Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

A global thematic event (GTE) will be organized during the October 2022 Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to share experiences and good practices in the use and application of the CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) endorsed in 2014.

The CFS-RAI are a framework to guide the actions of all stakeholders engaged in agriculture and food systems by defining principles that can promote much needed responsible investment, enhance livelihoods, and mitigate risks to food security and nutrition. The objective of the Principles is to contribute to the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security. The Principles aim to be universally applicable, acknowledging the particular role and needs of smallholders and other stakeholders worldwide in addressing food security and nutrition, and considering all sectors and stages of agriculture and food systems.

The implementation of the CFS-RAI is primarily the responsibility of States who are encouraged, with the contribution of all stakeholders, to apply them in developing their strategies, policies, programmes and legislation for achieving food security and nutrition objectives. The CFS-RAI seek to mobilize high-level political commitment and promote coordinated multi-stakeholder processes, including the review of progress and sharing of lessons learned.

The global thematic event will enable an interactive multi-stakeholder dialogue that aims to share experiences and good practices, in the use and application of the CFS-RAI. In particular, the event seeks to:

• foster the adoption, adaptation and scaling up of good practices and learning from experiences in implementing the CFS-RAI;
• monitor progress (qualitatively and quantitatively) in implementing the CFS-RAI at national, regional and global levels;
• draw lessons to improve the relevance and effectiveness of the CFS-RAI;
• increase awareness and understanding of CFS and its products.

CFS has consistently encouraged stakeholders to voluntarily share their experiences and good practices in applying CFS policy products through reporting individual (direct) experiences by one group of stakeholders or through reporting the results of multi-stakeholder consultations or events  (organized to discuss experiences) by several groups of stakeholders [1]. To inform the global thematic event on the CFS-RAI, CFS invites you to share your experiences by completing one or several of the two following submission forms: 

1. the form for reporting “individual” experiences in applying the CFS-RAI by one group of stakeholders (e.g. a member state, civil society, or the private sector); 
2. the form (for organizers of events) to share the results of multi-stakeholder events organized at national, regional and global levels to discuss experiences and good practices in applying the CFS-RAI.

You are invited to complete any of the two forms most appropriate to your experience, and/or to submit multiple forms, respectively, in case you have had multiple experiences. In identifying and documenting good practices, please consider the values promoted by CFS, as applicable:  

• Inclusiveness and participation:  all relevant actors were involved and participated in the decision-making process, including those affected by the decisions;
• Evidence-based analysis: the effectiveness of the practice in contributing to the objectives of the CFS-RAI was analyzed on the basis of independent evidence;
• Environmental, economic and social sustainability: the practice contributed to achieving its objectives, without compromising the ability of addressing future needs;
• Gender equality: the practice promoted equal rights and participation of women and men and addressed gender inequalities;
• Focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized people and groups: the practice benefitted the most vulnerable and marginalized people and groups;
• Multi-sectoral approach: all main relevant sectors were consulted and involved in the implementation of the CFS-RAI;
• Resilience of livelihoods: the practice contributed to building resilient livelihoods of households and communities to shocks and crises, including those related to climate change.

The input received will contribute to monitoring progress on the use and application of the CFS-RAI and will be compiled into a document made available for delegates at CFS 50 in October 2022. Following a panel discussion that will take place during CFS 50, a draft conclusion of the session will be submitted to CFS members for agreement.

[1] Terms of Reference to Share Experiences and Good Practices in Applying CFS Decisions and Recommendations through Organizing Events at National, Regional and Global Levels (CFS 2016/43/7).