16 October 2015: Governments have agreed to combat hunger and undernutrition faced by people living in protracted crises around the world. Adopted at the 42nd session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 42), the voluntary ‘Framework for Action on Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises,’ offers guidance on tackling food security and nutrition related challenges in areas affected repeatedly by natural calamities and conflict. The Framework, the first global agreement involving all stakeholders of food aid, indicates “a marked shift” from focusing on short-term solutions to addressing long-term problems.

The Framework is comprised of 11 principles that recognize the need for coherent and integrated humanitarian and development efforts to address both the immediate and the longer-term food security and nutrition needs of people living through extended crises, which disrupt livelihoods and food systems, result in higher illness and mortality rates and increase displacement, hunger and undernutrition. It emphasizes women’s empowerment and smallholder agricultural productivity, noting that both are often neglected in crisis response. The Framework is also meant to support the achievement of development goals, especially since lengthy crises can reverse years of previously accumulated development gains, undermine livelihoods and slow progress on goals related to hunger and nutrition.

Dominique Burgeon, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Strategic Programme Leader on Resilience, stated that building resilience is a crucial element of the Framework, as resilient communities have a greater capacity to absorb, prepare for and prevent crises and long-term stresses. He underscored the need to help the most vulnerable and at-risk communities improve their food security and nutrition.

CFS 42 met in Rome, Italy from 12-15 October 2015. [UN Press Release] [FAO Press Release] [Framework for Action Website] [IISD RS Coverage of CFS 42]