CFS Policy Convergence Products Database

Respect, and preserve traditional knowledge on sustainable water management and adaptation to shocks and stressors in order to strengthen the resilience of livelihoods

Develop and share knowledge, technologies and tools related to water for FSN

Manage risk and increase resilience to water variability for FSN

Increase investment in research, technological and social innovation, with due attention to small-scale food producers' needs and knowledge, throughout the food chain, for effective reduction of FLW as well as for adding value to agricultural products in the whole food value chain, for example through the extension of shelf life while protecting food safety and nutritional value.

Develop and improve practices and industry standards related to product sourcing and retail to reduce FLW, in particular standards used to accept or reject food produce (e.g. cosmetic standards for fruit, vegetables, livestock and fish products). This can be done, for example, by introducing differentiated pricing to prevent economic and nutrition value losses.

Utilize mechanisms for measuring improvement over time, setting targets as appropriate, and introduce an enabling environment through policies and incentives to reduce FLW, in accordance with national priorities, based on a 'food use-not-waste' hierarchy (i.e. prevention, food recovery and redistribution of safe and nutritious food to people).

Carry out research in FLW in order to develop a systemic analysis framework or methodology to quantify and reduce FLW, and assess the impact of alternative uses of FLW such as for feed, energy and industrial uses, etc.

Contribute to the provision of appropriate extension services and training, especially focused on small-scale transport, storage, processing, packaging and distribution systems to reduce FLW.

Integrate FLW concerns and solutions, and a food systems' approach, as appropriate, into agricultural, food and other relevant policies and development programmes.

Encourage all stakeholders to optimize the use of resources, reduce FLW and seek solutions for sorting of food waste and reducing waste to landfills.

Cooperate, and support actions, to promote participatory research, together with small-scale food producers to reduce FLW.

Improve coordination of policies, strategies, and actions to reduce FLW

Improve governance for agriculture and rural development through a coordinated multi-sectoral approach, with particular focus on smallholder agriculture, ensuring adequate participation of all relevant organizations, especially those representing smallholder farmers. This involves developing context-specific solutions for smallholder-sensitive public and private investments. Consider experiences such as the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and others.

Build or further develop a country-owned vision for smallholder agriculture, in the context of broad-based national, and agricultural development, that positions smallholder agriculture firmly within integrated policies and strategies, that includes connecting smallholders to markets, that is articulated together with all national stakeholders, especially smallholder farmers, of whom women represent a majority in many countries, their organizations and their representatives, in the context of sustainable development and transparent rights-based processes and guidelines.

Guided by this vision and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, consider revisiting agricultural, urban and rural sector policies, strategies and budgets, with particular attention to enabling smallholder access - especially for women - to productive assets, local, national and regional markets, appropriate training, research, technology and farm support services.

Support the review, financing and implementation of smallholder inclusive, gender-sensitive, multi-sectoral, policies and strategies linked to sustainable agricultural development, with a particular supporting role by international development partners and especially IFAD, FAO and WFP, the World Bank, bilateral funding agencies and regional development banks.

Help facilitate improvement of fisheries-relevant policies and strategies, by promoting transparency and inclusiveness, especially effective participation of small-scale fisheries, and the integration of fisheries and aquaculture issues into the major international programmes and initiatives, and giving due consideration to food security, nutrition and poverty alleviation.

Mainstream gender equality and women's empowerment within the country-led vision and strategy for agricultural development. In addition, encourage gender specific support services in view of the critical role of women and to address the specific needs and constraints faced by both women and men smallholder farmers.

Address constraints to engaging young women and men in smallholder agriculture, as well as in related non-farm rural sectors, through targeted policy interventions. These include strengthening and ensuring equal access to education and training systems.

Explore geographically inclusive territorial development as an approach to effectively coordinate cross-sectoral public and private investments, in particular in smallholder agriculture as well as in the non-farm economy.