FAO-WFP Joint Strategy on Information Systems for Food and Nutrition Security TOPS Meeting May 9, 2011

Rationale and Purpose of the Joint Strategy on ISFNS (1) Mutual need to: Respond to Joint Evaluation of FAO/WFP (2009) Sharpen response to known and emerging threats to food security Provide timely and reliable demand-driven products and services Improve internal and external communication channels 2

Rationale and Purpose of the Joint Strategy on ISFNS (2) Purposes: Provide roadmap for joint work on four “pillars” –Capacity development –Assessment –Standards –Statistics/analysis Advance the twin-track approach Prioritize capacity development needs Contribute to both agencies’ work under UNDAF 3

Known and emerging threats to food security Climate change Volatility in Agricultural Commodity Markets Urban Malnutrition Trans-boundary Threats Biofuel – Food Trade-off Gender Issues 4

Vision statement “FAO and WFP will work together to promote informed food and nutrition security decisions by strengthening national and regional capacity to undertake comprehensive, credible, relevant and timely assessments and analysis and being a global reference for food and nutrition security standards, statistics and information.” 5

Guiding Principles 6 Joint Strategy on ISFNS: Guiding Principles 1) Aligned with MDGs, Paris Declaration, CFS 2) Addresses availability, access, utilization, stability 3) Covers emergency, recovery, and development 4) Addresses emerging issues 5 ) Products and services consider gender 6) Demand-driven and timely response 7) Sustainability through national ownership 8) Applies and develops innovative methods and tools 9) Fosters inter-agency collaboration and partnership

Strategic Pillars  Capacity development in food and nutrition security data collection and information analysis methods  In-country assessments to address food insecurity and malnutrition  Standards, methods, and tools for information systems on food and nutrition security  Statistics and analysis on food and nutrition security 7

Capacity development in food and nutrition security data collection and information analysis methods  Assessment of stakeholder capacities and constraints  Identification of partners  Regional and country support  WFP: -rapid assessment-emergency response -HH livelihood assessment-long-term vulnerability assessment -cross-border trade -local market analysis  FAO: -agricultural statistics-global price monitoring -remote sensing -cross-border data: pests, pathogens, livestock  Policy dialogue 8

In-country assessments to address food insecurity and malnutrition  Organized around geographic and functional levels  WFP: trend analysis related to markets, livelihoods, and food and nutrition security at HH and community levels work w/ government bureaus of statistics to integrate the food consumption score in Living Standards Measurement  FAO: -long-term development-food crisis prevention -crop monitoring-disaster risk management -contingency planning-post-emergency reconstruction  Continued collaboration on emergency needs assess. 9

Standards, methods, and tools for information systems on food and nutrition security  FAO lead: ISFNS community of practice global ISFNS network identification of FNS indicators and measurements  WFP lead: thresholds for food security indicators guidance on Food Consumption Score, Coping Strategies Index emergency assessment standards (HH level; DRR)  Continued collaboration: CFSAM, response analysis, IPC  Opportunities: gender, markets, nutrition, disaster risk reduction/management, urban FS, climate change 10

Statistics and analysis on food and nutrition security  Wide spectrum of statistics and analyses generated by both organizations  Objectives: Harmonisation of global public goods. Organize by: o Data and statistics o Food security monitoring, analysis, and early warning; and o Policy analysis and perspective studies Seamless data stream Timely dissemination; accessibility Responsive to users  FAO has lead role 11

National Government Ownership Locus of collaboration = country and regional Government priorities, needs and capacities define the areas where FAO and WFP must work together Systematic and purposeful inclusion of governments in planning and decision making with respect to all pillars 12

Collaboration Mechanism Steering Committee: 10 members WFP and FAO = co-chairs –Heads of VAM and ESA –Steering committee incorporated into their functions WFP and FAO have one representative for each pillar –Two-year term Quarterly meetings Steering Committee = liaison to CFS, et al. 13

Communication Protocol Steering Committee establishes systems and protocols for horizontal and vertical information sharing Internet-based solutions External communications Joint strategy supports individual strategies Joint mechanism for communications regarding shared work Shared Internet-based platform: one-stop shop 14

Partnerships 15 Key Partners CFS (core members) UN Food Security Cluster (co-chairs) UN Nutrition Cluster (members) UNHCR USAID/ FEWSNET USDASC-UK OxfamCAREWorld BankUNDP IFADIFPRIWorld Resources Institute Institutions with remote sensing capabilities (JRC, USGS) regional and local partners academic/research institutions

Decisions to be Taken 1)Reach agreement on all components 2)Presentation to respective boards 3)Establish Steering Committee 4)Operational Plan  Regional and country levels  Partners 5)Communication protocol 6)Funding 16