Cooperation among cities from the Global South contributes to food security and local economic development
Current collaboration projects proved to be crucial towards sustainable local economic development and to build sustainable food systems that ensure food security for all
Praia, Cabo Verde, 18 October 2017 – Representatives of cities and local governments across the world highlighted the benefits of cooperation between local and regional governments to promote economic development and build sustainable food systems, during an interactive panel organized by FAO within the 4th World Forum of Local Economic Development that is taking place this week in Praia City, Cabo Verde.
“Decentralized cooperation offers a lot in terms of the approach and the methodology on how to stimulate local economic development and enhance food security. For instance, promoting integrated, multi-sectoral, and multi-generational initiatives, such as school feeding programmes or urban agriculture is fundamental to ensure food security for all”, declared Maria Bottiglieri, member of the Mayor’s Cabinet, in charge of International Cooperation at the Municipality of Torino (Italy).
The need for sustainable food systems
The number of chronically undernourished people in the world is estimated to have increased to 815 million in 2016, after a prolonged decline since 2003. Climate change and conflicts are put forward as main reasons for this reversal of trends. The increasing inequalities within and across territories are major hurdles to economic and social development and to build resilience against climate change. At the same time, global and local food systems have failed to provide nutritious food for all in a sustainable manner.
As a consequence, there is an increasing need to direct food systems towards sustainability while at the same time addressing territorial inequalities. Local and regional governments have major roles to play in this respect as solutions should be adapted to local conditions. Cities are therefore key to improve food security and nutrition, and foster economic development and inequality reduction.
In this regard, 159 cities have already signed the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP), which was launched during the EXPO 2015 in Milan (Italy) with the aim of championing sustainable food systems and promoting healthy diets in cities and their connected rural areas.
“We are in times when central governments are increasingly acknowledging the crucial importance of sustainable food systems. The New Urban Agenda signed last year is a clear example of it. Moreover, the local governments alike have started to prioritize planning for sustainable food systems, given that its achievement is a basic need for this and future generations’’ emphasized Jorge Fonseca, Nutrition and Food System Officer of FAO.
Sustainable food systems are inclusive and climate resilient. They include all actors, actions, institutions involved in production and food supply chain, as well as non-food sectors, such as packaging and transport. “Dialogue across different levels of government –local, subnational, national- is therefore critical for solid urban-rural food interventions”, added Fonseca.
The role of local and regional governments
The panelists of the interactive session moderated by Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative to Cabo Verde, discussed effective policies and regulations to enhance the role of local and regional governments in the quest for sustainable food systems.
Maria Cecilia Vasquez Rojas, Director at the Prefecture of the Province of Azuay (Ecuador), shared the example of a law passed by her provincial government in Ecuador to ensure the right to a healthy diet for all kids from 0 to 6 years old. “This legal instrument, that works as a local food bank, collects food from local citizens to distribute it to people in need” underlined Vasquez Rojas.
Oscar Humberto Evora Santos, Mayor of Praia, Cabo Verde, noted that local and regional governments should work with all local actors, including producers. He stressed that coordination with other levels of government, including national level, as well as the engagement of the private sector and the technical assistance provided by international organizations are key elements supporting municipalities’ efforts to enhance the access to safe and nutritious food to all citizens.
Geneviève Barat, Vice President, Region Nouvelle Acquitaine (France), showcased their Regional programme to source 60% of food from local sources. “It is very important to develop agricultural markets with new models of distribution. Agriculture needs to be linked to promotion of quality as well as provision of locally sourced products. Therefore, educating consumers is very important in this sense because it also contributes to local employment and to the promotion of cooperative organization of farmers”.
Successful cooperation
Cooperation between local and regional governments is a critical means to spark innovation and speed up the transition towards sustainable food systems, as Douala, Dakar and Praia Municipalities are experiencing with the South - South Cooperation project on Micro-gardening facilitated by FAO.
“FAO is ready to work alongside local governments to promote sustainable food system transition”, concluded Rémi Nono Womdim, highlighting the potential of South-South and Triangular Cooperation promoting knowledge sharing and generating news tools, practices and partnerships to better address food security and nutrition issues at local level.
Contact
Antonio Palazuelos Prieto
Communication Specialist FAO Cabo Verde