14 January 2016: Established under the auspices of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Nutrition held its first meeting and addressed: its workplan; the focus of the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) report on nutrition and food systems; and CFS’ further involvement in nutrition.

The OEWG met on 14 January 2016, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), in Rome, Italy. The meeting addressed proposals by the Technical Task Team on the area of focus of the HLPE report and on CFS’ further involvement in nutrition.

With regard to the HLPE report, participants highlighted: interlinkages between food security and nutrition; the need to build on existing work and interlinkages with the Second International Conference on Nutrition, held in November 2014; the use of case studies; nutrition education, social protection, culture and a rights-based approach, gender, and climate change; and building relationships with the private sector.

On CFS’ further involvement in nutrition, the meeting discussed issues related to the right to food, the role of FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) in reporting, links between sharing lessons and policy convergence, and definitions.

A revised version of the proposals will be circulated to meeting participants for electronic comments. The final version on the area of focus of the HLPE report will be presented in the beginning of February to the CFS Bureau which, following discussion with the Advisory Group, will submit the request for a report to the HLPE.

The revised version of the proposal for CFS’ further involvement in nutrition will be shared in advance of the next OEWG meeting, scheduled to convene on 24 February 2016. [IISD RS Coverage of the CFS OEWG on Nutrition] [CFS Webpage]