Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Abdolreza AbbassianSecretary of the Intergovernmental

Group on Grains, FAO

Presentation at the Food Aid Convention WorkshopBrussels, 22 October 2010

Brussels, 22 October 2010 2Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The emergency context

925 million hungry people

198 natural disasters in 2009

98 countries affected by the food crisis

70 actual or potential conflicts

30 countries currently in need of

external food assistance

27 humanitarian appeals in 2009 –

FAO participated in all

FAO supports countries and partners to prepare for and respond to food and agricultural threats and emergencies

Brussels, 22 October 2010 3Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

22 countries in protracted crisis

Brussels, 22 October 2010 4Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

What defines a “protracted crisis”?

Longevity of the crisis (8 crises over the past 9 years; or 12 crises in 14 years)

High level of humanitarian assistance (humanitarian aid at least 10 percent of ODA since 2000)

Classification as “low-income food-deficit country” (LIFDCs)

Brussels, 22 October 2010 5Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Food-related assistance needs have changed

Increase in protracted crises of different causes with food producers at the forefront

Strong link between the transitory and the structural causes of food insecurity

Twin-track approach needed: offer immediate help to the affected populations and provide the necessary assistance for reconstruction and recovery

Brussels, 22 October 2010 6Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Growing number of emergencies…

1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-20100

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Combination of the twoMan-Made DisastersNatural Disasters

Ave

rag

e n

um

be

r o

f co

un

trie

s fa

cin

g a

n e

me

rge

ncy

Source: GIEWS (2010)

Brussels, 22 October 2010 7Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

…that often continue for 10 years or more

610

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Countries affected (%)

Min

imum

leng

th o

f em

erge

ncy

(yea

rs)

Source: GIEWS (2010)

Brussels, 22 October 2010 8Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Strategies for quicker recovery

Break the cycle of long-term structural problems that cause greater vulnerability in the short term

Support survival strategies of affected populations and strengthen their resilience

Increase productivity through a greater use of agricultural inputs (e.g. seeds, fertilizers, tools)

Brussels, 22 October 2010 9Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

How does the Food Aid Convention fit in?

Currently, only seeds for eligible products are included in the FAC

What is more, the amount of seeds shall not exceed 7% of a donor’s entire commitment

Renegotiating the FAC provides a window of opportunity to incorporate a broader set of agricultural inputs

Brussels, 22 October 2010 10Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

What issues should be considered?

Providing agricultural inputs must not compromise the FAC’s responsiveness to immediate food needs

FAC funding arrangements for agricultural inputs needs to provide a greater degree of certainty

Any modifications of the FAC should be aligned with an eventual Doha Round agreement of WTO

Brussels, 22 October 2010 11Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Emergency needs have sometimes exceeded FAC commitmentsFigure 6.1. Total food aid, emergency use and

FAC commitment (million MT)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18Total food aid

Emergency use

FAC commitment

Am

ount

of

food

aid

(in

mill

ion

ton

s)

Brussels, 22 October 2010 12Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

What other changes are desirable?

Raise FAC’s minimum commitments

Broaden FAC membership to include new emerging donors

Earmark resources to emergency operations to meet immediate food needs

Introduce flexible funding arrangements to better respond to changing needs

Brussels, 22 October 2010 13Promoting agricultural inputs under the Food Aid Convention

Economic and Social Development DepartmentFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For more information

Making the Food Aid ConventionMeet the realities of the 21st century

Some proposals for more effective interventions

Economic and Social Perspectives, Policy Brief No. 11, FAO.

www.fao.org/economic/es-policybriefs