1. Identify the institutions which have a stake in the
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Identify the institutions which have a stake in the
process of food security policy formulation and
implementation.
Define the role and functions of the relevant
stakeholders in food security policy formulation and
Indicate possible arrangements for a functional
institutional set-up to ensure effective coordination of
food security information and actions.

2. Food security is an overarching and cross-cutting issue
INTRODUCTION
Food security is an overarching and cross-cutting issue
The formulation and implementation of FSPs depend on an active involvement of various government institutions as well as other key stakeholders…
TRAINER’S NOTES
Food security is an overarching and cross-cutting issue, involving aspects of food production and supply, access to food, food supply stability, food utilization and nutrition.
Therefore, the formulation and implementation of food security policies depend on an active involvement of various government institutions as well as other stakeholders who are concerned with these different issues.
This lesson presents the typical role and functions of relevant ministries and governmental institutions as well as of other relevant stakeholders, such as local and international NGOs, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as well as UN organizations and bilateral donors.

3. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Government institutions involved in Food Security Policy formulation and implementation:
Ministry of Planning/
National Planning Commission
Ministry of Agriculture
Other Ministries
Local Government Institutions
TRAINER’S NOTES
On the next slides we will indicate the roles and functions of the different government institutions involved in Food Security Policy (FSP) formulation and implementation.

4. 1 2 Integrating FSP issues into other national
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Ministry of Planning / National Planning Commission
FSP forms integral part of a National Policy & Planning Framework (NPPF). There are two principal ways to achieve such integration:
Integrating FSP issues
into other national
development policies and
strategies.
Food Security
Policies 1
Food Security Policy 2
TRAINER’S NOTES
1. Integration of food security policy issues into overall and sectoral national development policies and strategies of a country, e.g. Poverty Reduction Strategy and agricultural and social sector policies and strategies.
2. Preparing a specific “Food Security Policy” document, incorporating all aspects which are relevant for improving food security and taking into account the linkages which exist to overall and sectoral development policies and strategies of the country.
Typically, the Ministry of Planning or a National Planning Commission is mandated to establish a NPPF. They have to be actively involved in the process of policy formulation, in order to ensure that the food security policies are well integrated into a consistent NPPF
Preparing a specific Food
Security Policy document.

5. Contributing to sufficient and stable food supplies; and
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Ministry of Agriculture
It plays a key role in the process.
It is directly concerned with various core aspects of FS:
Contributing to sufficient and stable food
supplies; and
Improving access to food.
TRAINER’S NOTES
The Ministry of Agriculture has a key role to play in the process of formulation and
implementation of FSPs.
It is directly concerned with various core aspects of food security:
Contributing to sufficient and stable food supplies by promoting agriculture and food production through application of all relevant instruments, such as research, extension, training, technology development, input supply, natural resources conservation, irrigation, etc.
Improving access to food for the poor rural population who often constitute the poorest sections of the population and largely depend on agriculture as their major source of subsistence. Focusing on the small and poor farmers, the instruments of promoting agricultural development are to be designed in a way that they are adapted to the conditions of the poor farmers and can be successfully applied by them.

6. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
In many countries, the Ministry of Agriculture is mandated to coordinate and promote food security in general
Example: Institutional Set-Up for Coordinating FSP in Lesotho
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) assumes an overall coordinating role in food security matters.
Within its conventional mandate, MAFS is responsible for all fields of agricultural development contributing to access, availability and stability.
TRAINER’S NOTES
In many countries, the Ministry of Agriculture is, apart from dealing with agricultural sector issues, also mandated to coordinate and promote food security in general.
See Learners’ Notes: Annex 1 - Example - Institutional Set-Up for Coordinating Food Security Policies in Lesotho
Pros and cons of entrusting the Ministry of Agriculture with overall coordination of FPS:
There are pros and cons to the approach of entrusting the Ministry of Agriculture with overall coordination of food security policies.
Notwithstanding its genuine mandate to deal with some core subjects of food security which are particularly relevant in an agriculture-based economy and society, food security policies also address a variety of issues which fall under the mandate of other ministries.
Therefore, the question arises whether the Ministry of Agriculture, as a line ministry, has the authority and power to actively involve and effectively coordinate other ministries in the process of food security policy formulation and implementation.
There are pros and cons to the approach of entrusting the Ministry of Agriculture with overall coordination of FSPs.

7. Food Security Policy issues
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Other Ministries
Ministry
Food Security Policy issues
Ministry of Economic Development
Poverty alleviation.
Ministry of Education
School feeding; school gardens; inclusion of food security aspects (nutrition, home gardening etc.) in school and adult education curricula.
Ministry of Environment
Natural resource conservation and rehabilitation for promoting sustainable development and long-term food security.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ International Cooperation
Negotiations and agreements with development partners (UN organizations, donors, NGOs) on support to food security policies and programmes.
Ministry of Finance
Budget allocations and approval for food security policy interventions.
TRAINER’S NOTES
Taking into account the overarching and cross-sectoral nature of food security policies, a number of further ministries and government institutions are involved in the process of policy formulation and implementation.
The actual name and the specific functions to be fulfilled by a specific ministry, and the distribution of functions/mandates between different ministries, may vary from country to country.
The tables on this and next slide list ministries and typical functions related to Food Security Policy issues.

8. Food Security Policy issues
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Other Ministries
Ministry
Food Security Policy issues
Ministry of Health
Nutrition /child nutrition, e.g. Mother and Child Health Care and Nutrition; (supplementary) child feeding programmes; also: nutrition education, sanitation.
Ministry of Labour/ Works
Employment generation- / public works- / cash-for-work, food-for-work-programmes.
Ministry of Marketing & Trade
Food price and marketing regulations; food export / import regulations; marketing organizations and infrastructure; cooperatives; subsidies.
Ministry of Social Affairs/ Women/ Youth
Social safety nets; social protection of vulnerable groups; special programmes for (particular groups of) women and youth with relevance for food security.
TRAINER’S NOTES
The table on this and previous slide list ministries and typical functions related to Food Security Policy issues.

9. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Disaster preparedness and management is another important field of food security policies.
Often a special agency is mandated with this function.
UN structures may assume government role also with respect to food security policies.
TRAINER’S NOTES
Disaster preparedness and management is another important field of food security policies.
Often a special agency or authority under the auspices of a ministry or the Primary Minister’s office is mandated with this function.
In countries under humanitarian emergencies and with weak government structures, UN structures (e.g. Task Force, Sector groups) may assume government role also with respect to food security policies.

10. Provincial, district and community administrations:
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Local Government Institutions
Provincial, district and community administrations:
generate data and information on the FS situation,
identify and articulate acute food security problems;
are responsible for the implementation of food security policy measures.
TRAINER’S NOTES
Provincial, district and community administrations play an important role in FSP formulation and implementation, by:
generating data and information on the food security situation in their administrative areas;
being able to identify and articulate acute food security problems at local level; and
often being responsible for and directly involved in the implementation of food security policy measures in the field.
As at the central level, coordination structures and mechanisms among all relevant stakeholders (government and non-governmental bodies) to coordinate the implementation of FSP measures will have to be established also at local levels.

11. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS
Non-governmental stakeholders involved in Food Security Policy formulation and implementation:
Local and International NGOs
Civil society Organizations (CSOs)
UN and donor agencies
TRAINER’S NOTES
The formulation of realistic food security policies and their effective implementation depends, to a large extent, on the active involvement of non-governmental actors in the policy formulation and implementation process.
On the next slides we will indicate the roles and functions of the different non-governmental stakeholders involved in Food Security Policy (FSP) formulation and implementation.

12. They make substantial contributions in these fields:
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS
Local and International NGOs
NGO
Local and international NGOs operate a wide spectrum of FS related programmes in a country.
They make substantial contributions in these fields:
advocacy and awareness creation of FS issues;
mobilization and provision of material resources;
technical assistance;
training and capacity building;
community mobilization.
TRAINER’S NOTES
Local and international NGOs usually operate a wide spectrum of food security related programmes and projects in a country.
Some examples of food security related programmes and projects are:
- mother and child health care and nutrition programmes;
- agricultural and rural development programmes and projects;
- initiatives to support specific vulnerable groups, etc.
They make substantial contributions towards the achievement of national food security objectives particularly in the following fields:
advocacy and awareness creation of food security issues on the international and
national scene;
mobilization and provision of material resources;
technical assistance;
training and capacity building (International NGOs often provide capacity building for
local NGOs in project planning, management, monitoring and in technical fields);
community mobilization.
NGOs are particularly strong in applying grass-root and community based approaches and in their ability to explore and pilot innovative approaches.

13. CSOs need to be actively involved particularly in issues such as:
ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS
CSO
Civil society Organizations (CSOs)
CSOs need to be actively involved particularly in issues such as:
Advocacy.
Provision of expertise.
Sensitization on relevant FS issues.
Proposals for projects and programmes.
Mobilization and organization of their members for action.
Monitoring of the implementation and impacts of FS
interventions.
TRAINER’S NOTES
CSOs:
Associations of Farmers, Fishermen, Traders, Workers, Transporters.
Cooperatives.
Women’s and Youth organizations.
Religious organizations.
CSOs are important stakeholders who need to be actively involved in the process of FSP formulation and implementation, particularly with regard to the following issues:
Advocacy, articulating the interests and needs of their members and setting policy
priorities.
Providing expertise in their specific and relevant field of activity and competence.
Sensitization of their members and launching public awareness campaigns on
relevant food security issues (child nutrition; consumption habits; crop
diversification; hygiene; home gardening; food marketing; food processing, etc.).
Making proposals for projects and programmes to address the needs and interests of
their members.
Mobilizing and organizing their members for action.
Monitoring the implementation and impacts of food security interventions

14. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS
UN and donor agencies
UN and donor agencies
Contributions by UN agencies and bilateral donors, concern in particular:
policy analysis and advice;
provision of financial and material resources for FS
related programmes;
technical assistance;
TRAINER’S NOTES
The implementation of Food Security Policies usually relies heavily on contributions by UN organizations and bilateral donors, particularly with regard to:
Policy analysis and advice, drawing from experience in other countries.
Provision of financial and material resources (e.g. food aid) for food security related programmes and projects.
Technical assistance.
In order to ensure a consistent policy framework and effective policy implementation, the UN Organizations and donors shall be involved through policy dialogue and play an active part in the process of policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

15. INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM
Principles that should guide the establishment of an institutional set-up for the implementation of FSPs:
Effective coordination and cooperation
Efficient flow and exchange of FS information
Responsiveness
TRAINER’S NOTES
The involvement of a wide range of state and non-state actors in the implementation of food security policies requires a functional institutional set-up.
The establishment of this institutional set-up for the implementation of FSPs should be guided by the following principles:
Effective coordination and cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, including different government departments and non-governmental actors, at all and between all levels (national, provincial, district, local).
Efficient flow and exchange of food security information among the stakeholders at the different levels, and communication of pertinent food security information to high level policy makers.
Responsiveness, i.e. clear mandates and responsibilities for decisions and actions to be taken (e.g. declaration of state of food emergency; food aid and food import operations; building up / release of stocks of food security reserves; launch and locations of feeding programmes, public works schemes; etc.).

16. INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM
There are some institutional arrangements that can help to put the principles for the establishment of an institutional set-up into practice:
Establishment of FS Focal Points at all relevant institutions
Formation of FS Committees at central and decentralized levels
TRAINER’S NOTES
On the next slides we will have a look at some institutional arrangements that can help to put the principles for the establishment of an institutional set-up into practice.

17. INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM
Establishment of FS Focal Points at all relevant institutions
Governmental institutions and NGOs designate a senior staff member as Food Security Focal Point.
TRAINER’S NOTES
Governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations concerned with food security related actions, appoint a senior staff member as Food Security Focal Point.
The FSFP serves as internal and external link for coordination and communication in matters of food security and will represent the institution in Food Security Committees.
The FSFP serves as internal and external link for coordination and communication in matters of FS and will represent the institution in Food Security Committees.

18. There are 3 types of Committees:
INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP AND COORDINATION MECHANISM
Formation of FS Committees at central and decentralized levels
There are 3 types of Committees:
Steering Committee
Technical Committee
Committees at decentralised levels
TRAINER’S NOTES
The establishment of FSCs is a common and suitable approach to ensure coordination, information exchange and effective policy implementation.
Three types of committees can be distinguished:
Steering Committee
For food security coordination at decentralized levels food security committees at the following levels may be established: provincial, district, and community.
These committees should comprise representatives of government departments, NGOs, CSOs, community and field organizations concerned with food security issues, projects or programmes in the particular administrative area.
Technical Committee
A Food Security Technical Committee at national level, composed of representatives of relevant government institutions and other stakeholders (NGOs, CSOs, UN and donor agencies), to coordinate, facilitate and monitor policy implementation.
Committees at decentralised levels
For food security coordination at decentralized levels food security committees at the following levels may be established: provincial,district, and community.
See Learners’ Notes: Table 3: Principles to be followed for the establishment of FSCs
One problem with FSCs is that they are often poorly resourced since they are rarely included in national budgets that tend to allocate resources to sectoral ministries rather than to cross-sectors structures/and initiatives.
One problem with FSCs is that they are often poorly resourced

19. WHO SHOULD LEAD THE FSP PROCESS
A super-ministerial institutional body with the authority to coordinate all institutions involved
A high level Steering Committee, possibly chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office, would fulfill such role.
TRAINER’S NOTES
The cross-sectoral nature of food security calls for a super-ministerial institutional body which has the authority to coordinate all relevant government and other institutions that have a stake in food security, and to commit them to make their contributions to the formulation of a consistent and comprehensive food security policy and to their effective implementation.
A high level Steering Committee, possibly chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office, would fulfill such role.
Often the Ministry of Agriculture initiates the process of formulating and implementing food security policies.
Experience shows that, in this case:
aspects of food security which fall under the conventional mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture (food production, agriculture and livestock) are well catered for; while
other aspects (marketing, processing, social protection) may remain underrepresented and neglected.
Often, however, it’is the Ministry of Agriculture that initiates the process of formulating and implementing FSPs.

20. WHO SHOULD LEAD THE FSP PROCESS
Chair
Office of the
PRIME MINISTER
Representatives of other organizations relevant for food security policies
(NGOs, CSOs, UN & donor agencies)
Food Security Policy Steering Committee
High ranking officials
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE &
other MINISTRIES
Food Security Focal Points
Other organizations concerned with food security issues at national level
(NGOs, CSOs, UN & donor agencies)
Food Security Technical Committee
TRAINER’S NOTES
The graph presents a functional institutional framework with the main links of coordination for the implementation of Food Security Policies.
Decentralized departments
&
Local Government Institutions
Food Security Committees at decentralised levels
Other organizations concerned with food security issues at local levels

21. Ministry of Planning/National Planning Commission;
SUMMARY
The institutions that have a stake in the process of food security policy formulation and implementation are:
Ministry of Planning/National Planning Commission;
Ministry of Agriculture;
Other ministries and government institutions (different from country
to country); and
Local Government Institutions.
The Non-Governmental stakeholders that should be involved in the FSP process are:
Local and International NGOs;
Civil society Organizations (CSOs); and
UN and donor agencies.
The involvement of a wide range of state and non-state actors in the implementation of FSPs requires a functional institutional set-up with well functioning coordination structures, ensuring an efficient flow and exchange of food security information and coordinated effective actions.