OECD Global Forum on Agriculture 2012
Policy Coherence for Food Security in Developing Countries
OECD Conference Centre, Paris, 26 November 2012
Nearly one billion people are chronically food insecure, suffering from hunger and undernourishment. Historically, the major cause of food insecurity has not been a lack of food availability, but rather limitations on access. Most of the world’s hungry are so because they are too poor to afford sufficient nutritious food. Given that the majority of the world’s poor still lives in rural areas, where smallholder farming is the backbone of the economy, this underlines the need to raise the productivity and incomes of smallholders, especially women, and to improve their resilience against shocks. Improved coherence of policies among developed, emerging and developing countries can contribute to improving both availability and access.
The aim of this Global Forum is to foster a dialogue among policy makers from OECD countries and emerging and developing economies on how best to address these challenges. In particular, the Forum will:
- Take stock of the spill-overs of national agricultural and agriculture related policies, suggesting ways in which negative impacts can be avoided and identifying positive effects that can be leveraged, for example through knowledge sharing in areas such as agricultural research;
- Examine ways in which aid and aid-related policies, including donor support for developing country led co ordination processes, can better support a structured prioritisation of investments to improve food security;
- Consider ways in which governments can encourage the kinds of private investment – both foreign and domestic – that are conducive to improved food security.
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Information for participants
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Follow up DCD/DAC meeting on 27 November: Agenda
Monday, 26 November 2012
Morning Session:
Introduction
Welcome and introductory remarks
Working Session 1. The effects of OECD countries' agricultural policies
Coffee break
Working Session 2. Investment in agriculture
Working Lunch
(optional; lunch will be served in the meeting room)
How are we doing: support for food security – how much, where and when does it work?
Lunchtime discussion on:
- Where donor and partner countries are putting their resources for food security and nutrition
- Where and in what conditions has it been successful
- Presentations:
- William Nicol, OECD - Brochure
- Ferko Bodnar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands - PPT
"Improving Food Security. A systemic review of the impact of interventions in agricultural production, value chains, market regulation, and land security". The Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Full report (190 pages)
- Evaluation insight (12-page summary)
Afternoon session:
Introductory remarks
Working Session 3. The roles of ODA and donors in fostering food security: alignment, accountability and results
Coffee Break
Panel Discussion. Developing country and emerging economy perspectives on key ways in which OECD countries can contribute to improved global food security
Conclusions and next steps
- Jon Lomøy, Director, Development Co‑operation Directorate, OECD
- Ken Ash, Director, Trade and Agriculture, OECD
Cocktail
For more information on the 2012 OECD Global Forum on Agriculture, please contact:
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About the OECD Global Forum on Agriculture
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Objectives
The agricultural sector remains of primary importance for many non-OECD economies therefore the aim of the Global Forum on Agriculture is to foster an informed dialogue between OECD member and non-member economies on agricultural policies issues. This dialogue is based on regular monitoring and analysis to evaluate and strengthen the process of policy reform and trade liberalisation through forward-looking analysis, and addresses emerging agricultural policy issues.
Topics
Themes for the Global Forum on Agriculture have revolved around the linkages between domestic policy reform, trade liberalisation, economic growth and poverty reduction, but the focus has been on agricultural policy.
The issue of policy coherence for development has been addressed, in particular the kinds of policy reforms required in both developed and developing countries to enhance global agricultural trade and to reduce poverty and alleviate hunger. The Forum usually takes a global view and analytical work is examined with respect to the “real world” needs of policy makers.
Participants
Participants include official representatives from OECD members and selected non-members. Invitations are also extended to other organisations with which OECD has formal links, including other international organisations, business associations, trade unions and NGOs co-operating with the OECD, and also to a small number of experts providing invited contributions.
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