The Thematic Group is integral to the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security.
As of January 2002, 70 national Thematic Groups have been established and 13 national Thematic Groups are in their initial stages of development in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Near East. Efforts are now underway to promote the establishment of such Thematic Groups in Central and Eastern Europe.
A Thematic Group is group of interested development partners working at the country level on priority areas to meet the specific needs, conditions and circumstances of that particular country.
The Thematic Group provides an effective framework to discuss, plan and implement collaborative activities in rural development and food security and enhance the efforts of national governments to implement the commitments in the World Food Summit Plan of Action. As the Thematic Group is strengthened, it should become a major channel for inter-agency decision-making processes in rural development and food security.
Although the specific objectives of national Thematic Groups vary depending on country-specific priorities and work programmes, the Thematic Group should seek to achieve two broad objectives: to promote new projects, activities and investments in rural development and food security and enhance coordination at the national levels; and to share relevant information, knowledge and expertise.
There is no single way to establish a Thematic Group. Thematic Groups emerge and evolve to respond to national circumstances and a variety of ways are used for their establishment.
When the ACC Network was newly established, new Thematic Groups were set up in Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Guinea, Pakistan and Chile. But in some countries, Thematic Groups have replaced the national committees and groups that emerged in 1996-97 before and after the World Food Summit. In Peru and China, for example, the terms of reference of these existing food security groups have been widened to reflect expanded focus. In some cases, Thematic Groups are established within the Network in countries with several already existing groups involved in issues related to rural development and food security. In some countries, like Bangladesh, existing groups have been expanded. In others, like Madagascar, they are forming local networks to bring together all the relevant groups.
Setting up Thematic Groups at the national level is the first step called for by the ACC Network. The second and more vital step is the operationalization of these Groups aimed at fostering cooperation and partnerships between the various stakeholders in specific areas related to rural development and food security. Thematic Groups emerge in response to differing national situations.
A Thematic Group typically includes the participation of representatives of UN agencies, national governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and the private sector.
Most Thematic Groups are facilitated by the FAO or UNDP Representative in the country.
The Terms of Reference for Thematic Groups vary to respond to the specific development challenges, opportunities and constraints of a particular country.
Thematic Groups chose a wide range of themes related to rural development and food security, including nutrition, poverty alleviation, gender and development, the impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture, emergency preparedness and response, agricultural rehabilitation, strengthening productive capacities, technology transfer, natural resources and the environment.
In some cases, Thematic Groups establish smaller ad hoc groups or task forces to focus on a specific theme or area of interest.
Thematic Groups exchange, share and disseminate information and best practices; coordinate UN activities; promote policies; develop strategies; help in the design and implementation of common projects; support the government in national policy formulation and implementation; and encourage and mobilize investments in the rural development sector.
Activities range from the development of national food security strategies, country nutrition profiles, participatory needs' assessment, and information systems to the design and implementation of rural development programmes.
Thematic Groups are increasingly creating strong linkages with FAO and UN initiatives: from supporting activities related to the Special Programme on Food Security (SPFS) to involvement in Telefood and the development of national Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS).