HLPF 2018: Building resilience

2018 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
Thematic review
Building resilience

Joint statement by FAO, WFP, IFAD
Randall Purcell, Senior Advisor for the 2030 Agenda, World Food Programme

our Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Rome-based Food Agencies are taking a common approach to strengthening the resilience of rural poor, vulnerable and food insecure people’s livelihoods and production systems. The emphasis is on supporting the capacities of people and institutions − notably government systems, national and local institutions and farmers’ organizations – which are too poor and weak to offset or buffer the impacts of shocks and stressors.

Going beyond simply taking a common approach, FAO IFAD and WFP are collaborating to integrate, layer and sequence our interventions so we target the same people, in the same place and often at the same time for greater transformative impact.

Our actions are guided by key operational principles which are worth highlighting in this forum:

First, and foremost, we are respecting and promoting local and national ownership and leadership: People, communities and governments must lead resilience-building for improved food security and nutrition.

Second, we are taking a multi-stakeholder approach: Assisting vulnerable people to build their resilience is beyond the capacity of any single institution. Covering the various dimensions of resilience building and reaching scale in a cohesive manner requires integrated multi-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Third, we are combining humanitarian relief and development efforts: Planning frameworks should combine immediate relief requirements with long-term development objectives. Humanitarian responses and development initiatives are largely applied linearly – the former during a crisis or shock, and the latter once conditions have stabilized. Resilience-building, however, is a continuous and long-term effort that addresses the underlying cases of vulnerability while building the capacity of people and governments to better manage risks in the future.

Fourth, we are focusing on the most vulnerable people: Ensuring protection of the most vulnerable people is crucial for sustaining development efforts. The poorest, most vulnerable and food insecure people in the world typically have no access to social protection or safety nets. By providing a safeguard in the event of shocks, safety nets can be a vital tool to protect and build livelihoods, while assisting those most in need.

Fifth, we are mainstreaming risk-sensitive approaches: Effective risk management requires an explicit focus in the decision making of national governments, as well as enhanced monitoring and analysis. Countries require early warning systems that automatically trigger flexible response mechanisms at the appropriate scale when predetermined thresholds are exceeded.

And lastly, we are aiming for sustained impact: Interventions must be evidence based and focused on results. Resilience building programming needs to be evaluated for its medium- and long-term impacts on food and nutrition security in the face of recurrent shocks and chronic stressors.

Thank you.