CFS/2001/5

Table of Contents

I. Background

II. Preparatory process

III. Participation

IV. World Food Summit: five years later - plenary meetings

V. World Food Summit: five years later -interactive Round Tables

V.1. Themes for discussion at the Round Tables

V.2. Organization of the Round Tables

VI. Schedule of meetings of the World Food Summit: five years later

VII. Debates and related arrangements at plenary meetings

VIII. Intergovernmental organizations

IX. Non-governmental organizations

X. Other arrangements

I. Background

1. At its Hundred and Nineteenth session, in November 2000, the Council supported the principle, the objective and the general orientation of the Director-General's proposal to use the Thirty-first session of the FAO Conference as a forum for a review of progress in the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action, five years after the Summit. Accordingly, it endorsed the Director-General's proposal to include this item on the Provisional Agenda of the Thirty-first session of the Conference and to invite Members of the United Nations, or of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that had been invited to the World Food Summit, to attend the Conference for this purpose. The Council also agreed to the Director-General's proposal to invite Heads of State or Government to head their delegations to the Conference for this purpose. Furthermore, the Council noted that the Committee on World Food Security would consider, at its Twenty-seventh session, the substantive content and format of the debate on the basis of the Secretariat's proposals, and would transmit its recommendations to the Council in its report. The Council affirmed the importance of ensuring that the process not reopen debate on any part of the Rome Declaration and World Food Summit Plan of Action, and that the focus be on the constraints to implementing the objectives outlined in the WFS Plan of Action, including the ways and means of harnessing resources to achieve the Summit's goals.

2. This document outlines the specific arrangements proposed for the segment of the Conference which would constitute the World Food Summit: five years later, for review by the Committee on World Food Security. When drawing up the proposed arrangements for this event of a unique and exceptional nature, the Director-General examined in detail the arrangements adopted at the United Nations for the organization of the Millenium Summit of the United Nations, which was held from 6 to 8 September 2000, as an integral part of the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Due consideration was also paid to the organizational arrangements adopted subsequently, on the basis of that experience, for a further special session of the General Assembly in 2001. It is considered that the arrangements approved by the United Nations General Assembly for such exceptional events are particularly relevant to the World Food Summit: five years later and, consequently, the present document draws extensively on this experience.

3. The arrangements set out in this document, following review by the Committee on World Food Security, would be included as a supplement to document CL 120/11 - Sup 1 entitled "Arrangements for the Thirty-first session of the FAO Conference", a standard document to be considered by the Council at its Hundred and Twentieth session. Document CL 120/11 as reviewed by the Committee, would be referred to the Council for approval.

4. The World Food Summit: five years later would comprise part of the normal plenary meetings foreseen in the Conference schedule. In addition, Round Table sessions could be held concurrently with the plenary meetings, thus responding to the proposal put forward by the Council, at its Hundred and Nineteenth session, that the discussion should include a more interactive debate rather than be limited to the presentation of statements by delegations.

II. Preparatory process

5. In line with the suggestion made at the November 2000 session of the FAO Council, it is proposed that the process for the preparation of the World Food Summit: five year later be innovative. It is also proposed that it should reflect the importance of ensuring active civil society participation. To this effect, it is envisaged that the process could comprise a series of steps during the forthcoming months.

6. To allow world leaders to outline the measures they envisage in order to achieve the World Food Summit goals and to take the decisions necessary to accelerate the rate of implementation of measures needed, two background documents have been prepared by the Secretariat. One document addresses the issue of "Fostering the Political Will to Fight Hunger" to achieve the goals set at the World Food Summit. A second document deals with the issue of "Mobilizing Resources to Fight Hunger" from both domestic and international sources to translate the commitments into action. The Committee is requested to provide its views on these documents, which will be revised under the Secretariat's responsibility after the June Council for submission as background documents to the WFS: fyl.

7. It is proposed that, after the session of the Committee on World Food Security, the Bureau of the Committee could, in consultation with the Secretariat and taking into account the Committee's views, prepare the elements of a concise draft resolution, recalling the commitments of the World Food Summit and indicating the concrete measures to be taken to foster the political will and mobilize the relevant resources to fight hunger. These elements would be referred for further review to the June Council. Subsequently, discussions would take place at the November session of the Council with a view to reaching agreement on the text of the resolution to be submitted to the World Food Summit: five years later.

8. Starting late June, two High Level Panels are planned with extra-budgetary financing, as an additional contribution to the preparatory process, to review, in particular, the two major inter-related issues which would be addressed by the World Food Summit: five years later. The first panel, tentatively scheduled for the end of June 2001, would review the issue of Mobilizing Resources to Fight Hunger. It would consist of high-level representatives of international financial institutions and organizations dealing with development assistance. It would aim at considering the magnitude of resources needed and proposing the mechanisms for their mobilization. The second panel, tentatively scheduled for the end of September 2001, would consist of some former Heads of State and Government and address the issue of Political Will to Fight Hunger. While the reports of the panels would only reflect the position of the participants, the conclusions and recommendations of the panellists would be made available, in the form of background documentation, to the countries participating in the World Food Summit: five years later, as a contribution to the inter-governmental process. In this context, it is stressed that the composition of the panels would reflect a balanced geographical distribution.

9. Shortly before, or at the time of the World Food Summit: five years later, it is expected that several meetings would be organized, involving in particular civil society organizations, to provide further contributions to the intergovernmental process. The meetings envisaged would include; (i) an inter-parliamentary meeting to be organized in cooperation with the Italian Parliament and the Inter Parliamentary Union; (ii) a forum of non-governmental organizations organized by a consortium of Italian NGOs and (iii) a consultation with representatives from several national industry associations.

III. Participation

10. In keeping with the decision of the Hundred and Nineteenth session of the FAO Council, Members of FAO and States which, while not Member Nations of FAO, are Members of the United Nations, or of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, have been invited to participate in the World Food Summit: five years later. A total of 193 countries and the European Community have thus been invited.

IV. World Food Summit: five years later - plenary meetings

11. The plenary meetings of the Thirty-first session of the Conference would constitute a forum for a review of progress in the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action at the highest political level. An item on this issue has been included on the Provisional Agenda for the Conference (item 5).

12. Because of the unique nature of the World Food Summit: five years later segment of the Conference, special arrangements would need to be considered regarding the chairmanship. Consideration should be given to the possibility of inviting a Head of State or Government, to chair the proceedings. Taking due account of the experience of the World Food Summit, it is also proposed that the Chairperson be assisted by six Vice-Chairpersons.

V. World Food Summit: five years later -interactive Round Tables

V.1. Themes for discussion at the Round Tables

13. The World Food Summit: five years later could include a series of Round Table sessions. The Round Tables would aim to address two themes covered in the background documentation and of major relevance to the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action: "Fostering the political will to fight hunger" and "Mobilizing resources to fight hunger". Specific topics related to each of the themes could be addressed by the Round Tables:

Fostering the political will to fight hunger

1. Translating commitments into action: putting policies and programmes in place;
2. The economic, social and political cost of not eradicating hunger: the dimensions of food security;
3. First things first: the place of food security in poverty reduction strategies;

Mobilizing resources to fight hunger

1. Resource needs for food security;
2. Resource mobilization for food security: domestic and external assistance, lending;
3. Ensuring efficient resource allocation for food security: short-term measures, long-term investments with focus on agriculture.

V.2. Organization of the Round Tables

14. It is proposed that two Round Tables, one on each theme, be held so that the largest possible number of countries would be able to participate in the inter-active meetings. Considering that three topics are proposed for each theme, a total of six Round Table meetings could be held, of a duration of three hours each.

15. It is proposed that the number of countries participating in each Round Table meeting be 65. In this connection, it should be noted that this figure corresponds to approximately one third of the total number of countries being invited to the World Food Summit: five years later. This would allow each participating country to attend two Round Table meetings (one on each theme). This figure is also close to that adopted for the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and is the same as that being proposed for the Round Tables of the special session of the General Assembly in 2001. This should also be compatible with the seating capacity of FAO meeting facilities.

16. Furthermore, it is proposed that the composition of each Round Table meeting be subject to the principle of equitable geographical distribution. Consideration could be given to adopting as a basis the regional distribution criteria used to establish membership of the FAO Council.

17. It is proposed that each of the six Round Table meetings be chaired by a Head of State or a Head of Government who would be expected to be present during the full three hour duration. The chairing of each of the Round Table meetings, as well as the participation of countries in each meeting, would be determined through consultation among the regional groups.

18. Each representative participating in a Round Table meeting could be accompanied by one adviser. The Round Tables would be closed to the media and to the public.

19. For arrangements regarding the chairmanship and the actual composition of the Round Tables to be completed in a timely manner, the information concerning chairpersons and attendees should be communicated to the Secretariat by 1 October 2001.

20. It is proposed that no verbatim records be made of the Round Table discussions. In line with the approach taken at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, arrangements could be made, as appropriate, for the oral presentation by the Chairpersons of the Round Table meetings of summaries of the proceedings to the plenary meeting of the World Food Summit: five years later.

VI. Schedule of meetings¹ of the World Food Summit: five years later

21. The schedule of the plenary meetings of the World Food Summit: five years later would be as follows:

• Monday, 5 November 2001, from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.30 to 20.30
• Tuesday, 6 November 2001, from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 20.30
• Wednesday, 7 November 2001, from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 20.30
• Thursday, 8 November 2001, from 9.30 to 12.30 and from 14.30 to 20.30
• Friday, 9 November 2001, from 9.30 to 12.30

22. The schedule of the meetings of the Round Tables would be as follows:

Political Will, Topic 1 - Translating commitments into action: putting policies and programmes in place
Morning meeting - Tuesday 6 November 2001 from 9.30 to 12.30
Resources, Topic 1 - Resource needs for food security
Morning meeting - Tuesday, 6 November 2001 from 9.30 to 12.30
Political Will, Topic 2 - The economic, social and political cost of not eradicating hunger: the dimensions of food security
Afternoon meeting - Tuesday 6 November 2001 from 14.30 to 17.30
Resources, Topic 2 - Resource mobilization for food security: domestic and external assistance, lending
Afternoon meeting - Tuesday, 6 November 2001 from 14.30 to 17.30
Political Will, Topic 3 - First things first: the place of food security in poverty reduction strategies
Morning meeting - Wednesday 7 November 2001 from 9.30 to 12.30
Resources, Topic 3 - Ensuring efficient resource allocation for food security: short-term measures, long-term investments with focus on agriculture
Morning meeting - Wednesday, 7 November 2001 from 9.30 to 12.30

23. Given that the various meetings of the World Food Summit: five years later, and the normal meetings of the Thirty-first session of the Conference, would be held concurrently, a timetable appended to this document provides an overview of the meetings that would be taking place simultaneously. Attention is drawn to the information contained in this timetable, which would enable country participants to schedule their attendance at the various meetings.

VII. Debates and related arrangements at plenary meetings

24. Due to the limited availability of speaking time, and taking into account the large number of participants who would wish to address plenary meetings, it is proposed that the speaking arrangements used during the World Food Summit in 1996 be applied. Thus, Heads of State or Government would be accorded priority and granted no more than seven minutes speaking time, with an average of 25 speaking slots for each three-hour plenary meeting. Furthermore, based on the experience gained during the World Food Summit, there might be merit in scheduling evening meetings of plenary to ensure extensive participation and also enable speakers to plan their travel to Rome as conveniently as possible.

25. The above arrangements would not preclude the distribution of more extensive texts by the speakers. Such texts would need to be handed over in sufficient quantities in the language of intervention and, if possible, other FAO languages, to the Secretariat for distribution.

26. For the establishment of the list of speakers it is proposed to follow the practice of the United Nations General Assembly, which was also adopted for the Millennium Summit of the United Nations. Heads of State would be accorded first priority, followed by Vice Presidents, Crown Princes/Princesses, Heads of Government (including the President of the European Commission), Ministers, Permanent Representatives and Observers. In the event that the level of a statement were to be subsequently changed, the speaker would be moved to the next available speaking slot in the appropriate category.

27. It is suggested that, depending on the availability of time, representatives of intergovernmental organizations could also address the plenary meetings of the World Food Summit: five years later. Each statement would be of a duration of no more than 4 minutes.

28. Consideration could be given to repeating the World Food Summit experience of giving representatives of non-governmental organizations the possibility of participating in the event. Thus, non-governmental organizations would be encouraged to form caucuses and to designate ten representatives to sit as observers at the plenary meetings. The selected non-governmental organizations would be set out in a list presented to the plenary of the World Food Summit: five years later, for approval on a non-objection basis. Each of the ten representatives of non-governmental organizations would be allowed to make an oral statement of no more than 4 minutes duration to the plenary meeting.

29. The World Food Summit: five years later at its plenary meetings would consider and adopt a declaration of commitment, as well as other relevant documents, as deemed necessary. The declaration of commitment would take the form of a resolution, which would be made public and appended to the report of the Thirty-first session of the FAO Conference.

VIII. Intergovernmental organizations

30. It is proposed to invite to the World Food Summit: five years later, the United Nations, including its programmes, funds and autonomous subsidiary bodies, its Specialized Agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system that have formal relations with FAO, to participate in an observer capacity in the plenary meetings.

IX. Non-governmental organizations

31. Arrangements for attendance of observers from non-governmental organizations would follow the precedent established for the World Food Summit in 1996. 32. Non-governmental organizations with formal relations with FAO, would be invited in line with usual arrangements for the Thirty-first Session of the Conference. In addition, in keeping with the arrangements made for the World Food Summit, other non-governmental and civil society organizations (NGOs/CSOs) may be accredited provided that they meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Knowledge of, and experience in, areas related to food security and agricultural development, including food production, processing, distribution, marketing, trading, storage, consumption and humanitarian assistance;
2. Experience in policy advocacy and public information related to food and agricultural development issues;
3. Normative and/or operational cooperation with FAO in areas of work related to food security and agricultural development.

32. For practical reasons, in inviting representatives of the organizations, preference might need to be given to those organizations that meet most of the above criteria; that participated in the 1996 World Food Summit and its follow-up; that participated in the 2000 FAO-NGO-CSO Regional Consultations and are representatives of major FAO constituencies, in particular food producers and consumers. National NGOs/CSOs meeting any of these criteria could be accredited to the World Food Summit: five years later, either as part of an accredited international non-governmental organization, or as part of the respective official government delegation. Invited NGOs/CSOs would need to be well-established or bona-fide organizations in their respective countries. They would also need to be prepared to provide a copy of the legal documents establishing the organization and any other information considered appropriate.

X. Other arrangements

33. Arrangements would be made for Heads of State and Heads of Government to address press conferences on a regional or sub-regional basis. In addition, specific contacts of Heads of State and Government with journalists will be facilitated.

34. Arrangements would also be made for a press conference at the concluding plenary meeting of the World Food Summit: five years later.

35. Appropriate arrangements would also be made for the participation of Palestine and the Sovereign Order of Malta in the World Food Summit: five years later.

1 As a general rule, for any plenary or round table meeting, in the absence of a designated Chairperson or Vice- Chairperson, as appropriate, the highest ranking official of the concerned delegation would take over.