Posted June 2001

Country Thematic Groups

The recently created Group represents a support mechanism to the government in its initiatives in food security. The Government has recently formed the Committee on National Food Security (Comité National Sécurité Alimentaire - CNSA) which aims to coordinate and harmonize the various multi-sectorial programmes and strategies related to food security in the country; develop a National Food Security Programme; follow World Food Summit commitments and prepare Niger's contribution to World Food Summit: Five Years Later (WFS: fyl) and convene a Sectoral Round Table on Food Security (2001); and follow up and implement recommendations made by the Round Table.

The Thematic Group plays a central supportive role to this new entity. The Coordinator of the Thematic Group, the FAO Representative, is also a Vice President of the CNSA. The comprehensive National Food Security Programme being prepared by the Committee will reflect political will of the Niger's insitutions and present the main reference point for action based on short, medium and long-term objectives. The ACC Network Thematic Group is currently collecting existing documents and compiling an inventory of past activities and projects to be included in the Draft Programme which will be presented at the Round Table. It is hoped that he Thematic Group will also assist the Government of Niger in implementing the National Food Security Programme itself.

For further information, contact: FAO-NER@field.fao.org