Posted 5 October 1998
Country Thematic Groups
In October 1997 an Inter-Agency Task Force on Food Security and Rural Development, chaired by FAO, was created under the Resident Coordinator System. The UNDAF (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) thematic group on Food Security and Nutrition Group was later integrated with the ACC Inter-Agency Task Force and is now known as the IATF on Food Security, Nutrition and Rural Development.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Food Security, Nutrition and Rural Development in the Philippines engages representatives of a number of organizations; UNIDO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, UNESCO, WHO, IMF and the World Bank. It also brings together the Department of Agriculture and attached agencies and bureaus at the country level. In the last meeting of the Task Force on 10 July 1998, representatives of the following NGOs were also invited; ANGOC - Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, PRRM - Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and PhilDHRRA - Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas.
The Task Force has the following TOR:
The Plan of Action adopted by the World Food Summit held in Rome from 13-17 November 1996 emphasized that the main responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of the follow-up activities to the Summit lies at the country level where governments have the primary responsibility for creating an economic and political environment that assures the food security of their citizens. The importance of strong international cooperation in the effective implementation of the Plan of Action is also underlined. It is also emphasized that this will require effective coordination and cooperation within the UN System, taking into account the mandate of FAO and other relevant organizations. The priority accorded to stimulating and supporting action at the country level is one of the fundamental principles underlying the proposal for follow-up, hence, the creation of this Task Force.
The group is just starting to operate and is working towards addressing and exploring ways of improving food security at household level and to minimize impact in case of emergencies and food security instability, where the issue of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) fails. They are also closely coordinating FIVIMS' implementation with the Department of Agriculture and it's working group on Food Security, and has already designated the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the national focal point for all FIVIMS - related matters. The chair person from the Department of Agriculture's working group on Food Security and the focal point from NNC has been invited to the next IATF meeting to explore various ways on how the on-going programmes/projects of the Government and the UN System complement each other.
Specifically the IATF will:
The Task Force is currently considering six main areas for collaboration:
During the the Sixth Meeting of the IATF, 11 September 1998, a representative of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) attended the meeting and reported that a formal structure was in place within the Department to monitor and oversee the implementation of the following mitigation measures for La Nina:
The Department of Agriculture has already identified the 26 provinces most vulnerable to La Nina where assistance will be targeted.