CFS Policy Convergence Products Database

Member Countries to explore measures and incentives to reduce waste and losses in the food system, including addressing post harvest losses;

Agricultural investments should take into account the specific needs of both women and men, bearing in mind that investments in land and other natural resources have impact on women's food security. Moreover, agricultural investment plans, policies and programmes should be designed so that women and men have equal access to programme services and operations, being cognizant of women's and men's commitments to household economies and to child-rearing and recognizing their different needs;

The Committee recommended that gender is included in the monitoring mechanisms of current and future Voluntary Guidelines, including the 'The Progressive Realization of the Right to adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security', and 'Responsible Governance of Land Tenure Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security' and similar initiatives that will be discussed or endorsed by CFS.

The Committee urged Member States, international organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to promote synergies and avoid wasteful duplication to identify and support strategies, policies and actions to further strengthen gender-sensitive food security and nutrition, health and education interventions that scale-up practical solutions for women, including:

Member States to support the adoption and implementation of maternity and paternity protection legislation and related measures that allow women and men to perform their care giving role and therefore provide for the nutritional needs of their children and protect their own health, whilst protecting their employment security.

Support adoption of safety net programmes including home-grown school feeding and school gardens, which encourages girl's attendance at school and links economic empowerment of women smallholders, food security and nutrition of girls in school, and improved education outcomes.

The Committee took note of the report and recommendations relating to gender, food security and nutrition resulting from the Regional Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Food Security and Nutrition for the Near East and North Africa Region that took place on 3-4 October 2011 in Cairo under the CFS umbrella.

Gender analysis and nutrition impact assessments should be conducted to inform food security and nutrition policy, programme and project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including the use of appropriate indicators, gender targets and funding;

Smallholder women farmers should be prioritized in agricultural programming to foster equity while taking into consideration the specific food and nutrition needs of women, men and children; and

Statistics with regard to food security and nutrition should be sex and age-disaggregated;

Business Enterprises involved in agriculture and food systems should apply the Principles with a focus on mitigating and managing risks to maximize positive and avoid negative impacts on food security and nutrition, relevant to their context and circumstances. Business enterprises have a responsibility to comply with national laws and regulations and any applicable international law, and act with due diligence to avoid infringing on human rights. Business enterprises involved in agriculture and food systems are encouraged to inform and communicate with other stakeholders, conduct due [...]

Smallholders, including those that are family farmers - women and men - are the main investors in their own agriculture and play a vital role in diversified, including sustainable, food systems. Smallholders and their organisations should apply the Principles, with particular attention to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth, by: i) Increasing productivity and income, adding more value in their operations and using natural resources sustainably and efficiently, where applicable; ii) Strengthening their resilience; iii Managing risks, relevant to their context [...]

1.1- These Voluntary Guidelines seek to improve governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests. They seek to do so for the benefit of all, with an emphasis on vulnerable and marginalized people, with the goals of food security and progressive realization of the right to adequate food, poverty eradication, sustainable livelihoods, social stability, housing security, rural development, environmental protection and sustainable social and economic development. All programmes, policies and technical assistance to improve governance of tenure through the implementation of these Guidelines [...]

Research organizations, universities, academia, agricultural training centres, extension organizations and/or programmes should emphasize the integration of the Principles in their own policies, facilitate knowledge, exchange, and skills development, and address the innovation needed to increase smallholders' contributions to food security and nutrition. This can comprise a range of roles including identifying impacts, testing of field practices, technology and business models, and advising the government on policy reform or investors on practices related to agriculture and food systems. [...]

2.1- These Guidelines are voluntary. 2.2- These Guidelines should be interpreted and applied consistent with existing obligations under national and international law, and with due regard to voluntary commitments under applicable regional and international instruments. They are complementary to, and support, national, regional and international initiatives that address human rights and provide secure tenure rights to land, fisheries and forests, and also initiatives to improve governance. Nothing in these Guidelines should be read as limiting or undermining any legal obligations to which [...]

Civil society organizations involved in agriculture and food systems should apply the Principles and are encouraged to integrate them in their own policies and programmes. They are also encouraged to advocate for the appropriate use of the Principles, serve as drivers for transparency and accountability, and assist with building capacity with the aim of contributing to food security and nutrition. Civil society organizations are also encouraged to collaborate with other stakeholders at all stages of investments to use the Principles, as well as to monitor and assess the impacts of [...]

The role of workers in agriculture and food systems is vital. Workers and their organizations play a key role in promoting and implementing decent work, thereby contributing to efforts towards sustainable and inclusive economic development. They also have a crucial role in engaging in social dialogue with all other stakeholders to promote the application of the Principles in investments in agriculture and food systems, and in promoting the integration of the Principles in national laws and policies.

Communities, indigenous peoples, those directly affected by investments, the most vulnerable, and those working in agriculture and food systems are encouraged to actively engage and communicate with the other stakeholders in all aspects and stages of investments to promote awareness of and respect for their rights as outlined in the Principles.

Consumer organizations can contribute to the application of the Principles by informing and educating consumers about these Principles, and encouraging investment that respects these Principles.

States should ensure that policy, legal and organizational frameworks for tenure governance recognize and respect, in accordance with national laws, legitimate tenure rights including legitimate customary tenure rights that are not currently protected by law; and facilitate, promote and protect the exercise of tenure rights. Frameworks should reflect the social, cultural, economic and environmental significance of land, fisheries and forests. States should provide frameworks that are non-discriminatory and promote social equity and gender equality. Frameworks should reflect the [...]