Behind the scenes

Using Food Security Information for Decision Making in Haiti

August 2008

FAO has been providing support to the Coordination Nationale de Sécurité Alimentaire (CNSA) since 2001 to improve food security information in Haiti. The CNSA is the national institution that coordinates food security interventions. Among other things, in 2003 a series of publications aimed at informing decision-makers about the food security situation with recommendations for action was started with FAO support.

We have asked users of CNSA information to give us concrete examples of how they use the information in the publications. They also discuss how the publications have improved since the five-day training course "Producing Food Security Information Products that Result in Action" organized by the EC/FAO Food Security Programme in November 2007.

Les interviews ont été réalisées en juin 2008 par Françoise Trine, analyste de la sécurité alimentaire à la FAO.

Mr. Joseph Simon Millien Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR)

One way we used the information was for annual investment planning within the framework of the Public Investment Programme (PIP). The latest (PIP) programme - in February 2008 - took into account the information about the current situation and population groups affected by the crisis in order to distribute “liane-panier” (lyann panye in creole) and spinach seeds.
> Read the complete interview in French (pdf)

Ms Manuela Gonzalez Chief, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

In November 2007, thanks to the information provided by CNSA, we could see that there were food insecure areas and that we needed to monitor the situation closely. Organisations working at field level were contacted to provide regular situation updates for those areas most at risk. This information helped us plan interventions since early 2008 in favour of the most vulnerable groups in the North-West Department.
> Read the complete interview in French (pdf)

Mr. Mamadou Mbaye World Food Programme (WFP) Representative in Haïti

In November 2007, during hurricane Noël, the warning sent by CNSA convinced WFP to provide school feeding and food-for-work programmes in the North-West Department - although other districts had initially been selected as priority areas.
> Read the complete interview in French (pdf)

Mr. Pierre Cam Milfort Food Security Information Specialist US Agency for International Development (USAID)

The Response Plan to the food crisis - prepared by CNSA in April 2008 - helped trigger the USAID emergency plan. USAID has contributed around 45 million USD, out of a total of 120 million USD, to food-for-work programmes in vulnerable areas identified by the Response Plan. The information has also served as an early warning signal for taking measures to mitigate food crises. In addition, the information was used to analyse project proposals submitted by our partners.
> Read the complete interview in French (pdf)