EESC - December 18th & 19th 2012 Food Aid on the ground – its role in the fight against poverty European Conference – Right & Access to Food

Food Aid for Deprived Programme Essential part of services for the poor and disadvantaged Grew out of outmoded model of agricultural production (surplus from intervention stocks) Appropriate for a time of emergency EESC – December 18 th & 19 th 2012

General ambivalence about Food Aid Programme Essential expression of social solidarity– people finding it difficult to cope with daily life and living costs BUT - seen to encourage dependency - “charity model”- food-deprived as ‘passive recipients’ of food aid EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Benefits of Programme Positive social impact Point through which contact is established with deprived individual/family Potential entry point for individual to other critical services Involvement of volunteers - helps develop public spirit and citizenship Greater social cohesion/inclusion & avoided social instability EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Programme Beneficiaries Typical programme beneficiaries - unemployed, big families, low-income families, single parent families people with disabilities, the homeless, ex-prisoners, migrants, the elderly… Some schools, pre-schools, soup kitchens, public dining rooms, maternity homes, safe houses… Recent changes in beneficiary profile - more middle class – recently unemployed, irregular/low income employment or self-employed, the over-indebted… EESC – December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Programme Innovation Some innovation has occurred in the way food aid has been delivered Agreements with catering enterprises (cafes and restaurants) to have one hot meal per day delivered to some beneficiaries Some cafes have offered the person a job in dish- washing or selling In some cases the people working in the cafes have become support/foster family for the children and youths EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Practical Recommendations More support for implementing partners – logistics, information technology, programme management, storage facilities (cold storage) More consistent programme-monitoring so problems can be addressed when they arise Wider variety of food products required – protein products, fresh fruit and vegetables (nb obesity) Food delivery needs to be more regular EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Vision for the Future Human rights framework Clear and socially progressive ethos Food provided in way that protects & promotes human dignity Part of broader efforts to promote food security and food independence More holistic approach - link people to broader spectrum of services aimed at their social and vocational integration EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

New Fund for Most Deprived Food - central element Programme should encourage greater food independence and food security through the development of local food initiatives Food initiatives should empower beneficiaries and promote their social inclusion Training in nutrition, budgeting, cooking, food preservation, gardening, horticulture… New programme aligned with EU volunteering programmes,& ‘green’ citizenship initiatives EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Future of Programme Meal vouchers, supermarket vouchers, vouchers for local farmer’s markets Develop local food production facilities that involve programme beneficiaries (community gardens, allotments) Beneficiaries have opportunity to ‘give back’ to society – engage in volunteering work, get involved in valued community activities such as community gardens Develop local food initiatives/enterprises (local food markets, small food businesses) that involve programme beneficiaries … EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Wider Context Food-price volatility -increases in food prices Speculation on global commodity markets Prices expected to remain high and volatile Climate change linked to food-price volatility because food production less stable EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Global and Local Context Increases in energy costs – link to food production EU major importer of food – exposed to global developments Keeping food prices stable could become one of the greatest challenges of the next two decades Need for more ecological, local and sustainable food production systems Need to develop ‘local food economies’ EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Final Messages People who are marginalised or socially excluded can be part of the solution to society’s food challenges The EU needs to support a more contemporary approach to providing for the food needs of deprived people Community–Supported Agriculture and Community Food initiatives are suitable models for the future These approaches could promote the social inclusion of marginalised people– and possibly be a source of employment in the longer-term EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012

Thank you for your attention! Please contact: Deirdre de Burca Policy Officer Caritas Europa 4 Rue de Pascale B-1040 Brussels EESC December 18 th & 19 th 2012