Lessons learned and
benefits of multi-stakeholder
food security and nutrition
governance
Deborah Fulton
Secretary, CFS
CFS Vision
CFS will be the foremost inclusive international
and intergovernmental platform for a broad
range of committed stakeholder to work
together in a coordinated manner and in
support of country led processes towards the
elimination of hunger and ensuring food
security and nutrition for all human beings.”
“
What does the CFS do?
- Coordination at the global level
-
Promote policy convergence
Facilitate support and advice to countries and regions
Coordination at national and regional levels
Promote accountability and share best practices at all
levels
- Develop a Global Strategic Framework for food
security and nutrition
How: Inclusiveness
Unprecedented example within the UN system
of a global multi-stakeholder platform; and
fosters dialogue, joint ownership and shared
responsibility.
•
•
•
•
•
Governments
UN Agencies and International Financial Institutions (IFIs)
CSOs/NGOs
Private sector associations and philanthropic organizations
Research institutions
How: Evidence
A key function of CFS is to address the
knowledge gap by relying on evidence to define
the problems to inform policy solutions
High Level Panel of Experts
•Steering Committee made up of internationally recognized
experts
•Roster of experts which is used to build teams that act on a
project –specific basis to analyze and report on issues related to
food security and nutrition
•Technical expertise of the three Rome-based Agencies
How: Concrete outputs
VGGT
rai
principles
GSF
A for A
Protracted
crises
Policy
recommendations
H
HLPE
HLPE
HLPE
Reports
Lessons learnt
 Complex, multi-sectoral problems need collective effort
 Establish a common agenda on a mutually agreed
problem
 Build understanding of the issue/s from all perspectives
 Inclusiveness lends legitimacy and authority
 Agreements are hard-won but lead to ownership
 Less risk of unintended consequences of policy decisions
because all voices are heard and contribute to, influence
and ultimately own the outcome
Lessons on process
Rules of engagement
Who identifies the issues?
Transparent links to decision making
Who identifies the stakeholders?
Self organisation from the outset for all
participants
Funding and capacity to participate
Is it making a difference?
 CFS first five years post-reform have been on getting
comfortable with the multi-stakeholder approach
 The next five years need to be on understanding its
impact on the ground
 And broadening the use of multistakeholder
dialogues at regional and country level to influence
policy change
• Here’s where you come in!
Find out more
• Visit the CFS website: www.fao.org/cfs
• Sign up to the CFS Updates mailing list at
cfs.updates@gmail.com
• Email the CFS Secretariat: cfs@fao.org