Governance
What is the global governance of food security?
There is no internationally accepted definition for the global governance of food security. However, it refers to actions which happen at the global level including:
- creating and exchanging food security information;
- setting standards and actively promoting the knowledge required to achieve food security goals;
- ensuring coherence between food security strategies, policies, rules and regulations;
- providing technical assistance and setting up food security projects and programmes that cut across borders;
- coordinating international assistance during crisis, disasters and food security emergencies.
How the programme promotes governance
Governance is a cross-cutting theme of the programme, which it promotes by increasing:
Participation
- by inviting diverse groups of stakeholders, including civil society organizations and producer organizations, to take part in training, fora and consultations right from the start of the programme.
Equity and non-discrimination
– by including diverse voices and viewpoints, including those of vulnerable and marginalized groups; and
- by ensuring that programme outcomes and outputs reflect the needs of both men and women, and different age groups.
Accountability
– by providing partners with tools for monitoring and evaluating the programme, as well as assessing the impact of food security programmes in general;
- by ensuring that baselines and targets use smart indicators (and when feasible include indicators that refer to marginalized groups) and gender-disaggregated data; and
- by promoting the rule of law and transparency when implementing the programme.
“The aim of the projects and programmes must be to encourage and promote good governance approaches and practices wherever this is feasible; to make sure that none of the planned activities is detrimental to good governance and to encourage partners in third countries to adopt activities and practices which are more conducive to good governance.” - From the Handbook on promoting governance in EC development and co-operation |
Overview of specific activites
While all activities follow the guiding principles of governance (see box 1), several components focus specifically on governance. These include:
Supporting the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) reform process by:
- strengthening civil society participation and gender equality in the CFS;
- ensuring that CFS discussions are informed by scientifically sound knowledge; and
- more actively involving regional organizations in shaping the global food security agenda.
> Learn more about the Committee on World Food Security
Supporting the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests
The Voluntary Guidelines outline principles and practices that governments can refer to when making laws regarding rights to land, fisheries and forests. The programme supports work being done to adapt the guidelines to regional and national contexts. An e-learning course on the guidelines is also being developed.
> Learn more about the Voluntary Guidelines
Promoting the right to food in cash transfer programmes
Social protection programmes, such as cash transfers, often have a positive impact in increasing food security and reducing poverty. However, their success depends on the making sure that key principles of good governance - equity, transparency, and accountability - are followed. Adopting a human rights based approach can thus make cash transfer programs more effective.
The programme is undertaking several studies and developing tools for incorporating a Right to Food approach in cash transfer programmes, particularly in emergency situations.
> Learn more about the Right to Food
Box 1: Guiding principles of governance
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