given their central role in shaping future water and nutrition security. The main conclusions are presented as three recommendations focused on potential avenues to deal with the complexity of the water-nutrition nexus, and to optimize outcomes

Women: still the key to food and nutrition security

"The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action set goals for empowering women in developing nations. Over the five years since the Beijing +5 review assessed progress toward these goals, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has generated new studies reaffirming that empowering women is the key to ensuring food and nutrition security in the developing world. This brief brings together IFPRI's most recent research findings on gender and food security and offers proof to policymakers that reducing gender disparities promotes better food and nutrition security for all....IFPRI's research findings provide empirical evidence that empowering women leads to greater household food and nutrition security. Accomplishing this task requires policies that eradicate gender discrimination, proactively promote catch-up for women, and involve women directly in their implementation.." from TextGender issues, Women Social conditions, Empowerment, Household resource allocation, Natural resource management, Gender, Property rights, Health and nutrition,

Addressing food and nutrition security in South Africa: A review of policy responses since 2002

Since 2002, a range of South African policies have attempted to address the disproportionate burden of food and nutrition insecurity on the population. Yet malnutrition among the poor has worsened. This study reviewed policies to examine their implications for food security and the treatment of malnutrition. Policies enacted between 2002 and 2017 were retrieved from government departments and the data were thematically analysed. A preliminary analysis shows that policy has aided production through input provision and capacity building. Taxation, school nutrition programmes and social grants are some of the food access initiatives, whilst micronutrient supplementation, breastfeeding campaigns and food fortification are policies specifically focused on nutrition. However, despite these interventions, food insecurity has remained due to gaps in and contradictions among policies and the lack of coordination in policy development and implementation, especially across sectors. To improve food and nutrition security, government must better engage with ideas about how to address food and nutrition security systemically, and develop the appropriate coordination mechanisms for a more holistic approach to this challenge

Agriculture for Food and Nutrition Security: A Must For Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underscore an overriding importance of human development for sustained economic, social, political and other development, and nutrition is the beginning of human development. Nutrition has, however, not been viewed as a development imperative in many African countries. Agricultural and health policies, projects and programmes and the conduct of agricultural and health research in most African countries do not consider nutrition to any significant degree. The paper argues that food production, poverty, malnutrition and health are very intricately linked and the result of that linkage is probably the most important determinant of development and, thus, the realization of the MDGs in Africa. It also argues that it is a misconception that food security implies or is synonymous with food and nutrition security. The paper proposes that food policies, projects, programmes and research should focus on food and nutrition security and not just food security. In that regard, the paper proposes that the following interlinked processes must be taken into consideration in agricultural policies, projects, programmes and research: (1) Effective marriage of indigenous and “scientific” knowledge in food production, processing, preservation, preparation and consumption. (2) Promotion of agrobiodiversity, including the domestication of known nutritionally-rich semi-wild plants. (3) Development of sustainable farming systems, including effective crop-livestock integration systems. (4) Development of food production-marketing-consumption-nutrition linkage processes at community levels. National and local level nutrition policy research and advocacyAgricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Reflection on All Africa Conference on Assuring Food and Nutrition Security in Africa by 2020

The momentum generated by the Kampala 2020 All Africa Conference output together with the follow up activities have had positive impact on many African governments, regional institutions and internationally. Among its many positive outcomes, the Conference has served to put the issues of food and nutrition security squarely on the African development Agenda by underscoring its critical role in healthy lives, in particular the management of HIV/AIDS. It also recognized that food and nutrition security is inextricably linked not just to traditional agriculture but also development in education, natural resources management, infrastructures, market information systems, micro and macro-economic conditions and trade. Of significant importance is the accelerated integration of food and nutrition security into broader agricultural development programs by regional institutions (COMESA, IGAD, SADC, ECOWAS, EAC, North Africa Regional body and continental body, (NEPAD in its CAADP and AU Commission) as well as into national agricultural modernization programs. The identification of commodity successes and community bright spots for replication across the continent should help avoid duplication and can speed up the rate of achieving food and nutrition security in Africa. Food safety and quality issues are essential component of access to markets and trade at international, regional and national levels. It is therefore, imperative to develop the 3Cs competitiveness of supply capacities, conformity with market requirements and connectivity to markets to accelerate regional and international trade in food and foodstuff. However, there are challenges that need to be overcome in order to tackle the tasks of achieving food and nutrition security. These challenges include budget allocation to agriculture nutrition; developing partnership with clear roles, capacity building of stakeholders and institutions; empowering of organized communities for contract farming and trade; change in attitude; scaling up research and technology development and transformation of Africas home grown private entrepreneurs into true responsible private sector. All the above challenges call for enlightened and committed political leadership and responsible law makers working in partnership with all stakeholders to propel the processes of achieving food and nutrition security in Africa by 2020 under stable, peaceful and conducive policy environment.Food Security and Poverty,

Uncommon opportunities for achieving sustainable food and nutrition security: an agenda for science and public policy

This brief addresses the need to harness science and technology for the transformation of agriculture into a primary instrument of a global Evergreen Revolution. Based on the principles of ecology, social equity, energy efficiency, employment generation, and economic viability, this revolution will provide the technical foundation for the universal eradication of hunger and the achievement of a food- and nutrition-secure world for all. At the same time, it emphasizes the urgent need for adoption, particularly by developing countries, of population policies that can ensure that children are born with a chance for happiness and not for mere existence. It describes a new revolution in agriculture and outlines a scientific and public policy agenda for sustainable food and nutrition security. Finally, it addresses the role of the international community in this effort.Agricultural policy International cooperation. ,Technological innovations. ,Technology. ,Hunger Prevention. ,Nutrition Research International cooperation. ,

Economic Analysis of Options for Food Aid Policy in Honduras

economics, food policy, Latin America, nutrition, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty,

Food and financial crises: Implications for agriculture and the poor

"High food prices from 2007 through mid-2008 had serious implications for food and nutrition security, macroeconomic stability, and political security. The unfolding global financial crisis and economic slowdown have now pushed food prices to lower levels. Yet the financial crunch has also decreased the availability of capital at a time when accelerated investment in agriculture is urgently needed. The food and financial crises will have strong and long-lasting effects on emerging economies and poor people. A synchronized response is needed to ease the burden on the poor and allow agriculture to face new challenges and respond to new opportunities. Three sets of complementary policy actions should be taken: (1) promote pro-poor agricultural growth, (2) reduce market volatility, and (3) expand social protection and child nutrition action. Agriculture requires strategic investment action, and the food-insecure poor need a bailout now." from Textfood security, Nutrition security, Pro-poor growth, Agricultural growth, Food prices, Social protection, Global financial crises,