UBCMUN 2016
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
BACKGROUND GUIDE
I. Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Vulnerable People during Humanitarian Crisis
II. Enhancing the Role of Women in Food Security Strategies
Director: Elena Ganacheva
Assistant Director: Agnetha De Sa
Director-General: Leah Schmidt
Written by Elena Ganacheva, Agnetha De Sa, and Leah Schmidt
Committee Overview and History
World Food Programme Mandate
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the main programme of the UN system focused on
providing food aid and promoting food security, making it the largest food-focused
humanitarian organization in the world.1 Their policies governing the use of this food aid,
however, always have the aim of eradicating hunger and poverty with the ultimate goal of
eliminating the need for food aid overall.2 The WFP identifies three main goals for providing
food aid: “to save lives in refugee and emergency situations, to improve the nutrition and
quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives and to help build
assets and promote self-reliance of poor people and communities especially through laborintensive works programmes.”3 In all its work, the WFP prioritizes supporting disaster
prevention, preparedness and mitigation and post-disaster rehabilitation activities as part of
development programmes.4 In situations of emergency assistance, the WFP aims to provide both
relief and developmental support.5 The overarching goal of every WFP initiative or intervention
is resolutely self-reliance.6 Keeping this in mind, the WFP also focuses its efforts on what it is
best-suited to do with the resources available in the most cost-effective way possible.7 Therefore,
it concentrates on development areas where access to food aid will be the most-useful without
negatively affecting local food production or fostering a dependency on food aid.8
The WFP operates through two entities: the Executive Board, the 36-member which supervises
all programs and initiatives through funding and administration; and the Executive Director and
Secretariat, which reports annually to FAO and ECOSOC under each member’s 3-year terms.9
The Executive Director is appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General and DirectorGeneral, and acts as the liaison to members states.10 The current Executive Director of the WFP
is Ertharin Cousin, who was nominated in 2009 by President Barack Obama, and is an active
1
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
3
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
4
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
5
WFP, General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations, Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, United Nations
[Website], 2014, p. 13.
6
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
7
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
8
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
2
9
New Zealand, “United Nations Handbook 2014-15,” United Nations, [Handbook], 2014; World Food
Programme, “Executive Board,” United Nations, [Website], 2015.
10
New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2014-15, United Nations, [Handbook], 2014; World Food Programme, Executive
Board, United Nations, [Website], 2015.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
advocate for the most marginalized community members facing food security issues.11 The WFP
and its programs are funded through governments, corporations, and individual donations.12
World Food Programme History
The WFP was established 1961 under resolution A/RES/1/61 as a three-year experimental
programme by parallel resolutions of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the
General Assembly (GA) passed in December.13 The WFP was scheduled to go into operation in
1963, two years after programme approval by the GA and FAO, but an earthquake hit in Iran in
September of 1962, then a hurricane in Thailand in October while Algeria was resettling 5
million refugees, and the WFP was therefore able to immediately start enacting its mandate.14
The WFP provided food aid for these crises and has been doing the same ever since.15 In 1965,
the FAO and the GA once again passed parallel resolutions (on December 6 and December 20
respectively) to establish the WFP on a continuing basis for as long as multilateral food aid is
considered feasible and necessary.16 In 2003, the WFP received an official mandate to provide air
transport services for humanitarian operations UN-wide due to its overwhelming expertise in
this field.17 In 2007, a network of Humanitarian Response Depots (HRDs) was rolled-out which
the WFP manages on behalf of the humanitarian community.18 These HRDs allow the
humanitarian community to coordinate the immediate delivery of relief by drawing on prepositioned strategic reserves of basic and operational supplies greatly expanding the capabilities
of emergency humanitarian relief.19 To this date, the WFP still operates as an “autonomous joint
subsidiary programme of the UN and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),” and reports to
the ECOSOC council.20
World Food Programme Significance
In 2013, 80 million people in 75 countries were reached by WFP assistance of which 67.9
million were women and children.21 3.1 million metric tons of food, the equivalent of 620,000
elephants, was delivered to the hungry in that year alone; 68% of this food was bought in
developing countries.22 The WFP has an impact that stretches across boundaries saving lives in
the short-term, but also developing capacities in the long run.23 Not only does the WFP provide
the life-saving food aid necessary during times of crisis and emergency, but also designs and
implements development projects on the basis of broad-based participation.24 It cooperates with
11
World Food Programme. About: Ertharine Cousin’s Biography. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
World Food Programme. Funding. United Naitons. [Website]. 2015.
13
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
14
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
15
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
16
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
17
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
18
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
19
World Food Programme. History. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
20
WFP, General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations, Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, United Nations
[Website], 2014, p. 13.
21 World Food Programme. WFP in Numbers. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
22
World Food Programme. WFP in Numbers. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
23
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
24
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
12
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local governments of developing countries on their national plans, policies and programmes to
increase the capacities of these governments to protect, provide and enhance the food security
of their citizens.25 The WFP also leverages its strengths, particularly its transport and logistical
expertise and its capability to operate virtually everywhere in the developing world, to provide a
neutral conduit for assistance where donor countries could not provide direct aid.26 For
example, the WFP has been providing food aid in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
since 1995.27 As an active member of the United Nations, the WFP is also a strong advocate to
ensure that the issue of hunger is at the fore of the international agenda.28 On September 27,
2015, United Nations Summit on the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda decided
on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next fifteen years.29 The WFP, along with
the FAO had a key role in the adoption of SDG 2 to “end hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”30
Conclusion
The WFP continues to develop and enhance its capabilities to provide food aid in times of dire
need, but also to work towards the overarching goal to end world hunger by 2030.31 As the
organization looks forward, it will focus on five main aspects: People, Partnerships, Processes
and Systems, Programmes, and Funding and Accountability.32 More specifically this means
building a more capable, balanced workforce stressing diversity and gender, being a partner of
choice in programmes addressing hunger issues, enhancing its transactional processes to
improve productivity and reduce unit costs, increasing accountability among staff and managers
and increasing the number of donors.33 The WFP is constantly evaluating its strategic goals, its
structures and its initiatives so as to reach a point where all beneficiaries will become selfreliant.34
25
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website] 2015.
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
27
World Food Programme. Countries: Korea, Democratic People’s Republic (DPRK). United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
28
World Food Programme. Mission Statement. United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
29
General Assembly. The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet. United
Nations. [Report]. 2015.
30
General Assembly. The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and protecting the planet. United
Nations. [Report]. 2015.
31
World Food Programme. Annual Performance Report for 2013. United Nations. [Report]. 2015.
32
World Food Programme. Annual Performance Report for 2013. United Nations. [Report]. 2015.
33
World Food Programme. Annual Performance Report for 2013. United Nations. [Report]. 2015.
34
World Food Programme. Annual Performance Report for 2013. United Nations. [Report]. 2015.
26
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Annotated Bibliography
WFP, “General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations, Rules of Procedure of the
Executive Board,” United Nations [Website], 2014, p. 13. Retrieved 15 November 2015 from:
http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/govman/wfp244037.pdf
Published in 2014, this document is the most up-to-date resource on the WFP’s administrative structure
and functions. From Article I (“Establishment”) to Article XII (“Implementation”), the WFP General
Regulations are key for delegates to have an understanding of how a model WFP Executive Board will
function, and how its mandate works to effectively reach high-level WFP priorities. Additionally, this
document includes a breakdown of how WFP funding functions, and definitive categorizations of Member
States under the “developing” and “economically developed” classifications.
New Zealand. “United Nations Handbook 2014-15.” United Nations. [Handbook]. 2014. Retrieved
15 November 2015 from: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/UNHB2014/index.php
The United Nations Handbook, published by New Zealand annually, is the key guide to an in-depth
overview of the United Nations, its committees, and it subsidiary bodies. As one of the UN’s 11 key
Programmes and Funds, the WFP is given comprehensive coverage in the Handbook, including the
programme’s Executive structure, membership, and meetings. From reviewing this document, delegates
will also get a solid understanding of the WFP’s purpose, evolution, structure, and how it functions in
collaboration with other UN programmes.
General Assembly. “The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and
protecting the planet. A/RES/70/1.” United Nations. [Report]. 21 October 2015. 1 November 2015
from: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2FRES%2F70%2F1&Lang=E.
One of the most recent documents regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), this resolution
details the overarching purpose of the SDGs through the priorities of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and
Partnership. As food security and nutrition represent key priorities within the developing SDG framework,
delegates should have a good understanding of the SDGs and the WFP’s responsibility to foster these goals.
Additionally, this resolution discussed the shared principles and commitments of the international
community under this framework and the means of implementation of the new agenda, all of which will
be essential to consider in the creation of any new UN policy.
Bibliography
General Assembly. “The road to dignity by 2030: ending poverty, transforming all lives and
protecting the planet.” United Nations. [Report]. 21 October 2015. 1 November 2015 from:
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2FRES%2F70%2F1&Lang=E.
New Zealand. “United Nations Handbook 2014-15.” United Nations. [Handbook]. 2014. Retrieved
15 November 2015 from: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/UNHB2014/index.php
World Food Programme. “About: Ertharine Cousin’s Biography.” United Nations. [Website]. 2015.
Retrieved 15 November 2015 from: https://www.wfp.org/about/corporate-information/executivedirector/biography
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
World Food Programme. “Annual Performance Report for 2013.” United Nations. [Report]. 21 May
2014. November 1 2015 from: http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/qcpr/pdf/wfp_annual_report_2013.pdf
World Food Programme. “Countries: Korea, Democratic People’s Republic (DPRK).” United
Nations. [Website]. 1 November 1 2015 from: http://www.wfp.org/countries-old/korea-democratic-peoplesrepublic-dprk.
World Food Programme. “Executive Board.” United Nations. [Website]. 2015. Retrieved 15
November 2015 from: https://www.wfp.org/about/executive-board
World Food Programme. “Funding.” United Nations. [Website]. 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015
from: http://www.wfp.org/funding
World Food Programme, “General Regulations, General Rules, Financial Regulations, Rules of
Procedure of the Executive Board,” United Nations [Website], 2014, p. 13. Retrieved 15 November
2015 from: http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/govman/wfp244037.pdf
World Food Programme. “History.” United Nations. [Website]. 31 October 2015 from:
http://www.wfp.org/about/corporate-information/history.
World Food Programme. “Mission Statement.” United Nations. [Website]. 31 October 2015 from:
http://www.wfp.org/about/mission-statement.
World Food Programme. “WFP in Numbers.” United Nations. [Website]. 1 November 2015 from:
http://www.wfp.org/wfp-numbers.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
I. Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Vulnerable People
During Humanitarian Crisis
Introduction
During a humanitarian crisis, the ability of vulnerable populations to meet their nutritional
needs is severely compromised.35 A humanitarian crisis is defined under the UN as “an event or
series of events that represents a critical threat to the health, safety, security, or wellbeing of a
community or other large group of people, usually over a wide area.”36 The number of people
affected by natural disasters alone has increased from 50 million in 1980 to 250 million in 2000;
and with climate change, this number is bound to continue rising, especially when combined
with the numbers affected by conflicts and other forms of crisis.37 Due to the increasing
pressures facing global food security, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been shifting its
focus towards responding to humanitarian crises, where access to nutritious food can be a
significant determiner of mortality.38 The WFP works to both treat Moderate Malnutrition (MM)
and prevent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children, pregnant women, and lactating
mothers, and supports UNICEF in its work to treat SAM once it has taken hold.39 Both types of
malnutrition can lead to stunting, anemia, kwashiorkor (a severe form of protein-energy
malnutrition), and many other nutrition-related diseases and conditions, many of which can
eventually lead to death if not treated.40 During times of crisis, this risk is multiplied many-fold;
even if people get enough to eat, malnutrition can set in if the food they eat does not provide
the proper micronutrients, vitamins and minerals, to meet daily requirements.41 In general,
those most vulnerable to malnutrition during a humanitarian crisis are women, children, and
those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or tuberculosis (TB), which is why the WFP
focuses on these groups in its programming.42 With their expertise in logistics and their ability
to cooperate with local, regional, and international actors, the WFP is often the first responder
during a crisis and a crucial part of international and national efforts to alleviate suffering after
natural disasters, civil unrest, famine, or droughts.43 As such, its work in nutrition is key to the
short-term and long-term survival of populations affected by these crises.44
35
World Food Programme. Our Work: Responding to Emergencies. United Nations, 2015.
Humanitarian Coalition. What is a humanitarian emergency? [Website], 2015.
37
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3) United Nations.
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
38
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3). United Nations.
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
39
World Health Organization. Moderate malnutrition. United Nations. [Website].
40
World Food Programme. What is Malnutrition? United Nations. [Website].
41
World Food Programme. Our Work: Responding to Emergencies. United Nations. [Website].
42
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 21 May 2015.
43
World Food Programme. Our Work: Responding to Emergencies. United Nations. [Website].
44
World Food Programme. Our Work: Responding to Emergencies. United Nations. [Website].
36
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Background
In 1975, 90% of WFP’s resources went towards development projects such as food-for-work and
land development programs to further the goal of ending world hunger.45 However, starting in
the 1990s, 75% of WFP resources have been dedicated to emergency relief and recovery; in 2003,
this figure reached almost 90%.46 This dramatic shift in the organization’s priorities reflects the
escalation of crises since the 1990s – more than 600 million people were affected by climatic
shocks and more than half of them by droughts across much of Africa and South Asia.47 30
million people in more than 60 countries were displaced or had their livelihoods destroyed by
conflicts every year throughout the 1990s.48 Crises in coastal West Africa and the Democratic
Republic of Congo as well as the growing Syrian refugee crisis all require immediate and urgent
humanitarian responses that draw away from resources that could potentially be used for
development projects.49 The WFP is therefore constantly responding to the nutritional needs of
vulnerable people around the world during a variety of humanitarian crises.50 It has, therefore,
been shifting their focus to relieving hunger in these situations as the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have
started to take on many sustainable food security and development initiatives.51 While the
number of crises the WFP has been responding to has been increasing, excess mortality in these
food crisis situations has actually been decreasing.52 In the context of major emergencies, nonviolent deaths declined by almost 40 percent between 1993 and 2003 compared to the previous
decade.53 More timely responses, improved mobilization of resources, and better management of
the symptoms and causes of malnutrition have all been identified by the WFP as contributing to
this decline in mortality rates.54 Three main factors have pushed this decline: the evolution in
medical and nutritional science, the increasingly professional application of knowledge and the
increased inter-agency harmonization of policies and methods.55 Recently, an increase in the
accumulation applied research has occurred, which has helped to make informed humanitarian
45
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
46
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
47
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
48
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
49
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
50
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
51
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
52
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
53
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
54
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
55
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3).
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
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United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
United Nations.
strategies to respond to nutritional emergencies.56 These include new medical protocols for
treating severe malnutrition as well as guidelines for effective uses of food in emergency
programming.57
Current Policy
In 2004, the WFP decided to mainstream nutrition in all its programmes, advocacy, and
partnerships in order to better address malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and other
nutrition-related conditions.58 This includes increasing staff capacity in nutritional assessment,
programme design and project implementation, as well as engaging in global and national
policy dialogues and partnerships.59 It also focuses on reducing under-nutrition, particularly
during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, by adopting a nutrition-sensitive approach across all
programming.60 In 2012, the WFP approved its Nutrition Policy consisting of five main pillars:
treating moderate acute malnutrition, preventing acute malnutrition, preventing chronic
malnutrition, addressing micronutrient deficiencies among vulnerable people, and reducing
mortality and improving the health of all groups, through strengthening the focus on nutrition
in programmes without a primary nutrition objective and, where possible, linking vulnerable
groups to these programmes.61 Under Strategic Objective One in their Strategic Plan (2014-2017)
to “save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies,” the WFP’s first goal is to “meet urgent
food and nutrition needs of vulnerable people and communities and reduce under-nutrition to
below emergency levels.”62 To meet this goal, the WFP works with governments, where
appropriate, and partners with other UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society “to immediately assess needs and to
quickly design, deploy and scale up food assistance and emergency nutrition interventions for
affected populations.”63 It makes use of multiple methods of assistance such as cash, vouchers,
food, or a mix of these methods in order to ensure access to nutritious food and nutrition
supplements during times of crisis.64
56
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3). United Nations.
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
57
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/3). United Nations.
[Report]. 6 April 2004.
58
World Food Programme. Food for Nutrition: Mainstreaming Nutrition in WFP. (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/1). United Nations. [Report].
6 April 2004.
59
World Food Programme. Food for Nutrition: Mainstreaming Nutrition in WFP. (WFP/EB.A/2004/5-A/1). United Nations. [Report].
6 April 2004.
60
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United Nations.
[Report]. 8 May 2015.
61
World Food Programme. “Nutrition at the World Food Programme: Programming for Nutrition-Specific Interventions.” United
Nations. [Report]. December 2012.
62
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United Nations.
[Report]. 8 May 2015.
63
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United Nations.
[Report]. 8 May 2015.
64
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United Nations.
[Report]. 8 May 2015.
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International Framework
In 2012, the Secretary-General launched the Zero Hunger Challenge, a global call to action to
end hunger by 2030 supported by recommendations from the FAO, International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the WFP.65 Since then, the WFP and other UN agencies
such as UNICEF, NGOs such as World Vision, and even multi-national corporations such as
Unilever have taken on the challenge, and have been working towards a world without
hunger.66 There are five main goals of the challenge: zero stunted children under the age of 2
years, 100% access to adequate food all-year round, all food systems to be sustainable, 100%
increase in smallholder productivity and income, and zero loss or waste of food.67 In the same
year, over 20 countries signed the Food Assistance Convention which sets out the general
principles of food assistance and legally binds signatories to meet an annual minimum
commitment each country sets for itself for food assistance for emergency and early recovery
situations.68 Every year, the Food Assistance committee, where the WFP attends as an observer
and often presents relevant information, meets to discuss the global situation regarding hunger
and malnutrition and current food emergencies.69 During the 5th session in 2015, “members and
observers also discussed the importance of assessing each humanitarian situation carefully to
ensure that vulnerable populations receive the most appropriate assistance.”70 In 2015, the
General Assembly (GA) passed “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition”
(A/RES/69/240) to continue the UN’s commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition.71 Interagency cooperation and coordination in cases of humanitarian crisis have also been stressed in
“Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United
Nations” (A/RES/69/135) and “International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field
of natural disasters, from relief to development” (A/RES/69/243).72 The Secretary General’s HighLevel Task-Force on World Food Security and Nutrition, in which the WFP is an active
member, was also established in 2008, reflecting the global push to enhance nutrition in all
areas, including during humanitarian crises.73 Their work on Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Systems going into Rio+20 highlighted the importance of integrated responses in crisis and
post-crisis situations with a focus on recovery, sustainable food and nutrition security, and
resilient livelihoods.74 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), passed unanimously in the
65
United Nations. Zero Hunger Challenge. [Website], 2015.
United Nations. Join the Challenge. [Website], 2015; Food and Agricultural Organization. Achieving Zero Hunger: the critical
role of investments in social protection and agriculture. United Nations. [Report]. 2015.
67
World Food Programme. Hunger can be eliminated in our lifetimes. United Nations. [Factsheet].
68
United Nations. Food Assistance Convention. [Treaty]. 2012.
69
Food Assistance Convention. 5th Session of the Food Assistance Committee. United Nations. [Press Release]. 22 May 2015.
70
Food Assistance Convention. 5th Session of the Food Assistance Committee. United Nations. [Press Release]. 22 May 2015.
71
General Assembly. Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition (A/RES/69/240). United Nations. [Resolution]. 2
February 2015.
72
General Assembly. Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian Assistance of the United Nations.
(A/RES/69/135). United Nations. [Resolution]. 19 January 2015.
73
United Nations System High Level Task Force on Global Food Security. “Food and Nutrition Security for All through
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.” United Nations [Report]. March 2012.
74
United Nations System High Level Task Force on Global Food Security. “Food and Nutrition Security for All through
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.” United Nations [Report]. March 2012.
66
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GA on September 27, 2015, also stressed the need to “end hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” in SDG 2.75
Relevant UN Committees
Many branches of the UN address nutrition during humanitarian crises under their mandates.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) routinely carries out
emergency health interventions to treat malnutrition in children.76 Due to its strong supply
capability and global on-the-ground presence, UNICEF is highly effective at ensuring the rapid
delivery of emergency supplies, including nutritious food and food supplements.77 On October
29, 2015, UNICEF and the WFP launched a mass mobilization campaign in South Sudan, where
there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis, to screen more than 250,000 children for malnutrition,
referring those found to be malnourished or sick to treatment administered by one of the two
organizations.78 The World Health Organization (WHO) disseminates new research and methods
related to nutrition to ensure humanitarian agencies can meet the nutritional needs of their
beneficiaries more effectively.79 To increase access to their nutritional research and guidelines,
the WHO has an online library of evidence-informed guidance for nutrition interventions called
the e-Library for Evidence for Nutrition Actions (eLENA).80 The WHO is also active in advising
the WFP on the effectiveness and relevance of their food aid policies and programmes in both
emergency and development contexts.81 The two organizations formed a joint operational and
technical force during the Ebola crisis to provide nutrition and treatment to the three most
Ebola-affected countries, combining the WFP’s logistical and the WHO’s medical expertise.82 The
United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) published the Nutrition
Information in Crisis Situations (NICS) report, which provides information on key outcome
indicators from emergency-affected populations, so as to raise awareness and facilitate action to
improve the nutritional condition of crisis-affected populations.83 The FAO advocates for the use
of a nutrition lens when addressing food insecurity during emergencies and using food and
agriculture-based approaches to safeguard nutrition before, during, and after crises, with a focus
on long-term rather than short-term solutions.84 It published a key document called “Protecting
75
General Assembly. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/70/L.1). United Nations. [Resolution]. 21
October 2015.
76
United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund. “Nutrition Security and Emergencies.” United Nations. [Website] 2015.
77
United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund. “Nutrition Security and Emergencies.” United Nations. [Website],
2015
78
United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund. “UNICEF and WFP launch mass nutrition screening as hunger
threatens lives of children in South Sudan.” United Nations. [Press Release], 2015.
79
World Health Organization. “Nutrition.” United Nations. [Website], 2015.
80
World Health Organization. “e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions.” United Nations. [Website], 2015.
81
World Health Organization. “Technical support and collaboration with UN partners and NGOs in emergencies.” United Nations.
[Website], 2015.
82
World Health Organization. “WHO and World Food Programme join forces to reach zero Ebola cases.” United
Nations. [Press Release]. 11 March 2015.
83
United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition. Nutrition Information in Crisis Situations. United Nations.
[Website], 2015.
84
Food and Agriculture Organization. Nutrition in Emergencies. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
and promoting good nutrition in crisis and recovery” that describes different strategies and
approaches to nutrition in emergency situations.85
Work by the WFP
When the World Food Programme is alerted to a crisis, it undertakes an Emergency Food
Security Assessment (EFSA) to determine the impact and provide the necessary response.86 This
information is then combined with the WFP’s Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM),
which the WFP utilizes on a regular basis.87 The assessment of crises along with the WFP’s
general knowledge of regions’ social, cultural, ethnic, and economic dynamics allow the WFP to
improve their efforts and initiatives, especially when it comes to targeting those most at risk.88
As the main UN branch dealing with food security, the WFP’s assessment is crucial to the
response of not only the WFP itself, but also other UN agencies and NGOs, such as Oxfam
International and World Vision.89 Once the WFP determines who is in most need of aid, they
use multiple strategies to specifically treat Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) in order to
prevent the onset of SAM.90 Different strategies include Targeted Supplementary Feeding
Programmes (TSFPs), Blanket Supplementary Feeding Programmes (BSFPs), Ready-to-Use
supplementary food (RUSFs), and home fortification with Micro-Nutrient Powders (MNPs) or
Small Quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs), which can be effective in both
emergency and development contexts.91 This shows a great improvement from the past, when
TSFPs were the sole response to MAM management in emergencies.92 Nutrition-specific
activities to supplement relief work and to address chronic undernutrition assisted 10.3 million
beneficiaries in 2014.93 Rations of food, cash, and vouchers are the WFP’s main inputs to
produce target outcomes; they are adapted to the beneficiaries’ nutritional needs and dietary
habits, along with the rations’ storage requirements and ease-of-use.94 The WFP also leverages
partnerships to be most effective in addressing the nutritional challenges vulnerable people face
during crisis by following its Corporate Partnership Strategy (2014-2017).95
85
Food and Agriculture Organization. Protecting and promoting good nutrition in crisis and recovery. United Nations. [Resource
Guide]. 2005.
86
World Food Programme. Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping at a glance. United Nations. [Factsheet].
87
World Food Programme. Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping at a glance. United Nations. [Factsheet].
88
World Food Programme. Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping at a glance. United Nations. [Factsheet].
89
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
90
World Food Programme. Nutrition at the World Food Programme: Programming for Nutrition-Specific Interventions. United
Nations. [Report]. December 2012.
91
World Food Programme. Nutrition at the World Food Programme: Programming for Nutrition-Specific Interventions. United
Nations. [Report]. December 2012.
92
World Food Programme. Nutrition at the World Food Programme: Programming for Nutrition-Specific Interventions. United
Nations. [Report]. December 2012.
93
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United
Nations. [Report]. 8
May 2015.
94
World Food Programme. “WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1).” United
Nations. [Report]. 8
May 2015.
95
World Food Programme. WFP Corporate Partnership Strategy (2014-2017). United Nations. [Report]. July 2014.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
Regional and Civil Society Framework
Alongside the WFP and the UN, many NGOs are tackling the highly complex and widespread
problem of malnutrition. For example, the Emergency Nutrition Network is a charity based in
the United Kingdom that works to “strengthen the evidence and know-how for effective
nutrition interventions in countries prone to crisis and high levels of malnutrition.”96 The
organization conducts nutrition research where evidence is weak, facilitates discussion on topics
upon which agreement is lacking, shares UN and WFP research, guidelines and project reviews,
and supports global-level leadership, which provides a valuable, neutral space for humanitarian
discussion and research on nutrition to occur.97 The Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) was
established in 2006 as part of the Humanitarian Reform process which aimed to ensure greater
predictability, accountability, and partnership in humanitarian response programmes.98 It also
coordinates the efforts of over 30 partners, including international NGOs, IGOs, research and
development groups, academic institutions, UN agencies, donors, and other individuals.99 The
GNC’s goal is “to safeguard and improve the nutritional status of emergency affected
populations by ensuring an appropriate response that is predictable, timely and effective and at
scale.”100 To facilitate this cooperation, they organize workshops, conduct research, and
disseminate training programmes for capacity development for individuals within the field.101
The European Union (EU) adopted a Nutrition Policy in March 2013, showing its commitment
to addressing the issue, and has since doubled its funding to nutrition programs to €130 million
in 2014.102 In past years, the EU has added regional thematic experts to three regional support
offices, and has appointed a dedicated global expert, all while also collaborating with other
humanitarian organizations to ensure coherence and complementarity in the field of
nutrition.103 In 2012, the G8 Summit formed the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition,
a shared commitment to achieve sustained, inclusive, agriculture-led growth in Africa.104 This
organization directly contributes to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP) by coordinating the efforts of African governments, civil society, and
farmers’ organizations, development partners including those from the UN and the private
sector to end hunger and halve poverty in Africa by 2022.105
Case Study: Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic
In December 2012, violence broke out in the Central African Republic (CAR), forcibly displacing
over 400,000 people over the course of this long-standing and continuing conflict.106 The
country has experienced sporadic surges of violence and state disintegration, with Muslim and
96
Emergency Nutrition Network. About us. ENN. [Website], 2015..
Emergency Nutrition Network. About us. ENN. [Website], 2015.
98
Global Nutrition Cluster. Home. [Website], GNC, 2015.
99
Global Nutrition Cluster. Home. [Website], GNC 2015.
100
Global Nutrition Cluster. Who We Are. [Website], GNC, 2015.
101
Global Nutrition Cluster. Our Work. [Website], GNC, 2015.
102
European Union. Nutrition. EU. [Website], 2015.
103
European Union. Nutrition. EU. [Website], 2015.
104
New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. About. NAFSN. [Website], 2015.
105
New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. About. NAFSN. [Website], 2015.
106
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
97
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
Christian militias vying for power.107 This conflict has led to instability that has severely affected
the civilian population’s access to food.108 Malnutrition in young children has been a particular
problem due to the prolonged crisis.109 The first years of a child’s life are crucial to their
development and, with the instability resulting from the crisis, young children have been
especially vulnerable.110 For instance, children require Vitamin A to resist illness and protect
their eyesight, as well as iron to protect their mental and physical abilities.111 Additionally,
iodine is particularly important for the development of a child’s brain.112 The WFP is currently
providing life-saving assistance to children in CAR and to refugee children in countries
surrounding it by providing a ready-to-use nutritional food packets called Plump’Sup to
newborns at health centers run by Medecins Sans Frontieres as a supplement to other food.113 The
supplement ensures that newborns, and breastfeeding and pregnant women can get all the
nutrients they need in a simple way that can be more easily and cheaply distributed than other
food aid, as the WFP regularly stocks warehouses with the supplement that has a 24-month
shell-life.114 In this way, WFP can make sure children who need it can get the nutrition they
need.115
Areas for Future Development
In the CAR, the WFP reaches more than 500,000 people every month and continues to
expand its work through general food distribution, supplements, and food vouchers in the
region, though there is still plenty more that needs to be accomplished.116 Ready-to-use
supplements have been successful in addressing children’s malnutrition, but women,
especially those living in rural regions, still face many obstacles to nutrition. HIV is an
ever-present problem; the risk multiplied for women by exposure to sexual exploitation,
abuse and gender-based violence during the crisis.117 This is especially dangerous when
paired with malnutrition as lack of adequate nutrients can aggravate the illness to develop
into AIDS.118
In general, the WFP is moving towards an approach more centered on addressing the
nutritional needs of vulnerable people in humanitarian crises.119 Lack of funding, resources, and
access to beneficiaries are ever-present roadblocks to providing the life-saving food aid people
need, especially as it can disrupt the arrival of all food items at the same time.120 When food
items do not arrive at the same time, it can be difficult for the WFP to provide well-balanced
107
International Crisis Group. Central African Republic: The roots of violence. [Website], 2015.
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
109
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
110
Facts for Life. Nutrition and Growth. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
111
Facts for Life. Nutrition and Growth. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
112
Facts for Life. Nutrition and Growth. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
113
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
114
Nutriset. Plumpy’Sup. [Website], 2015.
115
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
116
World Food Programme. Fighting Malnutrition in the Central African Republic. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
117
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality: key to food security. United Nations. [Factsheet], 2015.
118
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality: key to food security. United Nations. [Factsheet], 2015.
119
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
120
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
108
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
and nutritious meals to its beneficiaries.121 The WFP is also working to improve the way it
targets those who are especially vulnerable to malnutrition in a safe and viable manner.122 One
way the WFP has been doing this is by transitioning to the use of more cash transfers and
vouchers instead of direct food distributions as a more cost-effective and efficient means of
meeting programme goals, but these can be difficult during crisis situations when food markets
have collapsed.123 These have been effective in development contexts, but can more widely be
applied to emergency and nutrition-specific contexts as well.124 The WFP is also moving towards
an approach that incorporates resilience-building into relief efforts which seek to create longterm and lasting change in the regions where it operates.125 A resource that the WFP could utilize
more efficiently in its emergency responses is partnerships with other organizations such as
other UN agencies and private companies with public health and nutrition expertise.126 The WFP
is also looking into working with local governments to develop country-specific emergency
preparation schemes, so as to more adequately and quickly respond to food crises around the
world.127
Conclusion
Overall, the WFP has been effective at incorporating nutrition into its emergency
response, but more needs to be done to ensure vulnerable people do not go malnourished
during humanitarian crisis.128 Varying forms of nutrition interventions paired with
evidence-based research, policy, and innovation can prevent young children and other
vulnerable groups from dying during emergencies in the short-term or experiencing
nutrient deficiencies and stunting that could affect their socio-economic well-being in the
long-run.129 As the WFP looks forward, it will leverage partnerships, innovative new
strategies and preparation schemes to effectively deal with increasing demands resulting
from global food emergencies.130
121
World Food Programme Executive Board.
World Food Programme Executive Board.
123
World Food Programme Executive Board.
124
World Food Programme Executive Board.
122
Annual Performance Report for 2014.
Annual Performance Report for 2014.
Annual Performance Report for 2014.
Annual Performance Report for 2014.
United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
125
World Food Programme. “Policy on Building Resilience for Food Security and Nutrition
(WFP/EB.A/2015/5-C).” United Nations. [Report]. 27 April 2015.
126
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
127
World Food Programme. “Policy on Building Resilience for Food Security and Nutrition
(WFP/EB.A/2015/5-C).” United Nations. [Report]. 27 April 2015.
128
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
130
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations. [Report]. 8 May 2015.
129
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
Questions to Consider
1.
What new strategies can the WFP use to better address the nutritional needs of
vulnerable people during crises, especially in terms of targeting and logistics?
2. How can the WFP further leverage future partnerships with other UN committees,
NGOs, governments, and corporations to enhance its emergency response
capacity?
3. What can the WFP do to more effectively prepare and develop capacities to
respond to nutritional crises in the future on a local, regional, and international
level?
Annotated Bibliography
General Assembly. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/70/L.1).
United Nations. [Resolution]. 21 October 2015. 1 November 2015 from:
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2FRES%2F70%2F1&Lang=E
This is the outcome document of the international discussions that determined the Sustainable
Development Goals for the next 15 years. It outlines in detail all 17 goals and the targets and outcomes each
country in the world should be striving for, and delegates should have a solid understanding of the
development of this document. These goals are meant to guide all UN agencies including the WFP, which
is why having an in-depth understanding of the SDGs is crucial to understanding future development of
WFP policy and programmes.
World Food Programme. Nutrition at the World Food Programme: Programming for Nutrition-Specific
Interventions. United Nations. [Report]. December 2012. 7 November 2015 from:
http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/communications/wfp258650.pdf
This document details varying types of nutrition-specific interventions and in what situations they are
most effective. It also explains changes in the WFP’s nutritional programming and its positive and/or
negative outcomes. This report provides a good overview of the issues related to malnutrition, and
delegates should be well-versed on the nutrition-specific needs of various humanitarian crises.
World Food Programme. Nutrition in Emergencies: WFP Experiences and Challenges
(WFP/EB.A/2004/5- A/3). United Nations. [Report]. 6 April 2004. 18 July 2015 from:
http://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/Nutrition%20and%20Emergencies%20WFP%20Experience
s%20and%20Challenges.pdf
This report is a good overview of the topic detailing the history of nutrition in emergency response, the
advances in knowledge and technology relating to emergency nutrition, multiple relevant case studies as
well as possible future problems and solutions that the WFP could pursue. Delegates should understand
previous commitments undertaken by the WFP, and where they have had successes and failures, in order
to create feasible future frameworks.
World Food Programme. WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017) (WFP/EB.A/2013/5-A/1). United Nations.
[Report]. 8 May 2015. 6 Aug 2015 from:
http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/eb/wfpdoc062522.pdf
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
This plan summarizes the main goals of the WFP as well as their mandate within the UN system. It also
details more specific objectives and how the WFP plans to approach them as well as what the future holds
for the WFP as an organization. Delegates should have a solid understanding of the specific aims of the
WFP in order to accurately represent committee mandate.
World Food Programme Executive Board. Annual Performance Report for 2014. United Nations.
[Report]. 21 May 2015. 2 November 2015 from:
http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/eb/wfpdoc063825.pdf
This report evaluates the WFP’s work over the course of 2014. It also details changes in policy direction,
challenges faced over the year and how the WFP intends to deal with these challenges. Statistics and
supporting data to lead future evidence-based decision-making are detailed within the report, and
delegates should understand the successes and failures in WFP programming over the past year, in order
to develop strong policy.
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University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
II. Enhancing the Role of Women in
Food Security Strategies
“Breaking the cycle of hunger and poverty at its roots begins with women.”- Josette
Sheeran, WFP 11th Executive Director.131
Introduction
Globally, there are 795 million hungry people in the world.132 This means that one in nine
people are not getting enough food daily, making hunger and malnutrition a greater risk to
health than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined, with women and children being the most
affected.133 Additionally, during times of crisis, mothers are the first to give up food for the
benefit of their families.134 Female farmers experience lower yields due to inadequate access to
improved seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.135 Women have a key role in ensuring not only their
food security, but also the food security of their communities and to a larger extent, the world.
The number of hungry people in the world could decrease by 100-150 million people just by
providing female farmers with better resources.136 By empowering women, the WFP cam ensure
food security for the entire household since research has shown that, by providing women with
greater financial autonomy, children’s health can be directly improved.137 Furthermore, when
women are educated, the reduction in child malnutrition is greater than just when food is made
available.138
Context
In the developing world, gender plays a key factor in ensuring food security.139 The roles men
and women play in ensuring food secure households and to a larger extent, communities, are
different in the developing world.140 This is especially true in times of crisis when small
farmers, accounting for up to 80 percent of the undernourished, are the first to be affected.141
Female farmers are further marginalized due to unequal access to education, land, agricultural
training, seeds, water and tools, technologies, credit, markets, legal rights, decision-making, and
participation.142 Men are tasked with growing field crops for agricultural purposes while women
131
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy. United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
World Food Programme. Hunger Statistics. United Nations. [Website].
133
World Food Programme. Frequently Asked Questions – Hunger. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
132
134
World Food Programme. “Women and Hunger: 10 Facts.” United Nations. [Website], 2015.
135
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website],2015.
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website],2015.
137
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
138
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
139
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy. United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
140
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender: Food Security. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
141
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Observer. The Challenges for Food Security. [Website], 2015.
142
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender: Food Security. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
136
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are tasked with “growing and preparing the food consumed in the home,” which can account
for the majority of their time in addition to raising livestock.143 Additional responsibilities for
women include caring and looking after family members such as the elderly and children,
educating children, cleaning, and gathering water and supplies for cooking.144 When it comes to
making decisions as to what to grow, men are more likely to make those decisions without
input from women.145 The differences in these roles can be seen especially in rural communities
in which gender discrimination results in unequal food distribution, whereby women and girls
have limited access to nutritious food.146 Furthermore, discrimination against female farmers is
demonstrated by lower yields due to limited access to agricultural resources such as seeds,
fertilizers, and equipment.147
Defining Gender, Discrimination, and Food Security
The UN defines gender as “the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male
and female. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a
given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men
in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well
as decision-making opportunities”.148 By eliminating such barriers thorough women’s
empowerment, food security can be achieved for women, and thus their families and their
communities.
UNESCO defines discrimination as “the selection for unfavourable treatment of an
individual(s)”.149 In more general terms, this means that discrimination is the behaviour that
results from prejudicial attitudes and stereotypical beliefs.150 In the context of this topic, women
face discrimination through limited access to opportunities and/or resources.151 The range of
socio-political and structural barriers encountered by women are diver and include: access to
education, natural resource endowment, access to the agricultural market, limited decision
making on the household level, and cultural attitudes.152 What all of these factors have in
common is that they impact a woman’s ability to be food secure. By focusing on policies and
cultural beliefs that limit the role of women in participating either the food market or the
143
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender: Food Security. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
144
World Food Programme. “Women and Hunger: 10 Facts.” United Nations. [Website], 2015.
145
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality and food security: Women’s empowerment as a tool against hunger.
United Nations. [Publication]. 2013.
146
World Food Programme. On International Women’s Day, FAO/IFAD/WFP/IDLO Highlight Link between Women, Violence and
Food Security. United Nations. [Press Release]. 08 March 2013.
147
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
148
United Nations Women. “Concepts and Definitions.” United Nations. [Website], 2015.
149
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Glossary, Discrimination. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Glossary, Discrimination. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
151
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
152
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook. United Nations. [Publication]. 2009.
150
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ability to make household decisions barriers that prevent women from being food secure can be
eliminated.153
In 1996, the World Food Summit defined food security as “existing when all people, at all times,
have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary
needs for a productive and healthy life.”154 There are four dimensions of food security, which
include availability of food, access to food and markets, utilization of food by our bodies, and
stability of the environment.155 Local food systems, the practice of growing, processing,
packaging, and consuming food in one community, have an important role in achieving food
security of communities. Female farmers play a vital role in local food systems.156 Research has
shown that in developing countries, rural female farmers are responsible for sixty to eighty
percent of crops grown.157 However, although women play a vital role in food production for
many comminutes, they are all too often excluded from opportunities to develop and have
input on policies, programs and opportunities that directly impact their lives along with the
lives of their dependents.158
Current Policy
The established practice to promote gender equality is gender mainstreaming.159 Gender
mainstreaming is defined by the UN as “the process of assessing the implications for women
and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at
all levels.”160 With the advent of its gender policy, the WFP took steps to ensure that strategies
were devised and clear targets were outlined in order to achieve gender mainstreaming at all
levels of its organization.161 For example, the WFP increased women’s access to food by enabling
them to gain food entitlements, and promoting women’s participation in decision-making
groups and its food-for-training programmes.162 Additionally, the WFP ensures that training for
the use of the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) Gender Marker was provided to its staff
at the operational level (e.g. managers and supervisors) in order to reach its goals outlined in the
gender policy.163 Since 2012, the WFP has been using the IASC Gender Marker to determine if a
proposed humanitarian project will increase and fulfill the requirements of gender equality.164
153
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality and food security: Women’s empowerment as a tool against hunger.
United Nations. [Publication]. 2013.
154
United Nations. Water and food security. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
155
Food and Agricultural Organization. An Introduction to the Basic Concepts of Food Security. United Nations. [Information
Sheet]. 2008.
156
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
157
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
158
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality and food security: Women’s empowerment as a tool against hunger.
United Nations. [Publication]. 2013.
159
United Nations. Gender Mainstreaming: Strategy for Promoting Gender Equality. [Factsheet]. August 2001.
160
United Nations. Gender Mainstreaming: Strategy for Promoting Gender Equality. [Factsheet]. August 2001.
161
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy. United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
162
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy. United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
163
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy. United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
164
World Food Programme. Update on the Implementation of the WFP Gender Mainstreaming Accountability Framework.
United Nations. [Policy]. 8 May 2014.
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In developing countries, low-income women live in rural areas and depend on agriculture as
their primary source of income. This is what makes women famers such an important factor in
reducing and eliminating global hunger.165 Recent estimates state that “rural women produce
half of the world’s food and in developing countries between 60 percent and 80 percent of food
crops”.166 Studies have shown that by providing rural female farmers with increased incomes,
training, and credit opportunities, benefits can be seen not only for women themselves, but
their households as well, including their children.167 With women and girls making up the
majority of the food and nutrition insecure, methods that work to empower women and girls
can exponentially increase the food security of communities.168 For example, when providing
women with increased incomes, findings from many studies have shown that women invest in
childhood education, health and their households and experience improved nutritional
outcomes from access to diverse food products.169 Additionally, with increased incomes, the
statuses of women increase in their households and communities, allowing them the
opportunity to have an active voice in household community decisions.170
International Framework
In 2012, the Zero Hunger Challenge was launched by the Secretary General in an effort to
engage nations around the world to end world hunger.171 Soon after, in December 2012, the
Third Committee of the GA passed the “Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of
violence against women resolution” (A/RES/67/144).172 The resolution recognizes food security as
a factor that could be used to reduce violence against women and girls.173 A year later, the
Second Committee of the GA passed the “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition
resolution” (A/RES/68/233).174 This resolution recognizes that food crises, humanitarian
emergencies, and climate change pose a threat to food security and subsequent solutions should
include responses from member state governments and the international community.175
Additionally, this resolution highlighted the fact that while significant improvements have been
made in reducing hunger, there are still 842 million people who are affected by chronic
165
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
166
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
167
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
168
Food and Agricultural Organization. Gender equality and food security: Women’s empowerment as a tool against hunger.
United Nations. [Publication]. 2013.
169
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
170
Mehra, Rekha and Mary Hill Rojas. Women, food security and agriculture in a global marketplace. International Center for
Research on Women (ICRW). [Publication]. 2008.
171
United Nations. Zero Hunger Challenge. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
172
General Assembly. A/RES/67/144 Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. United Nations.
[Resolution]. 27 February 2013.
173
General Assembly. A/RES/67/144 Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. United Nations.
[Resolution]. 27 February 2013.
174
General Assembly. A/RES/68/233 Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition. United Nations. [Resolution]. 21
February 2014.
175
General Assembly. A/RES/68/233 Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition. United Nations. [Resolution]. 21
February 2014.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
hunger.176 In December 2014, the third committee of the GA passed the right to food resolution
(A/RES/69/177) which highlights the importance of food security as a part of basic human
rights.177
During the Fourth World Conference on Women held in 1995, 189 member states agreed in
solidarity that they would adopt the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and work to
eliminate obstacles to gender equality.178 This historical document contained commitments
relate to 12 topics of focus.179 Individual countries have done a lot of work in order to achieve
the aims listed in the Platform and goals have been achieved with the ongoing efforts of regular
five-year reviews.180 However, no country has achieved all of the commitments outlined in the
Platform for Action: particularly in areas of income inequality, violence against women, and
reproductive rights.181 Most recently, in 2015, 20 years after the adoption of this hallmark
framework, Beijing +20 is the recommitment of work focused on achieving gender equality,
improving women’s rights and empowerment.182 The fifty-ninth session of the Commission on
the Status of Women reviewed the work done since the 1995 implementation of the Platform of
Action, and promised to achieve gender equality by the year 2030.183 UN Women works with a
variety of partners ranging from Women’s Organizations, including those who work with
migrant, domestic, and low-skilled women workers, and branches of Member States’
governments.184 Coinciding with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Review of UN
Resolution 1325, and the UN Climate Change Conference, Beijing +20 allowed members to
focus on gender equality, women’s rights and empowerment while considering the impacts of
“sustainable development, peace, security, and human rights”.185
Additionally, the partnership between the WFP, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is what allows the WFP to pursue its
mission of eliminating world hunger.186 The three organizations (referred to as the Rome-based
agencies) share a common mission of promoting food security while eliminating global hunger
through food assistance programmes.187 While the work of the WFP and FAO are similar, they
have different goals.188 This partnership allows these sister agencies to save costs and allows for a
larger amount of resources to be used more effectively.189 Additionally, the Committee on World
Food Security was established and consists of staff from the three agencies.190 With the efforts of
176
General Assembly. A/RES/68/233 Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition. United Nations. [Resolution]. 21
February 2014.
177
General Assembly. A/RES/69/177 The right to food. United Nations. [Resolution]. 4 February 2015.
178
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
179
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
180
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
181
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
182
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
183
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
184
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
185
United Nations Women. The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
186
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
187
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
188
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
189
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
190
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
this partnership, work has been done on improving food and nutrition security through
developing resilience in vulnerable communities.191
Another programme in which the WFP plays a role was created as a result of the partnership
between the WFP, FAO, IFAD, and UN Women.192 The Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment
(RWEE) programme is an all-encompassing response for addressing the empowerment of rural
women.193 The RWEE programme is a five-year initiative implemented in seven countries which
include: Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Nepal, Niger, and Rwanda.194 The aims of the
RWEE programme are to ensure rural women will have increased food, nutrition, financial
security, and influence in their local community leadership groups.195
Work done by the WFP
With its programmes and partnerships, the WFP works to empower women in order to achieve
food security for themselves as well as their families.196 Based the WFP Gender Policy, the
Corporate Action Plan is the WFP’s operational tool that not only covers all organizational
aspects, but gives the WFP targeted actions with measurable outcomes on achieving gender
mainstreaming.197 Through the Food for Work and Food for Training programmes, the WFP
empowers women by providing them with training and jobs that benefits the community
whilst ensuring equal representation of men and women in local committees.198 Additionally,
with school meals programmes, the WFP works to empower girls by providing an incentive for
families to send their daughters to school, subsequently closing the gender gap through
education.199 For example, in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, the WFP is able
to provide hot meals to schoolchildren.200 Additionally, this programme supports the local
community through sourcing food from local women and employing them in its preparation.201
191
World Food Programme. Rome-based agencies (RBAs). United Nations. [Website], 2015.
United Nations Women, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food
Programme. Accelerating Progress toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (RWEE). United Nations.
[Publication] March 2013.
193
United Nations Women, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food
Programme. Accelerating Progress toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (RWEE). United Nations.
[Publication] March 2013.
194
United Nations Women, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food
Programme. Accelerating Progress toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (RWEE). United Nations.
[Publication] March 2013.
195
United Nations Women, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Food
Programme. Accelerating Progress toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women (RWEE). United Nations.
[Publication] March 2013.
196
World Food Programme. Focus on Women. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
197
World Food Programme. WFP Gender Policy: Corporate Action Plan. United Nations. [Publication]. 09 October 2009.
198
World Food Programme. Focus on Women. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
199
World Food Programme. Focus on Women. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
200
World Food Programme. Women: The Key to Escaping Poverty and Under Nutrition in Bangladesh. United Nations. [Website],
2015.
201
World Food Programme. Women: The Key to Escaping Poverty and Under Nutrition in Bangladesh. United Nations. [Website],
2015.
192
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By providing a stable income to women, the women, in turn, are able to use the savings to
invest in agricultural land, health care and education.202
Another example of the WFP’s work, can be seen in their efforts within Ecuador. In the
communities of Pimampiro, Ecuador, rural female farmers were unable to access market
opportunities.203 A disparity existed where they would only receive ten cents upon selling their
produce to a local merchant, but had to purchase the same produce from the market for 50
cents.204 These female farmers faced challenges brought on by cultural ideas that female farmers
weren’t regarded with equal importance in comparison to their male counterparts.205 These
women sought to create their own space in the market and founded the Tierra del Sol
Association for smallholder farmers.206 Through recruitment strategies, the association consisted
of 210 women and seven men.207 The association established a weekly market in which up to 110
farmers are able to sell their produce, eventually increasing to 217 association members.208
Regional and Civil Society Framework
Along with the WFP and other UN agencies, many governments, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), and regional organizations are working to improve food security through
the empowerment of women. For example, Deccan Development Society, an NGO in the Indian
state of Andhra Pradesh, worked with female farmers in the Medak district to establish the
Community Grain Fund which allowed villages in the district to be unaffected by an extended
drought that affected the state from 2001-2002.209 With this part of India referred to as the
hunger belt, it was a surprise to government officials that these villages could support
themselves while so many others were in need of emergency relief efforts during the drought.210
The women had come together to create their own village-level women’s groups and
maintained traditional practices of cultivating millet (coarse grain crops) which are native to
their land and are suited to the arid climate in the region.211 With a loan from the Deccan
Development Society, women’s groups were able to reclaim land and grow crops.212 Over time
these villages were able to establish and maintain food stores, ensuring their food and nutrition
needs were maintained through local efforts.213 Feed the Future is a US Government’s global
hunger and food security initiative that works in 19 countries around the world to eliminate
global hunger.214 In Mali, Feed the Future initiatives are working to decrease poverty by 15
202
World Food Programme. Women: The Key to Escaping Poverty and Under Nutrition in Bangladesh. United Nations. [Website],
2015.
203
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
204
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
205
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
206
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
207
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
208
World Food Programme. Ecuadorian Women Harvest the Fruits of Their Labour. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
209
Inter Pares Occasional Paper Series. Community-based Food Security Systems. [Publication]. 04 November 2004.
210
Inter Pares Occasional Paper Series. Community-based Food Security Systems. [Publication]. 04 November 2004.
211
Inter Pares Occasional Paper Series. Community-based Food Security Systems. [Publication]. 04 November 2004.
212
Inter Pares Occasional Paper Series. Community-based Food Security Systems. [Publication]. 04 November 2004.
213
Inter Pares Occasional Paper Series. Community-based Food Security Systems. [Publication]. 04 November 2004.
214
Feed the Future. Countries, Mali. FTF. [Website], 2015.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
percent while decreasing stunting of growth in children under the age of five by 20 percent.215
Results from efforts have yielded increased use of new technologies and management practices
as well as increased agricultural sales by $1.7 million.216
Case Study: WFP’s Purchase for Progress Programme
In order to better fulfill its mandate of ensuring food security, the WFP implemented the
Purchase for Progress (P4P) programme in 20 pilot countries.217 The focus of P4P is to create an
environment wherein smallholder farmers can work and become competitive players in
agricultural markets.218 While local markets can be hard for smallholder farmers to access, P4P
works with Famers Organizations (FOs) to enable smallholder famers (mostly women) to be
players in local and, subsequently, national markets.219 This has meant FOs are now working
together to market food, increasing local access to food commodities and eliminating the need
to import food supplies, which in turn decrease the WFP’s costs.220
Initially, a few months into the programme, organizers realized that one of the programme’s
goals of having 50 percent female membership in FOs was not realistic given that in the
majority of countries, membership opportunities into local FOs were inherently imbalanced
due to female marginalization within local communitites.221 However, in other countries,
women made up 50 percent or more of the FOs.222 The focus on increasing women’s
participation in FOs to 50 percent was changed to engaging female farmers in the P4P
programme in general.223 Moreover, in the process of determining women’s participation in FOs
in each country, it was discovered that P4P programmes were using varying practices in order
to achieve gender mainstreaming.224 The main reasons for this included a lack of understanding
or identification of the wrong gender issue of relevance to the P4P programme, limitations in
the skills of the WFP and partner organization staff in actually implementing the P4P
programme, challenges in finding individuals or organizations with enough experience to take
the lead on incorporating gender mainstreaming, and a lack of commitment by country teams
in developing the goals of the programme.225 Due to the scope of these issues, the P4P
215
Feed the Future. Countries, Mali. FTF. [Website], 2015.
Feed the Future. Countries, Mali. [Website], 2015.
217
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
218
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
219
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
220
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
221
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
222
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
223
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
224
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
225
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes.
2014.
216
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
United Nations. [Publication].
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Coordination Unit produced a second Occasional Paper which outlined key goals on which the
programme should focus on and provided guidance for each of the countries in which P4P was
running.226 With the help of the Agriculture Leaning Impacts Network (ALINe), P4P was also
able to determine aspects of the programme that needed to be addressed, resulting in
improvements and more realistic goals for the programme.227 While the P4P programme has yet
to achieve the 50 percent targets it set out to achieve initially, the P4P programme has improved
many aspects female farmers’ lives.228 These improvements include improved access to land and
credit for farming, enhanced agricultural market opportunities, enriched literacy skills to
venture into other farm and non-farming ventures, strengthened protection against domestic
violence, and increased voice household decision making.229
Areas for Future Development
As the WFP continues to work on empowering women in order to improve food security, it
faces a variety of challenges. First, at an organizational level, the WFP faces an uncertain future
with regards to funding which impacts its ability to run its programmes and provide food
assistance to those most in need.230 This was highlighted when the WFP had to stop providing
food assistance to Syrian refugees due to a lack of funds.231 Only after th e WFP had to suspend
its food relief efforts did donations come in.232 Even though a lot of work has been done to
empower rural women, they are still marginalized and face obstacles such as gender disparity
and economic security.233 This results in a continuing problem of inherited poverty amongst
women and children. Additionally, although it doesn’t have a specific policy, the WFP does
work to address violence against women and girls.234 By providing access to cooking fuel,
women have decreased chances of encountering dangerous environments and situations.235
However, further work has to be done in order to ensure that gender-based violence is
eliminated.236 Furthermore, the WFP still has work to do in successfully implementing its
gender mainstreaming framework.237 The specific areas in which the WFP needs improvement is
financial resource allocation and tracking as well as improving the WFP staff competency in
gender mainstreaming.238 While these challenges are areas the WFP works to improve, the
226
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes. United Nations. [Publication].
2014.
227
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes. United Nations. [Publication].
2014.
228
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes. United Nations. [Publication].
2014.
229
World Food Programme. P4P’s Women’s empowerment pathways: roadblocks and successes. United Nations. [Publication].
2014.
230
The Conversation. Five Challenges for the UN in 2015. [Article]. 08 January 2015.
231
The Conversation. Five Challenges for the UN in 2015. [Article]. 08 January 2015.
232
The Conversation. Five Challenges for the UN in 2015. [Article]. 08 January 2015.
233
Food and Agricultural Organization. New York event highlights the crucial role of rural women in the Post-2015 agenda.
United Nations. [Article]. 20 October 2014.
234
World Food Programme. Together to End Violence against Women. United Nations. [Publication]. November 2012.
235
World Food Programme. Together to End Violence against Women. United Nations. [Publication]. November 2012.
236
World Food Programme. Together to End Violence against Women. United Nations. [Publication]. November 2012.
237
World Food Programme. Update on the Implementation of the WFP Gender Mainstreaming Accountability Framework.
United Nations. [Policy]. 8 May 2014.
238
World Food Programme. Update on the Implementation of the WFP Gender Mainstreaming Accountability Framework.
United Nations. [Policy]. 8 May 2014.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
organization continues to face unforeseen challenges such as food resilience in times of crises
and the effects of climate change.239
Conclusion
The WFP has made a lot of progress in fulfilling its mandate to reduce world hunger.240 Through
its policies and programmes such as P4P, Food for Work, and Food for Training, the WFP
directly works to empower women and improve their food security through economic or
agricultural means.241 Additionally, with thriving partnerships with Member State governments,
companies, NGOs, and regional organizations, the WFP provides better food supplies and
programs to address the nutritional and economic needs of women.242 All of this work on
empowering women spills over in beneficial ways for the rest of their households, especially for
children.243 By continuing to empower women, the WFP can more effectively reach its goal of
ending world hunger.244
239
Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development. A few words from the WFP Executive Director. [Article] 11 April 2014.
Food and Agricultural Organization. New York event highlights the crucial role of rural women in the Post-2015 agenda.
United Nations. [Article]. 20 October 2014.
241
World Food Programme. Our Work, Preventing Hunger. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
242
World Food Programme. About, Partners. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
243
World Food Programme. Women and Hunger: 10 Facts. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
244
World Food Programme. Focus on Women. United Nations. [Website], 2015.
240
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Questions to Consider:
1.
What can the WFP do to better protect female farmers from gender-based violence
and discrimination?
2. How can the WFP work with and respect cultural gender norms, while ensuring
equality of access? How can overall goals of gender equality under international
human rights law compromise with local understandings of gender?
3. What can the WFP do to improve its financial security? How can donor
commitment be improved to ensure financial security?
Annotated Bibliography
Food and Agricultural Organization. “Gender Equality and Food Security: Women’s
Empowerment as a Tool Against Hunger.” United Nations. [Publication]. 2013. Retrieved 15 July
2015 from:
http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ar259e/ar259e.pdf.
This document details how the combined results of gender equality and food security strategies can be
achieved through identifying the effective approaches that have been learnt from the Asian and Pacific
regions. Additionally, this report notes important statistics on the economic representation of women in
economic sectors, food and agriculture food-price index, and examples of successful civil society
organization programs, among other key analyses. The document will provide Delegates with valuable
information that will enable them to understand the vast complexities of gender inequality and food
insecurity.
General Assembly. “A/RES/68/233 Agriculture Development, Food Security and Nutrition.”
United Nations. [Resolution].
21
February
2014.
Retrieved
15
July
2015
from:
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/68/233.
This resolution outlines the efforts by the UN as a whole in addressing food and nutrition security. This
resolution will provide delegates with context of previous declarations and summits addressing global food
security, and foster an understanding of the scope and practices through which the UN is addressing the
challenges it faces in food and nutrition security. Additionally, this resolution sets forward key WFP goals,
in collaboration with the Secretary-General’s Zero Hunger Challenge and the Global Nutrition for Youth
Compact.
General Assembly. “A/RES/69/177 The right to food.” United Nations. [Resolution]. 4 February
2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015 from: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/69/177.
This resolution outlines the continued importance of access to food as a basic human right. This resolution
will provide delegates with challenges that the UN and international community at large faces in achieving
global security. Additionally, the resolution will provide delegates with a history of the work done by the
UN in order to achieve global food and nutrition security.
University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
World Food Programme. “Focus on Women.” United Nations. [Website]. 2015. Retrieved 14 July
2015 from https://www.wfp.org/focus-on-women
This page describes the work that the WFP does with a focus on women, as well as the initiatives and
programmes implemented with a specific focus on improving quality of life and empowering women. This
page will provide delegates with valuable information on how the WFP works to address food insecurity
with women. Additionally, this page includes links to other relevant UN programmes and civil society
organizations working on the issue of food sustainability and vulnerable populations, including Orange the
World the Kore Lavi project.
World Food Programme “WFP Gender Policy 2009.” United Nations. [Policy]. 10 February 2009.
Retrieved 15 July 2015 from
http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/communications/wfp203758.pdf
This document describes in detail how the WFP as an organization works to incorporate the gender
perspective into all of their programmes. In addition, this document states the WFPs commitment to
gender equality and the WFP’s targets for reaching gender equal goals for all of their programmes. This
will be an invaluable resource for delegates to learn about the initiatives that the WFP has done to ensure
that all of their programmes enhance or promote gender equality.
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University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
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University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
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University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016
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University of British Columbia Model United Nations 2016