Policy support
In today’s complex and volatile global context, designing and implementing effective food security policies has become more of a challenge than ever.
In order to assist policy makers, the programme develops tools and guidelines on multi-faceted issues such as:
- climate change;
- food safety;
- food price volatility;
- social protection; and
- land governance.
These policy guidelines seek to address the needs of women, children and vulnerable groups, as well as issues related to nutrition.
The programme also aims at increasing the amount of policy-relevant food security information and analysis available to decision makers. It does this primarily by working with partners to develop the capacity of national and regional organizations. Training in communications and knowledge sharing techniques helps ensure that this information reaches policy makers and meets their needs.
At the global level, the programme supports the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) which is “the United Nations’ forum for reviewing and following up on policies concerning world food security”.
Policy support tools
The programme contributes to policy support initiatives such as:
- the Food & Agricultural Policy Decision Analysis Tool (FAPDA) which tracks national food security policies; and
- the Mapping Actions for Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSAN) which maps investments in food security and nutrition.
These tools help ensure that efforts are not duplicated and that national anti-hunger policies can be monitored and adjusted to make them more effective. They are backed up by activities which seek to develop national capacity in food policy monitoring.