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News of theme "Public Aid for Development and International Cooperation"
13 October 2017 Press release

FAO – 44th session of the Committee on World Food Security

From left to right: Bénédicte Schutz, Director of International Cooperation; Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas, Deputy Alternate Representative to the FAO; Elisabeth Larese-Silvestre, Head of Division, Department of International Cooperation. ©DR

Having been a member since 2015, the Principality of Monaco took part in the work of the 44th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the only inclusive intergovernmental platform, from 9 to 13 October 2017.

The United Nations Secretary-General opened the 44th session via a video message, in which he invited the CFS’s 137 members to work to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to meet the challenge of achieving “zero hunger, leaving no one behind”. The heads of the three UN organisations headquartered in Rome (FAO, IFAD and PAM*), the UN’s food security hub, revealed the alarming data contained in the 2017 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report, produced for the first time in partnership with WHO and UNICEF.** After a protracted period of decline, global hunger was on the rise again in 2016, with almost 900 million people undernourished. The majority of those are children under five, and by far the most common reason for their situation is armed conflict.

The CFS session focused on food security and nutrition policy convergence. It studied the 2017 report prepared by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition on “Sustainable forestry for food security and nutrition”, and completed a detailed update of reporting from the UN’s Second International Conference on Nutrition. Mobilised to respond to the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016–2025, the Committee adopted an ambitious programme of work for 2018–2019, as well as the first periodic update of its global strategic framework, highlighting the importance of female empowerment and the right to adequate nutrition for the achievement of SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”. The CFS also elected its new President, H.E. Mr Mario Arvelo (Dominican Republic), and re-elected the members of its Bureau (Monaco was elected as an alternate member for the Europe region).

Monaco, a responsible and supportive nation, works with all international (FAO, WFP, major NGOs), national and local organisations to improve conditions for people who struggle to access food. Firmly committed in support of SDG 2, over the coming years the Principality of Monaco will strengthen the assistance it provides to countries with the worst levels of child hunger, such as Madagascar and Niger (where 50% of children are malnourished).

* FAO: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations; IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development; WFP: World Food Programme

** WHO: World Health Organisation; UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund

Autres actualités du thème

https://en.gouv.mc/Policy-Practice/Monaco-Worldwide/Public-Aid-for-Development-and-International-Cooperation/News/FAO-44th-session-of-the-Committee-on-World-Food-Security