ActionAid: background and priorities on Investment in agriculture Presentation at the FAO Investment Days Rome 17 December 2014

We recognize people living in poverty are leading agents in their development – they make change happen. We start from assessing people’s needs and constraints –market participatory analysis. The particular needs and constraints of women farmers are at the core of our analysis. ( GENDER SENSITIVE FRAMEWORK FOR ACCESS TO MARKET AND VALUE CHAINS, which has its first component in identifying the local production potential) ActionAid is pushing for greater public investment in agriculture with a deliberate focus on women small holder farmers as a key demand from national governments as well as international organizations and donors – this is in light of reduced public investment and greater corporate investment which has its own limitations and potential for negative impact including on women and communities access to land and local seeds. ActionAid stands with communities in their struggle for the secure access and control over their natural resources – our LandFor campaign aims at reducing incentives that fuel land grabs (direct land sales and long-term lease agreements by host countries, policy and fiscal incentives for commercial land deals, support for large commercial land deals by Government-backed multilateral finance institutions, land deals conducted by companies financed by publicly-financed agricultural investment funds). ACTIONAID Human rights based approach to investment

Investment is pivotal for the full realization of the right to food of people Instead of focusing investment on capital-intensive high-input models of agriculture that reinforces the monopoly and monopsony position of powerful agri-business, we ask for reorienting the investment by Governments and donors to women and smallholders own investment and practices Multi-functional role of agriculture be fully recognized and donors and governments should invest in Climate resilient sustainable agriculture CRSA is based on: local and highly context-specific knowledge, including women’s traditional knowledge, agroecology, low external input agriculture, organic agriculture, integrated crop and pest management, water harvesting in dry land zones, gender- sensitive rural extension services, access to genetic resources and biodiversity, storage and transport facilities at local and national level first, rural infrastructure (roads, electricity, information), access to local, district and national markets, affordable credit, gender sensitive agriculture research and development, rural education, support to smallholder farmers’ associations and women-led cooperatives. ACTIONAID alternatives

CFS rai partly reflect our priorities, however some shortfalls make rai testing/implementation a careful process that requires a strong monitoring CFS rai are based on a more inclusive process than PRAI, and adopt a human rights approach to investment (principle 1 – responsible investment support right to food) Priority investment in, by and with smallholders are recognized as a priority, therefore to be strengthened and secured. The obligation of states on HR, their priority role on public investment, and their extra-territorial obligations are recognized. Rai should not infringe on human rights and safeguard against dispossession from legitimate tenure rights, recognize workers rights, women’s empowerment and gender equality. Rai respect existing and potential water uses. The role of indigenous people in restoring the ecosystem is recognized, as well as agroecology and the right of smallholders to save, use, exchange and sell genetic resources, including seeds. FPIC recognized, and active, free, effective meaningful ad informed participation and consultation of all parties affected by the investment. Sharing of information should occur in all stages of the investment cycle, not just at the beginning Accountability of investors and continue monitoring of impacts are mentioned including the option of not proceeding with investment if negative impacts are too big CFS is recognized in its role to monitor the use of the principles. How the CFS rai might serve these purposes

While recognizing the importance of support to smallholder’s own investment, also investment by other stakeholders are promoted. The non-specific language opens the door to any kind of investment, also large investment that may displace smallholders. “pick and choose” approach. Some investment may be coherent with some principles and ignore some others, while investment should comply with the entirety of the principles to be defined responsible. No condemnation of land grabbing Agroecology is not given the priority over sustainable intensification and other similar practices The recognition of interest of breeders may challenge the farmers rights over their seeds FPIC is not recognized to all affected communities Obligation deriving from trade agreements are put at the same level as HR obligations, and the reality is that they often prevail due to their legal nature. States are called not to create or disguise barriers to trade, or promote protectionist interests, and this limits many policies that states may adopt for the food security of their populations, such in the case of food reserves which are considered protectionist measures, or procurement policies which are submitted to trade agreement obligations. Areas where CFS rai are problematic

Donors and international financial institutions for public and private sector investment must be transparent and demonstrate that human rights of women and communities are respected, protected and fulfilled Donor agencies and international financial institutions must prioritize the needs and participation of women and communities in the planning and decision-making process of all projects involving land use or land transactions. CFS Rai should be used to strengthen investment that deliver on the right to food, and not to legitimize investment that displace or undermine the small scale food producers, especially women, that live on the land and get their livelihoods from that land. They should be the first beneficiaries of public policies supporting their own investment, thorugh services and infrastructures that support their capacity first. The issue of trade under the perspective of the right to food should be definitively addressed in the CFS. The way forward