1. Forty-fifth Session of the General Assembly 27 May 2015
Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
Rome, November 2014

2. Centrality of nutrition in RBAs
Nutrition at core of Rome-based Agencies’ mandates
Agreement Establishing IFAD: “importance of improving the nutritional level of the poorest populations”
WFP’s Mission Statement: “improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives”

4. From ICN1 to ICN2
Fist International Conference on Nutrition co-hosted by FAO and WHO in Rome from 5 to 11 December 1992
Participants from of 159 Member States and EU adopted World Declaration on Nutrition and Plan of Action for Nutrition
Pledged to eliminate or substantially reduce:
starvation, famine and chronic hunger
undernutrition, especially among children, women, aged
important micronutrient deficiencies
diet-related communicable and non-communicable diseases
impediments to optimal breast-feeding
inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene, unsafe drinking water

5. Why ICN2?
Unacceptably high levels of malnutrition persist, although millions lifted out of poverty and hunger
Global problems call for global solutions malnutrition is a worldwide problem requiring coordinated multi-sector action
Only an intergovernmental conference can legitimately commit stakeholders to address malnutrition
Keep nutrition high on development agenda so that no one is left behind

6. Multiple forms of malnutrition
795 million people undernourished in (SOFI 2015)
161 million children stunted due to chronic malnutrition (WHO 2014)
99 million children underweight (WHO 2011)
51 million children wasted due to acute malnutrition (WHO 2013)
About 45% of 6.9 million child deaths linked to malnutrition (WHO )
Over 2 billion people affected by micronutrient deficiencies (SOFA )
42 million overweight or obese children under five years of age (WHO 2013) – could rise to 70 million by 2025 (WHO 2015)
Over 1,9 billion adults overweight, including 600 million obese (WHO 2014)

7. Changing distribution of world hunger by region from 1990 to 2016 (1) .
Total = million
Total = 795 million 7

8. Changing distribution of world hunger: 1990-92 and 2014-2016 (2)
Numbers and shares of undernourished people by region
Source: SOFI, 2015

9. Hidden hunger at global level
Source: Muthayya S et al, 2013 9

10. Overweight/obesity on the rise
Source: FAO, SOFA, 2013 10

11. Investing in nutrition
Investing in nutrition is needed because malnutrition
is greatest impediment to fulfillment of human potential
acts as brake on development
undermines economic, social and cultural fabric of nations
A moral imperative, investing in nutrition also
improves productivity, economic growth
reduces health care costs
fosters intellectual capacity, social development

12. ICN2 purpose
Review progress since 1992, as well as new challenges and opportunities for nutrition
Bring food, agriculture, health and other sectors together to improve nutrition
Foster greater political and policy coherence, alignment and coordination
Mobilize political will and resources to improve nutrition and keep it high on development agenda
Identify priorities for international cooperation on nutrition

13. Attendance at ICN2: over 2200 participants
Eminent personalities
Governments: 162 Member States, 1 Associate Member, EU, Observers
- 85 Ministers and 23 Vice-Ministers from Agriculture, Health, other sectors
- 82 Ambassadors and 114 high-level government officials
Observer organizations
- 27 UN and other IGOs
- 164 civil society and private sector organizations
Parliamentarians, opinion leaders, development experts
©FAO/©Giulio Napolitano

14. Preparatory Technical Meeting Rome Declaration on Nutrition
ICN2 process
Preparatory Technical Meeting
(Nov , 2013)
Joint Working Group
Open Ended Working Group
Rome Declaration on Nutrition
Public on-line consultations
Informal consultations with NSAs
Framework for Action
ICN2
(Nov , 2014)

15. ICN2 events ICN2 proceedings 19-21 November Pre-ICN2 events
civil society meeting November
private sector meeting November
parliamentary meeting November
ICN2 proceedings November
5 plenary sessions
3 thematic roundtables
9 side events

16. ICN2 outcomes Rome Declaration on Nutrition Framework for Action
Political statement of 10 commitments for more effective and coordinated action to improve nutrition
Framework for Action
Voluntary technical guide of 60 recommendations for implementation of political commitments

17. Rome Declaration commitments
Eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition
Increase investments in nutrition
Enhance sustainable food systems
Raise the profile of nutrition
Strengthen human and institutional capacities
Strengthen and facilitate action by all stakeholders
Ensure healthy diets throughout the life course
Create enabling environment for making informed choices
Implement ICN2 commitments through Framework for Action
Integrate ICN2 vision and commitments into post-2015 agenda 17

18. Framework for Action recommendations
60 policy and strategy recommendations to achieve better nutrition for all, grouped in thematic areas covering:
enabling environment for effective action
sustainable food systems for healthy diets
nutrition-enhancing investment and trade
enhanced social protection, nutrition education and information
strong and resilient health systems (addressing breastfeeding, wasting, stunting, childhood overweight and obesity, anaemia in women of reproductive age, health services)
water sanitation and hygiene
food safety
accountability mechanisms for nutrition

19. UNGA support ICN2 called on UN General Assembly to:
endorse Rome Declaration on Nutrition and Framework for Action
consider declaring a Decade of Action on Nutrition from 2016 to 2025
Draft resolution process underway in New York

20. Why a Decade of Action on Nutrition?
Catalyze sustained momentum needed at national and global levels to tackle malnutrition in order to ensure good nutrition for all
Provide platform for national commitments to address all forms of malnutrition
Mobilize focused, concerted, complementary efforts needed, nationally and internationally, especially within UN system
Articulate common vision, multi-sectoral approach to address malnutrition involving all relevant sectors and stakeholders

21. ICN2 follow-up activities
ICN2 not an end but part of a process…
UN General Assembly support: diplomatic efforts to facilitate endorsement of ICN2 outcome documents and declaration of Decade of Action on Nutrition
FAO/WHO technical work on substantive contents of proposed Decade of Action on Nutrition
Inter-agency coordination and collaboration on nutrition through existing mechanisms, primarily Committee on World Food Security
Inputs on nutrition to Post-2015 Development Agenda process: Proposed SDG 2 – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

22. ICN2 follow-up by FAO
Mainstreaming of nutrition within FAO’s Strategic Framework
Support to FAO Members covering areas of Framework for Action
Reporting of progress to Governing Bodies
Establishment of Action for Nutrition Trust Fund
Strengthening of Nutrition Division and upgrading work on nutrition
Linkages with EXPO Milan: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life

23. The UN system pledges to do all that it can
UN Secretary-General
This Conference marks a new stage in our quest to banish global hunger and malnutrition for good.
The UN system pledges to do all that it can
to provide effective support.
FAO Director-General
We must recognize that nutrition is a public issue.
And treat it that way.
On Rome Declaration and Framework for Action:
Together, they are the starting point of our renewed efforts to
improve nutrition for all. But they are not the finishing line.
Our responsibility is to transform the commitment
into concrete results.
WHO Director-General
The future health of this world needs policy coherence, nationally and also globally.
It needs policy coherence across multiple sectors…
…the countries of this world have the creativity
to work with civil society and the private sector
to make this happen.
© UN Photo/Amanda Voisard
©FAO/©Alessandra Benedetti
©FAO/©Giulio Napolitano

24. The green season Rice-planting scene in Lanao del Sur province, The Philippines