Development of Voluntary Codes of Conduct on Food Loss and Waste Reduction

Global Advisory Panel for Development of Voluntary Codes of Conduct on Food Loss and Waste Reduction - Call for nominations

1.       Background

The world is facing unprecedented global challenges that affect the sustainability of global agricultural and food systems. These challenges include natural resource depletion and the adverse impacts of environmental degradation, such as desertification, drought, land and water degradation, and biodiversity loss; rapid urbanization and population growth and the associated changes in lifestyles and dietary habits; transboundary pests and diseases; and climate change.  It is widely recognized that one of the key practical actions to cope with these challenges is to reduce food losses and waste (FLW). This is particularly true when FLW is addressed using a food system approach, as it can dramatically increase the sustainable use and efficiency of natural resources and strengthen climate and food security resilience. SDG indicator 12.3 measures to what extent the world is making progress in reducing FLW as part of efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

At its 26th Session of October 2018, the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) requested FAO to take the lead, in collaboration with relevant actors, to develop voluntary codes of conduct (CoC) on the reduction of food loss and food waste for submission to the next session of COAG (COAG 27) in October 2020. In response to this request, FAO is planning to lead a global process that will engage different stakeholders including academia, public and private sectors and civil society for preparing the CoC.  A tentative timeline and key milestones set for the development of the CoC is as follows:

Presentation of the annotated outline to the COAG Bureau  (July 2019)

On-line consultation on the annotated outline of the CoC  (July-Sept 2019)

Preparation of zero draft of the CoC (Aug 2019)

Technical review of zero draft of the CoC (Sept 2019)

External consultations on zero draft of the CoC (Sept-Dec 2019)

Presentation of findings of external consultation to COAG Bureau (Jan 2020)

Preparation of 1st draft  (Feb 2020)

Technical review of 1st draft (Mar-April 2020)

Further external consultations (May-July 2020)

Refinement of document (Aug-Sept 2020)

Presentation to COAG 27 (Oct 2020)

2.       Global Advisory Panel

A Global Advisory Panel (GAP), comprising internationally recognized experts and relevant stakeholders, will be established with the objective to provide technical inputs and strategic guidance to the different phases of development of the CoC. Specific tasks will involve:

       i.    reviewing and providing comments on the preliminary versions of the CoC;

       ii.   participating in e-consultations, regional workshops and face-to-face meetings organised to discuss successive versions of the CoC.

2.1.   Expectations from GAP members

Members of the GAP would serve in an independent technical capacity and not as representatives of their respective organizations or countries of origin. They would operate in a manner that ensures the legitimacy, credibility and transparency of the process of developing the CoC and the quality of the final document, while respecting the timelines set for the process.  GAP members who are unable to fulfil their responsibilities and respect these expectations will be requested to withdraw from their position and a replacement will be identified by the IWG.

2.2.   Criteria for Selection of members of the Panel

Criteria for selection will include

     i.            knowledge of developments in the field of FLW and active involvement in FLW activities;

     ii.           level of experience in international development and FLW;

     iii.          expertise in different aspects of FLW;

     iv.          ability to commit the time required for inputs into the relevant phases of developing the CoC.

The GAP will be constituted in manner that balances representation of: the main stakeholder groups (private sector, government, academia, civil society); technical disciplines, including food losses on the one hand and food waste on the other; geographic regions; and gender.

2.3.   Duration of service

The members of the GAP will be expected to support the whole process culminating in presentation of the CoC to COAG in 2020.

2.4.   Nomination of members of the IAG

A brief CV of nominees should be submitted in Microsoft Word through e-mail to Mr. Divine Njie with copy to Ms. Silvia Gaiani by 10 July 2019. The subject line of the email should indicate: “CoC FLW Global Advisory Panel Nomination”.