Please circulate widely!

Table of Contents:

1. New FSN Forum Discussion: Closing the Gap - Linking Food Security Information to Effective Decision Making
2. New Report: Joint Rapid Food Security Survey in The Occupied Palestinian Territory (May 2008)
3. Cassava Development Strategy for Mozambique
4. The GIEWS Workstation Helps Contribute to E-government in Europe
5. Strengthening Food Security Early Warning Systems in the DRC
6. Nutrition Policy to Address Child Mortality in the Lao PDR
7. New Multimedia - Video and Slide Show
8. New Publication: Report on the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and the Household Dietary Diversity Score in two survey rounds in Manica and Sofala Provinces, Mozambique

1. New Forum: Closing the Gap - Linking Food Security Information to Effective Decision Making

This online discussion is open from 09.07 to 09.08.2008 on the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum), a network of over 800 people from 123 countries. We will be discussing “how to close the gaps in food security information systems and better link food security information with decision making” (please click here to read the introduction to the topic).

All interested parties are invited to join this discussion. Non-Forum members can participate by writing to fsn-moderator@fao.org and requesting a temporary or permanent subscription to the FSN Forum.

Visit the Forum’s site http://km.fao.org/fsn or contact the Forum’s moderator (huyen.tran@fao.org) for further information.



2. New Report: Joint Rapid Food Security Survey in The Occupied Palestinian Territory (May 2008)

Read Report: http://www.foodsec.org/docs/pal_rapid_assessment_report_may08.pdf

Read related press release (19 June 2008, IRIN):
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=78812



3. Cassava Development Strategy for Mozambique

In order to tap cassava's potential to stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods, the government of Mozambique has developed a strategy for the cassava subsector with FAO's assistance.

Read Article: http://www.foodsec.org/news_08_01.htm
Leia o artigo em Português: http://www.foodsec.org/news_08_01_pt.htm

Download the cassava development strategy for Mozambique:
> In English (vol.1): ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esa/var/cassava_strategy.pdf
> In English (vol.2): ftp://ftp.fao.org/es/esa/var/cassava_strategy_2.pdf
> In Portuguese (vol.2): http://www.foodsec.org/docs/cassava_strategy_pt.pdf



4. The GIEWS Workstation Helps Contribute to E-government in Europe

The European Commission (EC) has recently decided to include the GIEWS Workstation in its Open Source Observatory and Repository (OSOR). This is part of the EC's effort to provide high quality, open source technology for E-government in Europe.

Read Article: http://www.foodsec.org/news_08_02.htm



5. Strengthening Food Security Early Warning Systems in the DRC

FAO nutritionists provided technical assistance aimed at strengthening the DRC's Early Warning System. The programme's nutrition tools for monitoring dietary diversity and food access at the household level were included in the system. They are useful for quickly assessing deteriorating food situations.

More Information: http://www.foodsec.org/con_ac.htm
Link to Nutrition Tools: http://www.foodsec.org/tools_nut.htm
Related Picture Slide Show: http://www.foodsec.org/gal_drc_01.htm



6. Nutrition Policy to Address Child Mortality in the Lao PDR

The Vientiane Times gave front page coverage to the Lao PDR's forthcoming National Nutrition Policy aimed at reducing hunger and malnutrition. The policy also focuses on reducing alarmingly high mother and child mortality rates. The EC-FAO Programme, working with other UN agencies, has provided support to the government in formulating the policy.

See article: http://www.foodsec.org/news_06_28.htm



7. Multimedia

The DRC - Finding out about what people eat and if they can afford it
> See slide show: http://www.foodsec.org/gal_drc_01.htm

More Food, More Energy : EC-FAO Programme Manager Luca Alinovi talks about Rising Food Prices on Italian TV. (26 June 2008, in Italian )
> See Video: http://tv.repubblica.it/home_page.php?playmode=player&cont_
id=21624&showtab=mondo




8. New Publication: Report on the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and the Household Dietary Diversity Score in two survey rounds in Manica and Sofala Provinces, Mozambique, 2006-2007

> Download Report: http://www.foodsec.org/tr/nut/moz_diet.pdf

> See Related Article: Adopting a Standard Dietary Diversity Indicator for Monitoring Hunger and Malnutrition in Mozambique
http://www.foodsec.org/news_06_26.htm



This newsletter aims at keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, activities and events related to the EC-FAO Food Security Programme. Share your own news and comments by sending a message to:
information-for-action@fao.org

This newsletter is available on-line at: http://www.foodsec.org/nl_0708.htm