TST Issues Brief: Food Security and Nutrition1

I.

Stocktaking

Foodsecurityandnutritionareessentialdimensionsofsustainabledevelopment.Inadequatefoodsecurityand
nutritiontakeanenormoustolloneconomiesandhavenegativeconsequencesforthelivelihoodsandeconomic
capabilitiesofvulnerablepopulations.Aworldwhereallenjoyfreedomfromwant,andprogressivelyrealizetheir
righttoadequatefoodandnutritioncanonlyberealizedthroughfarreachingtransformations,supportedbypolicies
andprogrammespromotingsustainabledevelopmentinallitsthreedimensions.Stronginterdependenciesexist
betweenfoodsecurityandnutritionandmanyotherpartsofabroadsustainabledevelopmentagendainclusive
economicgrowth,populationdynamics,decentemployment,socialprotection,energy,water,health,sanitation,
naturalresourcemanagementandprotectingecosystems.Theempowermentofwomen,andaddressing
inequalitiesnotablygenderinequityandruralurbaninequalitiesareascriticaltofoodsecurityandnutritionas
theyaretoauniversalsustainabledevelopment.Theempowermentoffamilies,especiallywomenwhoarethe
mainchildcareprovidersandareresponsibleforthefoodpreparationandinfantandyoungchildfeeding,isalso
criticalforthesegoals.

Hunger,foodinsecurityandmalnutritioncanbeendedsustainablywithinageneration2 .However,thechallengeis
immense:oneineightpeopleintheworldtoday(868million)areundernourishedandapproximatelytwobillion
sufferfrommicronutrientdeficiencies.Significantprogresshasbeenmadetoreduceratesofundernourishment,
childstunting,underweight,micronutrientdeficiencies,andchildmortality.Butsuchprogresshasbeenunevenand
subjecttosetbackscausedbyfoodpriceincreases,conflict,andothershocks.Newchallengeshavealsoemerged,
suchasincreasingincidenceofoverweightinmanycountries.
Thebroaderenvironmentthatencompassesfoodsystems,andtheirproductionandconsumptioncomponents,has
changedconsiderablyinrecentyears.Moreornewformsofinvestmentareflowingintothefoodandagricultural
sectors,althoughneedsfarexceedinvestmentlevels.Newpatternsofgovernanceoffoodsystemsareemerging.
Theenvironmentforfoodproductionisincreasinglychallengingparticularlyforsmallholdersdueto
environmentalandclimaterelatedconstraints,degradationofecosystems,globalization,andmarketintegration.
Thisnewlandscapehasprofoundimplicationsacrossnationalboundaries,underliningtheneedforholistic,
innovative,andcollaborativesolutions,policies,andstrategies.Thereisneedforauniversalagenda,butalsofor
countryandcontextspecificstrategies.Peoplecenteredapproachesareneeded,underpinnedbyprinciplesof
humanrights,inclusion,nationalownership,andaccountability.

Despiteprogress,theglobalcommunitymustaddresssignificantchallengestomeettheneedsoftheestimated868
millionundernourishedtoday.Incomparisonwiththeglobalsituationseveraldecadesago,asignificantlylower
percentageofchildrenundertheageoffivetodayarestunted(lowheightforage),underweight(lowweightfor
age),orwasted(lowweightforheight).However,majorregionaldisparitiesexist:insubSaharanAfrica36%of
childrenundertheageoffivearestunted,inAsiathecorrespondingfigureis27% 3 .Moreover,otherformsof
malnutritionspecificallyoverweightandobesityarerapidlyrising.Globally,morethan1.4billionadultsare
overweight. 4 Theincreasingprevalenceofoverweightandthecloselyrelatedincreasesinnoncommunicable
diseaseisatleastpartlyaconsequenceofchangingdietsandlifestyles.Inmanycontexts,however,theincidenceof
overweightisalsocloselyrelatedtopoverty.Currenttrendsintheprevalenceofoverweightmaycontinueaspartof
societaltransformationsassociatedwitheconomicgrowthandurbanization.Thisputsadditionalpressureonpublic
healthsystemsandonagriculture.Theagriculturalsectorisalsounderpressurefromenvironmentalandclimatic
factorsandfrompopulationgrowth.Globaldemandforfoodaswellasnonfoodagriculturalproducts(e.g.biofuels)

TheTechnicalSupportTeam(TST)iscochairedbytheDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairsandtheUnitedNations
DevelopmentProgramme.PreparationofthebriefhasbeencoledbyWFP,FAOandIFAD,withcontributionsfromESCAP,ILO,
UNEP,UNICEF,UNV,andUNWomen.
2
Foraglobalvisionandbuildingblockstowardsendinghunger,foodinsecurityandmalnutrition,readersmayreferto
documentationstemmingfromtheHighLevelConsultationonHunger,FoodSecurityandNutritioninthePost2015
DevelopmentFramework(Madrid,4April2013)availableat:http://www.worldwewant2015.org/food2015
3
UNICEFWHOTheWorldBank:JointchildmalnutritionestimatesLevelsandtrends.2011estimates.
http://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/estimates/en/index.html
4
WHO.2012.Obesityandoverweight.FactsheetNo.311.Geneva,Switzerland

isincreasing,andmoreresourceintensive(e.g.animalprotein)foodsrepresentagreaterpartofthisdemand.
Meanwhile,alargepercentageoffoodcurrentlyproducedislostorwasted.Moresustainableproductionand
consumptionmodelsareneeded.
Whilecurrentandfuturechallengesdifferfromthepast,responsestonewchallengescanandshouldbuildon
lessonslearnedfromnationalexperiences.

MDG1recognizesthecloselinkbetweenincomepovertyandfoodaccess,whichisimportanttoretainatatime
whenfoodinsecurityandundernutritionareprimarilyproblemsofaccess.Poornutritionaloutcomesarealso
relatedtoinadequatehealth,poorsanitation,andmanyotherfactors.GlobalexperienceinthepursuitofMDG1
shows,however,thatprogressinreducingextremeincomepovertydoesnotnecessarilyresultinaproportionate
reductionofcaloricintakedeficiencies.Althoughrecentdataindicatesthattheworldhassucceededinachievingthe
povertytargetofMDG1,progressinreducingfoodinsecurityandmalnutritionhasbeenlessrobust.Measuresof
foodinsecurity,particularlythosethataddressundernourishment,donotadequatelycaptureandreflectaspects
relatedtomicronutrientdeficiencies,nordotheyadequatelydistinguishbetweenchronicfoodinsecurityand
shorterperiodsofacutedeprivationorvulnerability.

Onemajorlessonisthatstrategiesforaddressingpovertyneedtobenutritionsensitivetoensurecommensurate
impactsonmalnutrition.Thishasimplicationsintermsofthepolicyandinvestmentchoicesmadebycountriesfor
drivingdevelopmentandgrowth,aswellasformodelsofsustainablegrowth,production,andconsumption.
Nutritionsensitivegrowthisgrowththatinvolvesandreachespeoplelivinginpoverty,especiallythrough
increasedemploymentandotherincomeearningopportunities.Italsogeneratesresourcesthatpoorhouseholds
andpublicinstitutionsactuallyusetoimprovenutritionalstatus.Appropriateincentivesandservicesareneededto
improvedietsandaccesstohealthcare.Agricultureledgrowthisgenerallymosteffectiveinreducingfood
insecurityandmalnutrition,especiallywhensupplementedbysocialprotectionandnutritionspecificinterventions,
suchasmicronutrientsupplementationandsupporttobreastfeeding.However,agricultureledgrowthcanonly
leadtosustainableimprovementsinfoodsecurityifitisrootedinmoreproductive,sustainable,resilient,and
inclusiveagriculturesystems.

Asecondlessonisthatprogressinraisingaveragecalorieintakeandimprovingnutritionalstatusissensitivetoprice
shocks,suchasthoseaffectingglobalfoodmarketsoverthepastsixyears.Pricevolatilityisgenerallyexpectedto
becomemorecommoninthefuture.Higherfoodpriceshaveslowedorevenreversedprogressinreducingfood
insecurityforseveralcountries.Thereisagreaterneedtoincorporateresilienceintolocalfoodsystems,livelihoods
andgrowthstrategies.

Athirdlessonisthatevenashortperiodofinadequatenutritionbeforetheageoftwo(first1000days)has
importantlongtermconsequencesduetoitslargelyirreversibleeffectsonanindividualsphysicalandmental
development.Suchconsequencesimpactnotonlytheindividualandthehousehold,butalsothelongerterm
growthprospectsofsocieties.

Similartoextremeincomepoverty,foodinsecuritycontinuestobepredominantlyconcentratedinruralareasof
developingcountries,anddisproportionatelyaffectspoorfarmers,agriculturalworkers,pastoralists,andrural
communities.Promotingfoodsecurityrequiresparticularattentiontotheruralsectorwithadualfocuson
smallholderagricultureandthenonfarmeconomy.Akeyunderlyingcauseofrecentglobalfoodpriceshocksis,for
instance,concentrationofproductionofthemaintradedcerealsinafewgeographicareas,coupledwithgrowing
environmentalandclimaticchallenges,thininternationalmarkets,andhightransactioncosts.Investinginrural
sectors,improvingruralurbanlinkages,andpromotingmarketdevelopmentcanmitigatefoodpriceshocksand
theirimpactonfoodsecurity.Resilientandsustainablesystemsrequireresponsibleandinclusiveinvestment.This
isanimportantdimensionoffoodsecurityandnutritionthatdidnotquiteemergeintheMDGsbecauseofthelack
oflinkagesbetweenMDG1andMDG7.

ImplementationofMDG1has,ingeneral,notadequatelyaddressedmalnutrition(includingunderandover
nutrition)initsmanydimensions.ThisispartlybecauseMDG1hadalimitedfocusintermsofindicatorsofunder
nutrition,andpartlybecauseitdidnotencourageaspecificfocusondeterminantsoffoodsecurity,suchasgender
equalityandwomensempowerment,socialinclusionandequalaccesstoopportunitiesandresources.Nordid
MDG1encouragespecificattentiontounequalnutritionaloutcomesamongdifferentpopulationgroups.Different

countrieshaveundertakendifferentstrategiestoachieveMDG1,whichprovideavarietyoflessonsfortheSDGs.In
particular,theevidencepointstoaneedfor:

Strategiestopromoteinclusivegrowth,particularlyintheruralsectorandwithafocusonsmallholder
systems.Thereisalonghistoryofsuccessinreducingfoodinsecurityandmalnutritionincountriesthathave
investedinagricultureled,inclusivegrowththroughacombinationofagriculturalresearch,adoptionofimproved
technologies,knowledge,extensionandinformationservicesforsmallproducers.Otherimportantelementsinclude
ruraleducation,secureandequitableaccesstoland,water,productiveresourcesandfinancialcapital,infrastructure
development(e.g.irrigation,roads,warehouses),andastablemarketenvironment.Theexperienceofseveral
countriesinEastandSouthEastAsiaduringandaftertheGreenRevolutionisanotableexampleofacomprehensive
agriculturefocusedstrategyofgrowththatresultedinsimultaneouslyreducingpovertyandfoodinsecurityatscale,
althoughwithsignificantenvironmentalexternalities.Theimpactpathwaysofthisapproachwereatleastthreefold
vastlyincreasedfoodproduction(primarilybysmallholderfarmers)andcheaperfoodforurbanconsumers;higher
profitsforfarmers;andhigherwagesforagriculturallabourers.Similarimpactwasachievedincountriesasdiverse
asIndia,China,andBangladeshfromcreatingamoreenablingenvironmentforprivateinvestorsonfarmorin
ancillarysectors.

Strategiesintegratingsocialprotectionwithfoodinterventions.Socialprotectionisanimportantelement
ofmanynationalstrategiestoreducemalnutrition.Thisincludesspecificprogramsdesignedtoaddressthe
nutritionalneedsofwomenofchildbearingage,pregnantandlactatingmothers.Thereisaneedforagreater
emphasisonchildhoodnutritionduringthefirst1000daysofachildslife,fromconceptiontotwoyearsofage,
whenundernutritionismostlikelytohavelonglastingnegativeconsequences.Additionally,socialprotection
measures,includingsocialprotectionfloorinitiatives,areincreasinglyseenasintegraltostrategiestopromote
growthandinvestment.Integratedsocialprotectionprogramswithexplicitfoodsecurityandnutritionobjectives
havebeenpromotedincountrieslikeBrazil,Mexico,Colombia,Ethiopia,Kenya,andothers;althoughthe
determinantsofimpactsonnutritionarenotalwaysclear.Conditionalcashtransfershavedemonstratedthat
positiveimpactsonnutritionrequireamultidimensionalapproach.Examplesincludeprogrammesthatpromote
healthcare,education,andwomensempowerment.Unconditionalcashtransfershavealsobeenfoundtohave
positiveimpactsonreducingstuntinginsomecountries(e.g.Ecuador,SouthAfrica).Researchshowsthatsafetynet
programsneedtocombinedifferentapproaches(e.g.cashplusfood)torespondtodifferentcircumstances(e.g.
localfoodsupplycapacity).

Strategiespromotinghumancapitaldevelopmentandinclusion,withparticularfocusongender.Muchof
theliteratureonnutritionsuggeststhatdeterminantsvarydependingoncontextandpopulationgroup.Onevery
commonfindingacrosscontextsisthatprogressinwomensempowermentandgenderequalityisstrongly
correlatedwithimprovednutrition.Therearemultiplefacetsandcausallinkagesrelatedtoincomegeneration,food
production,processing,andpreparation,childbearing,caretakingandmotheringroles.Investmentinwomens
educationparticularlybeyondtheprimarylevelandinwomenshealth(includingreproductivehealthandrights),
aswellastheremovalofdiscriminatorylawsandpoliciestoensurewomensequalaccessandrightstoresources,
servicesandsocialprotection,areallimportantfactorsforimprovednutrition.Reductionsinfoodinsecurityand
malnutritionhavealsobeenassociatedwithcomprehensivepoliciesoneducationandgenderequalityinanumber
ofcountries.Investmentinhealthandnutritioneducationprogrammesinschoolsandininformalandnonformal
settingshasalsoshownpositiveimpact.

Integratedpolicyandprogrammeinterventionsfocusedonfoodsecurityandnutrition.Numerous
countriestodayhaveintegratedfoodsecurityandnutritionplans.OneexampleistheEthiopiaNationalNutrition
Programme,whichincludesanumberofinterventionsthataddressbothimmediateandunderlyingcausesof
malnutritionatthecommunitylevelthroughfreehealthservices,micronutrientsupplementation,andsocial
protectioninitiativesbasedoncashorfoodforwork.Theprogramhasledtomeasurableimprovementsinnutrition
outcomes(e.g.childstunting).Severalothercountrieshavelargenutritionalprogramsinvolvingschoolfeeding,
foodpreparationandnutritionalawareness,promotionofbreastfeeding,improvedweaningpractices,andbio
fortification.Diverseandintegratedapproachesofteninvolveagriculture,employmentgeneration,social
protection,education,healthcare,andsanitation.Nepal,Peru,Rwanda,andothercountrieshaveimplemented
multisectorcommunitylevelinterventionswithinbroadernationalframeworks.Thesecountrieshaveincluded
specificeffortstoreachouttomarginalizedareasandpopulationgroups,includingindigenouspeoples,andto
promotediversityoflocalfoodavailability.Abroaderapproachhasbeenundertakeninanumberofcountries

adoptingzerohungerstrategies.Insomecases,thesehaveinvolvedacomplexsetofinstitutionalandpolicy
initiativeslinkingmacroeconomicpolicytosocialprotection,marketdevelopment,minimumwageincreases,
investmentinhumancapital,citizenshipinvolvementandcommunityemploymentgeneration.InBrazilsFomeZero
program,atransformationoffoodmarketstoensuretheempowermentandintegrationofsmallfamilyfarmershas
alsobeenanimportantfactor.

Addressingfoodinsecurityincrisissituations.Onekeylessonfromacountrydisaggregatedreviewof
trendsinfoodsecurityandnutritionistheimportanceofinsecurity,conflict,climatevariability,andvulnerabilityto
shocksandcrises.Afarreachingexercisetoidentifychallengestopromotingfoodsecurityandimprovednutrition
inprotractedcriseshasbeenunderwayundertheauspicesoftheCommitteeonWorldFoodSecuritysince2011.
Causesofprotractedcrisissituationsarediverse,butcommonconditionsincludefrequentorcontinuedexposureto
shocksthatunderminelivelihoods,foodandmarketsystems.Weakinstitutionalandgovernancecapacityaswellas
unsustainableorinequitableuseofnaturalresourcesarealsoacommonfeatureofprotractedcrises.Emergency
interventionsinthesecontextsareoftennotwellintegratedwithdevelopmentapproachestoaddressstructural
issuesandpromoteresilience.Futureadvancesinpracticeandresearchareneededbettertopromoteresilienceand
integratepeacebuildingintofoodsecurityinterventionsinthesecontexts.

II.
Overviewofproposals
ExistinggoalscanbedrawnbothfromtheMDGsandagreedoutcomesofUnitedNationsconferencesandPlansof
Action,includingthe1996WorldFoodSummitandfollowupmeetings.Morerecently,foodsecuritytargetshave
beenidentifiedforinstanceintheIstanbulPlanofAction,withacommitmenttoundertakepoliciesandmeasuresto
makesubstantialprogresstowardseradicatinghungerby2020,substantiallyincreaseinvestmentinrural
infrastructure,andensureaccesstosafefoodandemergencyfoodassistanceinallleastdevelopedcountries.
Specificactionsarelaidoutasmeansofimplementationtowardsthesetargets.Concerningnutrition,in2012the
WorldHealthAssemblyagreedtosixglobaltargets,namely:40%reductioninthenumberofstuntedchildrenunder
theageof5by2025,50%reductionofanaemiainwomenofchildbearingageby2025,30%reductionoflowbirth
weightby2025,noincreaseinchildoverweightby2025,increaseexclusivebreastfeedingratesinthefirstsix
monthsuptoatleast50%by2025,reducingandmaintainingchildhoodwastingtolessthan5%.
UndertheMDGframework,measuresoffoodinsecurityandmalnutritionarecloselytiedtoMDG1asTargetC,
reflectingthecloselinkbetweenfoodinsecurityandincomepoverty(indeed,extremepovertywasoriginallydefined
inrelationtoincomelevelsrequiredtoaccessaminimumdailycaloricintake).ThisisunderpinnedinMDG1bytwo
indicators:PrevalenceofUndernourishment(POU)andtheproportionofchildrenunderfivewhoareunderweight.
Thefirstreferstoamethodofestimating,onthebasisoflimiteddata,thenumberofundernourishedpeopleina
population,andthesecondfocusesattentiononthelastingeffectsofmalnutrition.
PublishedsourcesidentifynumerouspotentialadjustmentstoMDG1targetsandindicators.Thefirst
recommendationistoreviseandstrengthenthenutritionaldimensiontomovebeyondanexclusiveemphasison
dietarycaloric(energy)intake,incorporatingothervitalnutritionalelements.Inparticular,overcomingthedual
challengesofunderandimbalancednutrition(e.g.duetoexcessfoodenergyconsumption)requiresadiversified
dietmadeupofsafe,sufficientandnutritiousfoodoverthelifecycle,especiallyforwomenofreproductiveageand
children.Accesstosafedrinkingwater,hygieneandsanitation,andnutritioneducationarealsokey.Someexperts
havesuggestedthattheunderweightindicatorcurrentlyusedshouldbesupplantedbytheindicatorofreductionof
stuntinginchildrenbelowtheageof2,togivegreateremphasisonchronicmalnutrition.Othershaveadvocatedfor
anindicatoronwomensnutrition,tounderlinetheimportanceofgenderequalityforachievingbroaderprogresson
nutrition.Expertshavesuggestedthatdefinitions,measurements,andthresholdsofundernourishmentneedto
change;currentlytheyareassociatedwiththeminimumcaloricenergyneededforasedentarylifestyle,whereas
somearesuggestingtheyoughttobeadjustedtoreflectalevelorthresholdassociatedwithanactivelifestyle.
Therearealsosuggestionsthatfoodsecurityandnutritionneedtobemorecloselylinkedtoaccesstosafeandclean
water.Forexample,anewfoodsecurityandnutritiongoalcouldhelptoenhancetherecognitionoflinkageswith
water,health,education,andsanitation.Othersuggestedchangesemphasizegreaterrecognitionof
interdependencebetweenenvironmentalsustainabilityandtheresilienceoffoodsecurityandnutritionsystems.
Underlyingsomecurrentproposalsistheaspirationtoestablishalternativepatternsoffoodproductionand
consumptionrootedinthethreedimensionsofsustainability,withambitioustargetsforreducingpostharvest

lossesorwasteaswellasalternativemechanismsofagricultural,nutritionalandfoodsystemsgovernance,of
universalthoughdifferentiatedrelevance.SuchatransformativeapproachalsogainedgreatsupportataHighLevel
EventontheUNDGGlobalThematicConsultationonHunger,FoodSecurityandNutritionheldinMadridon4April 5 .
Oneexampleofaholistic,transformativeagendaisrepresentedbytheUNSecretaryGeneralsZeroHunger
Challenge,whichisbasedonfivepillars:(1)100%accesstoadequatefoodallyearround,(2)zerostuntedchildren
undertwoyearsofage,(3)allfoodsystemsaresustainable,(4)100%increaseinsmallholderproductivityand
income,and(5)zerolossorwasteoffood.TheZeroHungerChallengefurtherspecifiesthateliminatinghunger
involvesinvestmentsinagriculture,ruraldevelopment,decentwork,socialprotectionandequalityofopportunity.
Inparallelwithproposalsongoalsrelatedtofoodsecurityandnutrition,somestakeholdershaveputonthetable
proposalsonprinciplesandmodalitiesofproductionandaccesstofood.Elementsofsuchproposalsinclude
conceptsofrighttofood,nutritionsecurity,andsustainablefoodsystems.Proposalshavealsoaddressedthe
importanceofimprovinggovernancemechanismstoensurefoodsecurityandnutritionforall.Areasthathave
elicitedparticularattentionconcerninggovernanceinclude:improvingtheinternationalinstitutionalandpolicy
environmentaffectingfoodprices,trade,foodsafety,andinvestmentinagricultureandinruralsectors
(downstreamandupstreamfoodsupplychains).
III.
Possiblesuggestionsonthewayforward

Acommonvisionwithuniversalrelevance.Akeypreconditionfortacklingfoodsecurityandnutritionissuesina
globalagendaforsustainabledevelopmentisasharedvisionthatrecognizesthecentralityoftheseissuestothe
agenda,bridgingthehumandevelopmentfocusoftheMDGswiththeholistic,global,sustainabilityoriented
approachoftheSDGs.Thisvisionshouldbecentredontheimperativeofguaranteeingforallhumanbeingstheir
fundamentalrighttosafe,sufficient,nutritiousandaffordablefood,andalifefreefromhungerandmalnutrition.

Recognizingthemultipledimensionsoffoodsecurityandnutrition.Ensuringglobalprogresstowardsfoodsecurity
andnutritionrequiresactionalongmultipledimensions.Theseincludefoodavailability,access,stability,
consumptionandutilization(aspertheFAOdefinitionoffoodsecurity),andhealthandsanitation.Actingon
thesedimensionsinacomprehensivemannerisessentialtoensurethatlinkagesbetweenfoodsecurityand
nutritionanddifferentpartsoftheSDGagendaareaddressed.Suchmultidimensionalityandlinkagesmaybe
capturedthroughi)theformulationofagoal,ii)identificationoffoodsecurityandnutritionsensitivetargetsunder
differentgoals,iii)identificationofnutritionsensitiveindicatorsrelatedtodifferenttargets,and/oriv)the
promotionofnutritionsensitiveapproachesandstrategiestoimplementtheSDGagenda.Multidimensionalityand
complexitysuggesttheneedtocapturebothfoodsecurityandnutritionoutcomesandtheirenablers(e.g.linkages
tosustainableagriculture,infrastructure,education,water,health,decentjobs,socialprotection,theempowerment
ofwomen,andgenderequality).Italsosignalstheneedtopromoteaholisticnotionoffoodsystems,includingall
foodrelatedactivities(producing,storing,processing,packaging,tradingandconsumingfood)andacknowledging
thechallengesconfrontingdifferentfoodsystemsinthecurrentglobalenvironment.

Appropriategovernancemechanismsandpartnerships.Thiscomprehensivevisionneedstobedeliveredthrough
transparentgovernancemechanismsandprocesses.Atgloballevel,effortsshouldbemadetobuildonandenforce
existingnegotiatedframeworksandfora,withtheCFSastheforemostinclusivemultistakeholderplatformforfood
securityandnutrition.Bothgloballyandatcountrylevels,akeyaspectoftheneededgovernanceenvironmentis
newinstitutionalspaceformultistakeholderstrategiesandgovernance,andthepromotionofprincipled
partnershipswithsharedresponsibilityandmutualaccountabilityamongdifferentactorsandsectors.Keyactors
whoseinvolvementisessentialtogovernanewfoodsecurityandnutritionagendaundertheSDGsinclude,
besidesgovernments,smallholders(womenandmenalike)andtheirorganizations,otherprivateinvestors,
consumersandtheirorganizations,civilsociety,thescientificcommunity,andUNandotherdevelopmentpartners.
Partnershipsshouldbeexplicitlydesignedtoaddressinequalitiesandtheirinterplaywithfoodinsecurityand
malnutrition,andbepeoplecentredandsupportedbyrightsbasedapproaches.

KeyquestionstobeaddressedbyanSDGagendaonfoodsecurityandnutrition:

http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/post2015/sites/post2015/files/files/Synthesis%20document%204th%20April.pdf

1) Howtomakegrowthbothpovertyreducingandnutritionsensitive.Asnoted,thequalityofeconomic
growthiscrucialtodeterminewhetheritwillhavepositivenutritionimplications.Theimpactofgrowthon
incomepovertydoesnotautomaticallytranslateintoimpactonnutritionaloutcomes.AstheSDGagenda
tacklesissuesofinclusive,jobrichandsustainablegrowth,foodsecurityandnutritionconsiderationsshould
bewovenintodiscussions.Forexample,thismayincludeunlockingthepotentialofruralareastosustain
nutritionsensitivegrowth,andtheroleofsocialprotectioninsimultaneouslypromotinginclusivegrowth
andbetternutritionoutcomes.Attentionisalsowarrantedonhowtodesignandprioritizeinvestmentsin
energy,water,andinfrastructuretoenablemultiplepositiveimpactsongrowth,foodsecurityandnutrition
aswellasongenderequality.
2) Howtopromotethetransformationtowardssustainable,inclusiveandresilientfoodsystemsatalllevels.As
foodsecurityandnutritionareaffectedbywhatfoodisproducedindifferentcontexts,howitisproduced,
processed,transported,marketed,andconsumed,achievingtheminasustainablemannerrequiresa
transformationofwholefoodsystems.InthecontextofOWGdiscussions,thismayhaveimplicationsfor
discussionsontechnologydevelopmentandinnovation,accessandrightsovernaturalresources,
addressingdiscriminatorylaws,policiesandpractices;energy,water,infrastructure,humancapabilitiesand
skills,genderequality,andsustainableconsumptionanddiets.Howtoreducethecarbonfootprintofsectors
relatedtofoodsystemsisanimportantdimensionofthisdiscussion.Otherimportantelementsofthe
discussionshouldincludehowtoenhanceandharnessecosystemservicesforfoodsecurity.
3) Howtopromotenutritionasaspecificdimensionofhumandevelopment.Giventhecentralityofadequate
nutritiontohumandevelopment,addressingnutritionsensitiveoutcomesandenablerscaninvolve
discussiononeducationandhealthinparticular.Aclearfocusisneededonpromotinggenderequalityinall
aspectsofsocialandeconomiclife,aswellasonbuildingthehumancapitalofwomenandyounggirlsand
strengtheningtheirrights,asanimportantpreconditionforimprovednutritionatalllevels.
4) Howtoaddressspecificneeds,vulnerabilitiesandcontexts(e.g.crisisandpostconflictsituations).Asnoted,
foodinsecurityandmalnutritionmaybechronicorresultfromtheimpactsofspecificshocksonvulnerable
groups.Thenewagendaneedstotacklespecificvulnerabilities,theinequalitiesunderlyingthem,and
differentriskenvironments.Specialconsiderationneedstobegiventopopulationslivinginconflictand
insecurity,thoselivingbeloworjustabovethepovertyline,andthoselivinginareaspronetoenvironmental
shocks.Itiscriticaltoaddressthespecificneedsandvulnerabilitiesofchildrenduringthefirst1000days
fromconceptiontotwoyearsofage.Theelderlyarealsovulnerable,especiallyinconflictorcrisis
environments.
5) Attentionalsoneedstogotodisparitiesbetweendifferentareasinagivencountryintermsoffoodsupply
andaccess,aswellastochallengesofdistributionoffoodacrossareasandcountries.
Whilemaintainingaholisticvisionofthechallengesathand,andmindfuloftheneedtoaddressthefiveissues
mentionedabove,thedesignofgoals,targets,andindicatorsmaytakedifferentformsincludingthefollowing:

a) Agoalonpoverty,foodsecurityandnutrition.ThiswouldbuildonthecurrentapproachofMDG1,
recognizinglinkagesbetweenfoodsecurity,nutritionandextremepoverty,aswellasthecentralityof
foodsecurityandnutritionasdriversofpovertyeradication.Itwouldrecognizethateradicatingextreme
povertyandendingextremefoodinsecurityandmalnutritionhavebeenachievedinmanycountries
throughincreasedagriculturalproductivityandincomes.Itmaybeaccompaniedbyanimproved
indicatororsetofindicatorstocapture,amongother,chronicdeprivation,suchaschildstuntingand
womensnutritionalstatus.
b) Agoalonfoodsecurityandnutrition.Underthisgoal,separatetargetsonfoodsecurityinitsfour
dimensionsmaybeaccompaniedbytargetsinthespecificareaofnutrition,buildingonagreedupon
targetsinthisareasuchasthoserecentlyagreedbytheWorldHealthAssembly.Analternativewouldbe
tocombinetargetsrelatedtonutritionandfoodsecurityoutcomeswithtargetsrelatedtoenablersof
foodsecurityandnutrition(e.g.intheareaofsustainableagricultureorgenderequalityinaccesstoland
orotherproductiveresources,services,infrastructure,andsocialprotection).Theargumentsinfavour
ofthisoptionarethatitwouldincreasethesalienceoffoodsecurity,nutrition,waterandrelatedgoals.
Thiswouldencouragetheworldcommunitytorecognizetheneedforgreaterpublicandprivate
investmentinagriculture,nutrition,andfoodsystemstomeetnewchallengesandgrowingdemand,and

toaddresskeygovernanceissuesthat,amongothers,contributedtofoodpricespikesofthepastfew
years.
c) Acombinationofa)and/orb)alongsideintegrationoftargetsandindicatorsofspecificrelevanceto
foodsecurityinitsfourdimensionsandtoadequatenutritionasaspecificoutcomeunderrelevant
goals,inlinewiththeholisticvisionsketchedabove.Thiswouldincludenutrition(andgender)sensitive
indicators.Indicatorsonthefourdimensionsoffoodsecurityunderrelevantgoalsnotablyintheareas
ofsustainableagriculture,managementandaccesstonaturalresourcesandecosystems,social
protection,health,education,decentjobs,andgenderequalitywouldalsobeneeded.