Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
Screen 1 of 22
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Explain the need for policies aimed at improving food
security;
• Describe the main features of food security policies; and
• Acknowledge food security as a policy issue cutting
across different sectors.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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INTRODUCTION
Hunger and malnutrition require specific policy actions
Many governments have set
food security objectives
within the framework of
national development policies
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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INTRODUCTION
Typical approaches to designing Food Security Policies (FSP):
Food Security
Policies
• Incorporating FSP issues
into other national
development policies and
strategies.
Food Security Policy
• Preparing a special Food
Security Policy document.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Physical AVAILABILITY of food
Food Security
Economic and physical ACCESS to food
Food UTILIZATION
STABILITY of the other three dimensions over time
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity
exists if even one
of these conditions
is not met.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Appropriate policy measures to remedy different
FS problems should be defined.
Problem
INSUFFICIENT SUPPLIES
INSUFFICIENT ACCESS
INEFFECTIVE UTILIZATION
INSTABILITY OF FOOD SUPPLIES
Remedy
Increasing food supplies
Improving access
Improving utilization
Stabilizing food supplies
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Interactions between the different dimensions of FS
need to be considered when FSP are designed.
Interaction between different FS dimensions
Low levels of agricultural
production limit food supplies
and also agricultural income,
thus constraining access of farm
households to sufficient food
and making them vulnerable to
temporary food shortages.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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USES
SUBJECTS
OF VULNERABILITY
OF FOOD SECURITY
ASSESSMENT
POLICIES
FSPs that can be used to improve the 4 dimensions of FS:
Policies to increase food supplies
(availability)
Policies to improve access to food –
poverty alleviation
Policies to improve utilization
Policies to ensure stability of
food supplies
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to increase food supplies
(availability)
Sources of food supplies:
• domestic food production; and
• food imports.
Food availability can be increased:
• Increasing domestic food production; and
• Facilitating food imports.
Screen 8 of 22
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to improve access to food - poverty alleviation
Access refers to capacity of households and individuals to
obtain the food they need.
FS and poverty alleviation policies will
have to focus on:
• Agricultural development focusing on poor farmers
• Employment and income generation
• Public transfers / social safety nets
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to improve utilization
Effective utilization = ability to utilize food
maintaining its nutritive quality and making it
available to the consumer.
It can be inhibited by:
•
•
•
•
lack of knowledge about proper food preparation;
lack of knowledge about nutritional requirements;
diseases and poor health;
lack of hygiene, sanitation, safe drinking water.
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Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to improve utilization
Policy measures to improve utilization:
• improving food preservation and
preparation technologies;
• establishment of proper food standards;
• improving public health;
• provision of safe drinking water;
• improved sanitation; and
• hygiene and nutrition education.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to ensure stability of food supplies
Instabilities in access and availability
can result from:
• seasonal variations of food supplies;
• annual variations of food supplies; and
• acute shortages.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUBJECTS OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES
Policies to ensure stability of food supplies
Relevant policy measures for
preventing temporary supply
shortfalls are related to
establishing a system of disaster
preparedness and response,
including a EWS and a set of
measures to ensure food stability.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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POLICIES WITH MULTIPLE EFFECTS ON FOOD SECURITY
Policy measures serving more than one food
security objective are called “twin-track-“ or
“multiple-track-approaches”.
Examples of “twin-track-“ or “multiple-track-approaches“
• Agricultural development policies enhancing the productivity of
small and poor farmers -> increased food production and supplies;
increased incomes and improved access to food; improved stability of
production and access.
• Irrigation policies -> production/supplies, income/ access and stability.
• Agricultural marketing policies -> food production and supplies; access
via producer and consumer prices and incomes; stability of access and
supplies.
• Policy measures to improve rural infrastructure -> access, supply,
stability, and utilization.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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POLICIES WITH MULTIPLE EFFECTS ON FOOD SECURITY
Multiple effects of policy measures in different policy spheres:
affecting
FOOD
AVAILABILITY
POLICIES
regarding …
affecting
ACCESS
Agricultural
development
Employment
• Formal
• Informal
• Urban
• Rural
Rural finance
Land tenure
Irrigation
Resource conservation
Food imports
Food aid deliveries
Rural infrastructure
Food marketing
…affecting
STABILITY
Safety nets
Food stocks
Food processing
& preservation,
Food safety
Public employment
schemes
Relief food
assistance
Feeding
programmes
Education
Health & nutrition
Water and sanitation
affecting
UTILIZATION
& NUTRITION
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
In designing food security policies, it is necessary to
review other existing policies that are relevant for FS.
This, in order to:
• know to what extent FS
concerns are already addressed
in relevant policies and
strategies;
• identify policy gaps still to be filled.
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
Millennium
Development
Goals
Poverty
Reduction
Strategy
(PRSP)
Emergency
preparedness
& response
(Disaster
Management,
Food Aid)
Social Sector
Policies
(e.g. HIV/AIDS,
Health, Nutrition
Pension scheme)
SADC
Policies
NEPAD
Policies &
Programmes
Agricultural
Policies
(e.g. Agric.
Sector Strategy,
Irrigation, Seed
& Subsidy
Policy)
Regional
Donor
Programmes
& Policies
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
When a macro- or sector policy is likely to have a
significant impact?
Significant impact on
Macro- / sector policy:
Agricultural development,
general
Agricultural marketing
Education
Emergency preparedness
and management
Employment and income
generation
Food aid
Food prices
Food safety
Access
Availability
Stability
Utilization
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
When a macro- or sector policy is likely to have a
significant impact?
Significant impact on
Macro- / sector policy:
Access
Availability
Stability
Agricultural development,
general
1
2
3
Agricultural marketing
4
5
6
Education
7
8
Emergency preparedness
and management
9
Employment and income
generation
10
Food aid
11
12
13
Food prices
14
15
16
Food safety
Utilization
17
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
Significant impact on
Macro- / sector policy:
Food stocks / food reserves
Foreign trade / food imports
Health & Nutrition
Input subsidies
Irrigation
Natural resource conservation
Poverty reduction
Rural infrastructure
Social protection / safety net
Water & sanitation
Access
Availability
Stability
Utilization
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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LINKAGES TO OTHER POLICIES, STRATEGIES & PROGRAMMES
Significant impact on
Macro- / sector policy:
Access
Availability
Stability
Food stocks / food reserves
18
19
Foreign trade / food imports
20
21
Health & Nutrition
22
Input subsidies
23
24
25
Irrigation
27
28
29
Natural resource conservation
30
31
32
Poverty reduction
33
Rural infrastructure
34
35
36
Social protection / safety net
37
Water & sanitation
Utilization
26
38
39
Food Security Policies – Formulation and Implementation
Establishment of a Food Security Policy Framework
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SUMMARY
There are two typical approaches to designing food security policies:
• preparing a special Food Security Policy document; or
• incorporating food security policy issues into other national development policies and
strategies.
Food security policies have to address those conditions for food security that are not
(yet) fulfilled. They can be designed to:
•
•
•
•
increase food supplies (availability);
improve access to food – poverty alleviation;
improve utilization; or
ensure stability of food supplies.
Policy measures serving more than one food security objective are called “twin-track“ or “multiple-track-approaches”.
In designing food security policies, it is necessary to review other existing policies that
are relevant for food security, in order to identify policy gaps still to be filled.