Global forum on food security and nutrition

Stefan Pasti, The Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative, United States of America

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute comments.

While I am far from having a comprehensive understanding of what actions are already in place, or will be initiated, I understand that a comprehensive response like this is needed, and could make unprecedented progress, under any conditions and circumstances. 

What I would offer, from my point of view, is that there doesn’t seem to be anything upfront in this document accounting for the unprecedented cultural transformation (which will take decades) necessary to mitigate global warming/climate change.  The following--“Address the increasing number of emergencies (including natural disasters, conflicts and chronic emergencies) affecting the nutritional status of vast populations” (top of p. 4)—is a “close relative” to what I’m suggesting, but… there still seems to be an assumption of some kind of “status quo”.  It seems to me that “in unprecedented flux” rather than “status quo” would better characterize the next three decades.

Also, we live in very complex cultural landscapes, and there are many different kinds of moral compasses attempting to navigate such landscapes.  As a consequence, people who are not sufficiently informed about critical issues are everywhere, and they are investing their time, energy, and money—voting—all the time.  Even a most comprehensive approach like the one outlined in this draft will not help people who perceive that their rights and freedoms to act as they see fit—even if irresponsibly—are established and sovereign rights.

Further, besides the unprecedented challenge of mitigating global warming/climate change, I believe that what we have now is a convergence of critical challenges (here is a two page description of the ten most critical challenges identified by this writer) [all documents referred to in this comment accessible on homepage of The Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative at www.cpcsi.org .]

I understand there may not be many who agree with my own personal assessment.  Even so, a valid argument can still be made that a “Recalibrating Our Moral Compasses Survey”--

--a very careful and conscientious approach to identifying critical challenges and solution-oriented activity--and to comparing that input with working definitions for “right livelihood” and “moral compasses” (to increase consensus on such definitions)--

--which sought responses from carefully selected people from around the world (possibly 300) who are who are well known in fields of activity associated with creating a peaceful and sustainable world--

--could be a catalyst for collaborative problem solving a the local community level (such as Community Visioning Initiatives, Neighborhood Learning Centers, and Neighbor to Neighbor Community Education Projects in local newspaper)(and such a survey could be undertaken by a coalition of universities and colleges).

Summary Point:  if more people discovered for themselves how unprecedented the challenges ahead are (from international “Recalibrating… Surveys”, and subsequent local collaborative problem solving), and how much we need to be learning and working together to manage the profound cultural transformation needed to respond to such challenges, better decisions would be made locally, by many more people, and across a much wider spectrum of challenges and positive tipping points.

More in depth discussion along these lines can be found in:

1)  "Unprecedented Challenges Ahead--February 2017"  (2 pages; Feb. 2017)
2)  “Convergence of Critical Challenges Alert to Peacebuilders, Chaplains--from cpcsi.org” (10 pages; Feb., 2017)(accessible on homepage of www.cpcsi.org)

Colin Bell, Global Obesity Centre, Deakin University, Australia

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the first draft of the Work Programme of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, 2016-2015.

The Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE) is a research group based in the Centre for Population Health Research at Deakin University and a WHO Collaborating Centre. Our vision is to catalyse improvements in population health, with a focus on obesity, through innovative research that empowers people and enables healthier environments.

Comments are arranged according to the headings and numbered paragraphs of the draft Work Programme.

Background

The background should explicitly acknowledge the contribution of climate change to malnutrition. Also it should indicate that this workplan is building on the acknowledged double burden of under-nutrition and overnutrition such that synergistic programmes and policies are sought.

Paragraphs 3 and 4

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  Including the global nutrition and diet-related NCD targets from ICN2 and the SDGs (currently in the footnote on page 2) would (1) focus the work programme and (2) better represent the full scope of malnutrition the programme seeks to address
  

Aims and added value

Paragraph 9

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  There is an overemphasis on policy in the aims and consequent underemphasis on programmes and financial commitments. National and international policies are a critical part of the change that is required to combat malnutrition but will need to be implemented together with complementary financial commitment and innovative programmes.
  

Paragraph 11

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  Advocacy, networks and accountability appear to be the main value adds of the work programme.
  
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  In addition to “Put in place an accessible and transparent mechanism for tracking progress” we recommend a point on shared communication of successful initiatives in order to spread progress more rapidly.
  
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  Significant value would be added by including support for sourcing finance.
  
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  The Nutrition Decade could also add value by incentivizing creativity and calling for innovation.
  
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  With global nutrition and diet-related NCD targets already in place, It will be important to prioritise tracking and achieving in addition to the already stated setting impact and outcomes.
  

Guiding principles

It was difficult to determine what the guiding principles are from paragraphs 12 to 15. To make the principles clearer we suggest

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  Focusing paragraph 12 on taking action that builds on existing efforts
  
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  Focusing paragraph 13 on equity (addressing malnutrition for all people everywhere)
  
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  Adding a new paragraph on synergistic partnerships (participation with all actors who are committed to reducing all forms of malnutrition)
  
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  Joining paragraphs 14 and 15 to form a principle of creating enabling environments (helping partners and people remove barriers to action)
  

Action Areas

Paragraph 17

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  This paragraph could strengthen the localized approach mentioned in sentence two more by identifying ways of financing, evaluating and sharing such programs.
  

Paragraph 18

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  Acknowledge rather than map existing nutrition-related initiatives and movements. Mapping would be a huge under-taking that will hinder action. Also, develop mechanisms to strategically build on successful existing initiatives.
  

Action area 1

Paragraph 19

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  We endorse the food systems approach but note that work on marketing, retailing and consumption is under-emphasised in the work programme. Suggestions follow for strengthening these areas.
  

Paragraph 20

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  It is hard to see the value of international guidelines and standards on healthy diets given those that WHO already have in place. These should be updated and promoted as a supportive piece of work but not an action area of the work programme
  

Paragraph 21

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  Nuts and seeds have been left out of this and other paragraphs listing the food groups that the work programme will focus on. They should be included as important part of a healthy diet
  

Paragraph 22

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  Some of the background information on Food safety could be included in the background section rather than here
  
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  Join with paragraph 23
  

Make action area 2 action area 5

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  While this is an important action area, most preventive action happens outside the health system. Also treatment represents a response so action areas 3-5 should be promoted in the list because they focus on prevention
  

Action area 3

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  This action area is missing a paragraph on reducing marketing, particularly to children, which should be considered a social protection activity
  
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  A greater emphasize needs to be placed on teaching children horticulture and food purchasing skills
  

Action Area 5

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  Food retail environments need to be included here
  

Action Area 6

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  The commercial determinants of malnutrition need to be recognised and actions are needed to help countries manage conflicts of interest and achieve transparency in policy-making, political donations, programme financing and related areas.
  

Means of implementation

Paragraph 42

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  It is not clear why countries commit to (1) (2) or (3). Achieving in country nutrition targets implies mobilizing financial resources for domestic action. ‘And’ requires a greater commitment and would achieve a greater collective impact.
  

Paragraph 46

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  This is the first mention of the Nutrition Decade Secretariat. They should be introduced in the background.
  

Nutrition champions

Paragraph 47

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  Governments may prefer to be invited rather than declared as Nutrition Decade champions
  

Funding modalities

What incentives can the Nutrition Decade provide to encourage funders to support innovative programmes to combat malnutrition?

Paragraph 56

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  The World Bank estimates do not include costs of scaling up effective programmes for obesity prevention or reducing marketing. Theses should be estimated so countries can address malnutrition in all its forms.
  

Paragraphs 64-66

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  We see the value of a visual identity for the Nutrition Decade but recommend this is kept low key. The specific and specialized campaigns mentioned in para 66 may be counter to not establishing new structures as mentioned in para 67
  

Accountability and Shared Learning

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  Will there be a country to champion Nutrition Decade at the UN General assembly?
  
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  What accountability will be in place for financial commitments?
  

Paragraph 75

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  How will the UN system identify good practices to support evaluations?
  

Table 1

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  Addressing the impact of climate change on fruit, vegetable and animal sources of foods should be a topic or more explicit in existing topics
  

Table 2

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  A forum on financing is needed in the first biennium