CFS Policy Convergence Products Database

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.