FOOD SECURITY POLICIES&

POLICY FORMULATION PROCESS IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

Food Advocacy Capacity Strengthening Workshop

Desmond Tutu Training CentreNairobi

24th November 2010Ombalo, D. O.Ministry of Agriculture Kenya

Presentation Outline1. An overview of food Security Policies

(a) Food Security perspectives and Situation in Kenya(b) The Food Security and Nutrition Policy (FSNP)

2. The Policy Formulation Process(a) Theoretical perspectives and methodology for

Policy Analysis(b) Policy Formulation (Analysis) Process(c) Formulation Procedures used by the MoA

2

1. AN OVERVIEW OF FOOD SECURITY POLICIES

(a). Food Security Perspectives and Situation in Kenya

Food Security Definition:• Food Security exists when all people, at all

times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

3

2010 Food Situation Assessment Report

4

Agriculture and Food Security in Context• Importance and central role of Agriculture and

food security outlined in various national and sectoral policies and strategy papers– Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, 2001– Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) for Wealth and Employment Creation,

2003-2007– Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA) 2004-2014,– Kenya Vision 2030 and the 1st Vision 2030 MTP– The Agriculture Sector Development Strategy 2010 - 2020– United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), – Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of

NEPAD, 2002– Food Policy (Sessional Paper No. 4 of 1981)– National Food Policy (Sessional Paper 1 of 1994)– National Food and Nutrition Policy (NFNP) 5

Contribution of Hunger Reduction towards Achieving the MDGs

MDG WHY HUNGER REDUCTION IS IMPORTANT

1. Eradicate

Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Hunger perpetuates poverty by reducing productive

capacity of the weak and malnourished

2. Achieve

Universal Primary Education

Hunger reduces school attendance and impairs learning

capacity; it also reduces school attendance more for girls than for boys

3. Gender Equality & Empower

Women

Gender inequality perpetuates the cycle in which mothers, as undernourished children, give birth to low birth-weight

children

4. Reduce Child Mortality

More than half of all child deaths are caused directly or indirectly by hunger and malnutrition

5. Improve

Maternal Health

Under-nourishment and micronutrient deficiencies greatly

increase the risk of maternal death

6. Combat

HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other

Diseases

Undernourished children are more than twice as likely to die of malaria, while hunger also spurs risky behaviour

that accelerates the spread of HIV/AIDS

7. Ensure Environ-

mental Sustainability

Hunger leads to unsustainable use of natural resources as people look for means to survive

8. Develop a

Global Partnership for Development

Subsidies and tariffs in developed countries hamper

hunger-reducing agricultural and rural development highlighting the importance of developing good trade

relations

6

(b) National Food Security and Nutrition Policy (FSNP)FSNP Objectives

The broad objectives of

– To increase the quantity and quality of food available, accessible and affordable to all Kenyans at all times.

– To achieve good nutrition for optimum health of all Kenyans.

– To protect vulnerable populations using innovative and cost-effective safety nets linked to long-term development

7

FSNP Strategic Thrust Areas1. Food Availability and Access2. Food Safety and Quality Control3. Nutrition Improvement4. School Nutrition and Nutrition Awareness5. Food Security and Nutrition Information6. Early Warning and Emergency Management7. Institutional and Legal Framework, Financing8. Strategic Approaches for Policy Implementation,

Monitoring and Evaluation

8

Strategic Interventions1. Food Availability and Access: • Policy objective is to increase the quantity and quality of food

available and accessible in order to ensure that all Kenyans have an adequate, diverse and healthy diet.

• To be achieved by – sustainable domestic production increases for diversified & affordable food

that meet basic nutrition requirements. – Better storage and agro-processing that reduce post-harvest losses and help

smooth availability over time. – Maintenance of strategic reserves of both food and cash stocks to ensure a

rapid response to emergencies. – Functioning rural and urban markets and promoting food trade to ensure a

predictable supply of commercially available food. – Enhancing employment opportunities and income from on-farm and off-

farm opportunities in rural areas, with related initiatives to promote urban employment and improved food access.

9

Strategic Interventions2. Food Safety and Quality Control: Policy objective is to ensure safe and high quality food by;

– creating public awareness and setting, promoting and enforcing appropriate guidelines, standards and regulatory framework.

– Promoting public-private sector partnerships in improving food product quality, regulations and safety

3. Nutrition Improvement: Policy objective is to achieve good nutrition for optimum health of

all Kenyans.– Enhancing food access, providing special nutrition interventions for

specific groups with high risk – Creating awareness and skills to provide nutritious foods to all

family members and especially children

– Promoting healthy lifestyles throughout the life-cycle 10

Strategic Interventions4. School Nutrition and Nutrition Awareness: Policy objective is to have all Kenyans knowledgeable about

good basic nutrition required to live a healthy and active life, with clear and substantive roles for State institutions, the media and other key stakeholders. – focus on improved nutrition and nutrition education in

schools through school feeding programmes– Building capacity amongst service providers in all sectors, – enhancing nutrition-related adult education amongst the

general population and effective public awareness campaigns.

11

Strategic Interventions5. Food Security and Nutrition InformationPolicy objective is to build capacity and ensure the availability of

quality and timely food security and nutrition data, information and analysis for better formulation and management of integrated food security and nutrition policies, programmes and actions. – sectoral ministries and agencies supported in their efforts to

gather and manage crucial data and information. – Cross-sectoral data brought together into special databases, and

in some cases supplemented with more specific indicators, to allow for integrated and holistic food security analysis. Examples of such cross-sectoral databases include those maintained by the EWS, the CBS poverty database and KenInfo

12

Strategic Interventions6. Early Warning and Emergency Management:

Policy objective is to protect vulnerable populations and address food insecurity concerns by developing capacity for early warning and emergency management using innovative and cost-effective safety nets and emergency relief programmes linked to long-term development. – EWS will be expanded and strengthened to provide crucial

information and analysis for emergency preparedness and response, and to guide emergency mitigation and longer term development.

– innovative emergency response mechanisms aimed at saving lives, linked with strategic efforts towards recovery, rehabilitation, restoration of livelihood systems, and development

13

Strategic Interventions7. Institutional and Legal Framework & FinancingPolicy objective is to ensure an effective institutional and legal framework, and mobilize sufficient resources, in order to achieve the objectives of the national Food Security and Nutrition Policy.

– Existing institutional coordinating mechanisms, including at national and sub-national levels, will be strengthened and broadened to support the FSNP and related strategies and programmes.

– A multi-sectoral Food Security and Nutrition Secretariat will be created to ensure broad, cross-sectoral implementation, coordination and monitoring mechanisms.

– The government will commit financial resources through its Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to meet the goals of the FSNP.

14

Strategic Interventions8. Strategic Approaches for Policy Implementation,

Monitoring and Evaluation– An essential component of the implementation strategy is

to create strong and lasting advocacy mechanisms. Particularly important is the role of the media.

– phasing of programme of the implementation plan will be the

– Implementing FSNP that acknowledges changes in people’s food security and nutritional status and conditions over time.

– An effective monitoring and evaluation system will be put in place help identify successful and effective initiatives, and guide the strategic re-phasing of the programme over time.

15

FSNP Implementation Structure

16

2. The Policy Formulation Process(a) Theoretical Perspectives and Methodology for Policy Analysis

– The basis for policy analysis is process the problem (development) identification

– Development of problem can be at three levels» Micro level (individual & household production,

consumption and exchange)» Macro level (aggregate demand and general

equilibrium in terms of consumption, investment, government activities and trade)

» Meso level (interface of Micro and Macro level)– Policy concerns arise around key drivers of the behavior of

economic variables in these three levels; 17

(a) Theoretical Perspectives and Methodology for Policy Analysis (Cont’)

There are four ways of identifying policy concerns in these three areas;– Public statements by Government that may cause

concern to the public or policy analyst– Public outcry arising out of Government action or

omission– None state actors wishing to influence Government

action in a certain direction– Research targeting existing policy gaps

18

(a) Policy Formulation (Analysis) Process

Objectives

Activities

Outputs

Outcomes/Impacts

Source: Based on Walker, 2000

19

Steps in Policy AnalysisStep 1: Specification of Policy Objectives

– Involves identifying policy objectives, that if met, would “solve or lessen” the problem

– Most policy problems may call for multiple objectives some often conflicting

Step 2: Decision criteria– Establishment of relevant criteria with which to evaluate

alternative policies– Criteria used in assessing alternative policy actions that help

reach the goal & to enhance comparison, measurement and selection among alternative policies

– Criteria include costs, benefits, efficiency, effectiveness, administrative ease, legality acceptance etc

20

Steps in Policy AnalysisStep 3: Identification of Alternative Policy options

– entails choosing among alternative policies that can address the identified problem

– Specifies policies whose consequences can be quantified– it is important to consider as many options as stand any chance

of being worthwhile

Step 4: Analyses of Alternatives– Assessing each option using the appropriate methods to

determine how each alternative ranks in accordance with the criteria under step 3 (an ex ante analysis of policy impact)

21

Steps in Policy AnalysisStep 5: Comparison of Alternatives

– Involves presenting and comparing the alternative options in a way that enables policy makers to identify differences between them and to decide on the best option

Step 6: Choice of Alternatives– The best alternative is chosen based on a prior criteria built around

desired outcomes and impact

Step 7 Implementation and Evaluation– Involves putting the policy into effect in order to address the problem

fro which they were formulated– M & E is necessary to ensure policy is actually accomplishing its

intended objectives – M & E also ensures that policies are being implemented effectively,

are having the desired outcomes and are the basis for continued implementation, modification or termination of policies 22

(c) Formulation Procedures used by the MoA

1. Procedure starts with the Director, PER or the PS receiving a policy concern from any one of the following sources:-– Central Agricultural Board– Agricultural State Corporations– Feedback from any government arm implementing a

national policy framework– Interested agricultural sector stakeholders

23

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

2. The PS in consultation with the Minister and Director, PER will prioritize policy concerns and direct the Agriculture Secretary and Director PER to either prioritize the policy in PER’s Department Annual Performance Contracts or where it is in response to an ad hoc and urgent request embark on policy formulation or review.

3. In consultation with the Agriculture Secretary, the Director PER will direct the DD-Policy to commence the policy formulation process which involves the following key stages:-

24

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

• Analysis of the Policy Concern/concerns• Development of a concept note• Constitution of a committee of key stakeholders• Policy inception/planning meetings to review concept note• Retreats by technical committees to develop zero draft and

refine drat policy documents• Visits to key institutions to further analyze

sector/subsector or specific industry current status, constraints to optimal performance and collect views on possible alternative policy interventions

• Retreat to develop 1st draft

25

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

4. DD, Policy Co-ordination shall forward the zero draft to Director PER for input, with the latter seeking further input from the other Technical Directors in the Ministry and initiate the convening of a stakeholder forum to subject the 1st draft to critique.

5. With the approval of the PS and in consultation with

the Agriculture Secretary, Director PER shall convene a stakeholders’ forum to discuss the draft policy document.

26

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

6. PER shall prepare an agenda and Circulate the draft policy intervention to stakeholders for stakeholders who shall study it to prepare for SHF.

7. At the appropriate and convenient time, Director

PER shall convene SHF to deliberate on the draft policy intervention.

8. Director PER shall then convene the technical team

to study and incorporate stakeholders’ input.

27

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

9. The Director forwards the Policy to the PS through the Agriculture Secretary, who upon review and satisfaction share the same with the Minister and direct that Director PER draft a Cabinet Memorandum on the Policy

10.The Director PER drafts and forwards the Cabinet

Memorandum and requisite number of copies of the policy document to the PS for signature and forwarding to the Cabinet Office

28

Formulation Procedures Used by the MoA (Cont’)

11.Upon approval by the Cabinet, the Permanent Secretary shall authorize publishing of the policy document, launching and official circulation and implementation.

12.The Director shall, upon implementation of the policy institute a programme for monitoring and evaluation of progress to obtain valuable feedback for the policy formulation process.

29

END30