TODAY’S TOP STORIES – 15 May 2012

Food security must be central to African development

According to a report released by the United Nations Development Programme, food security must be at the centre of policy formation in Africa for sustainable economic or human development to occur. The report, which aims to address the relationship between hunger and growth in sub-Saharan Africa, recommends that countries take measures to lower community vulnerability to food insecurity.  The publication states that developing social protection programmes such as crop insurance, employment guarantee schemes and cash transfer, will provide an effective buffer against risks to food security such as civil conflict, natural disasters and volatile food prices.
Source: AllAfrica

Deal brokered between Islamic Development Bank and Niger to support food security

A twenty million USD agreement has been signed between Ahmad Mahammad Ali, the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), and Mahamadou Issoufou, the President of Niger, in Saudi Arabia yesterday. The arrangement, which will be facilitated by the International Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation (ITFC), will result in the import of 30,000 tonnes of cereal into Niger, as well as the building up of storable crops and food reserves to nearly 7,000 tonnes. Additionally, 400,000 USD will be allocated to Niger in an attempt to curb the famine in Niger’s Sahel region, with a further 100,000 USD distributed to provide emergency food and medical supplies to Malian refugees coming into Niger.
Source: MENAFinancialNews

Angola hit by food insecurity

Angola is facing significant food security issues due to a drought that has damaged harvests and killed livestock. The provinces of Huambo, Bie, Benguela and Zaire in central and northern Angola have been most affected, but small-scale and commercial farmers are suffering nationwide, with crop yields down by as much as 70 percent. The Angolan government has apportioned 40 million USD to an emergency response operation, however Koen Vanormelingen, the United Nations Children’s Fund representative in Angola, stated that there is still “a significant increase in malnutrition and malnutrition-related mortality in children”.
Source: InterPressServicesNews

SPOTLIGHT ON LAND ISSUES

United Nations backed guidelines aimed at regulating large-scale land investments

Guidelines to combat large-scale corporate land acquisitions have been endorsed in Rome by a committee on world food security. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said the guidelines outline a set of principles and benchmark practices that governments can reference when creating laws and administering farmland, fisheries and forest rights. Although the guidelines are voluntary, Jose Graziano da Silva, the Director General of FAO, hailed the development as the first ever global land tenure guidelines, stating that “we now have a shared vision”.
Source: TheWashingtonPost

NEW PUBLICATIONS

The South Sudan Food Security Outlook

This report, produced by USAid as part of their Famine Early Warning System Network, provides a detailed overview of all the key food security issues in South Sudan. Through evaluating the seasonal calendar and events that have occurred, the report provides insight into general food security conditions and key projections for the future.
Source: USAid

EVENTS

BALWOIS 2012: International Conference on Water, Climate and Environment

When: 28 May-2 June 2012 Where: Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia Organisers: The Balkans Institute for Water and Environment and the French Embassy in Macedonia

This event aims to provide a solution-based forum that explores the relationship between climate, environmental changes and human activities regarding water. With a broad spectrum of attendees, BALWOIS 2012 aims to be a platform for creating partnerships that work towards solving water scarcity problems, floods, droughts and environmental degradation.
Find out more here

A full calendar of events around the globe can be accessed at: http://www.foodsec.net/modules/monitor/calendar

To add your event to the calendar, email 

GLOBAL PRICE TREND INDICATOR

Source: USDA Market News

Source: USDA Market News

Source: USDA Market News

This week saw a decrease in the prices of maize, wheat and soybean, with worries concerning the Eurozone crisis combined with weather issues having a detrimental impact on markets. However with the positive economic data from Germany, there is expected to be some recovery.

Source: Agrimoney

ORGANISATION CLOSE-UP

In every issue, the Food Security Monitor offers a close-up on an organisation working on food security challenges.

The Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development

The Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) aims to supports and enhances the lives of individuals around the world through producing research into sustainable food systems. With partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, CIIFAD initiates and supports innovative programs that contribute to improved prospects for global food security, sustainable rural development and environmental conservation around the world. Established in 1990 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, CIIFAD engages diverse disciplines, actors and institutions to advance knowledge and practice for sustainable agricultural and rural development.
Find out more here

IN FOCUS

Global Challenges and Impact: Water Security

This Monitor Film, which is part of an evaluation series titled “Global Challenges and Impact: Water Security” explores how private-public sector partnerships have been utilised to increase water security in Romania, Morocco and India.
Source: YouTube

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