The Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) Framework for Action zero draft
Comments from the Gender Team, Social Protection Division (ESP)
8th August, 2014
Comments on Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
Gender equality is a key factor in the achievement of food and nutrition security. We therefore propose to add the following paragraph in the section 1.1 Background to make reference to prevailing inequalities in food security and nutrition, gender inequalities in particular:
“Problems of malnutrition reflect pervasive inequalities in the access to food and awareness about nutritious diets. Women and children tend to be more vulnerable where access to food is limited. In agrarian contexts, many women are both primary producers and providers of food, but often find obstacles in accessing productive resources, services and information, thus limiting their capacity in contributing to food security and nutrition.”
Comments on Chapter 2 INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION
Gender inequalities should be addressed in the effort to enhancing governance of food and related systems to improve nutrition. In promoting consultations with partners in developing nutrition related policies and strategies, women’s adequate representation should be ensured. Therefore, we propose to add these aspects in the section 2.2 Better governance for nutrition (please see the attached draft document for proposed modifications made in the text).
Comments on Chapter 3 FROM COMMITMENT TO ACTION: POLICY AND PROGRAMME OPTIONS
3.1 Food systems
Given the role that women play throughout the food systems, special efforts are needed to strengthen their integration in the agro-food value chains. There should also be an emphasis on ensuring more sustainable and equitable food systems in the text (please see the attached draft document for proposed modifications made in the text).
The following bullet point should be added as one of the priority actions:
· Raise awareness among policy-makers and the public on the health and economic impacts of giving women equal access to productive inputs and services and the benefits of investing in the economic empowerment of women.
3.2 Social Protection
There should be an emphasis that nutrition-related interventions must be well-targeted and equitable in order to have significant results. Therefore, one of the proposed priority actions on social protection should read as follows;
· Improved targeting, using a nutrition lens to identify needs, preferences and disparities among different individuals by age and sex, households and/or communities who are most nutritionally vulnerable can increase the effectiveness and impacts of any intervention.
Comments on Chapter 4 ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS
It is suggested to include some gender-sensitive targets and indicators in the monitoring and accountability framework which will be defined through an inclusive process by June 2015 and relevant data must be disaggregated by sex and age.
The implementation of activities recommended in the Rome Declaration and the Framework for Action should be carried out by the Governments in a gender-sensitive way, taking into consideration the different needs and priorities of men and women. This should also be taken into consideration when relevant UN and other international organizations decide on ways to give appropriate priority to their nutrition-related policies, strategies, programmes and activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of the activities recommended in the Rome Declaration and the Framework for Action.
Detailed comments are inserted in the attached draft ICN2 Framework for Action document.
Gender Team