INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND
FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

  • THE GROUP…

Achievement of Food Security has been a major goal of the development since India gained independence. Despite tremendous increase in agricultural production, reaching self- sufficiency in food, food security and nutrition at the household level is still a goal to be achieved. Based on the most recent estimates, about 204.4 million people are suffering from malnutrition in India out of approximately 800 million people in the developing world. So, in order to endeavour towards the eradication of malnutrition, the UN Inter- Agency Working Group on Food Security and Nutrition (FS & N) was established in 1995. In May 2000, the name of the IAWG was changed to "Inter Agency Working Group on Rural Development and Food Security & Nutrition". However, the focus of the group’s work plan is mainly nutrition as it is central to the efforts of all UN agencies and essential to all efforts towards developing human resources.  

  • ITS MANDATE…

  • To promote the continued work of various governmental and non- governmental agencies in improving food security and nutritional status, including micro- nutrient deficiencies.
  • To bring the gender dimension in to FS&N, focussing on the continued access for women to food at all times; (the nutritional status of women and the girl child is closely linked to gender-based discrimination and inequality).
  • To facilitate community based development programmes where FS & N is an integral part.
  • To strengthen UN collaboration with NGOs, community agencies, Government and local private sector in the area of FS & N.
  • To share information between the UN agencies in the area of Food and Nutrition Security.
  • To concentrate on supporting state level collaborative groups and panchayati raj institutions to address issues of food security and micronutrient malnutrition.
  • ITS COMMITMENT…
  • Towards assisting Government of India in improving food security and implement the National Plan of Action.
  • Towards the principles and strategies that were articulated in the World Declaration and Plan of Action at the International Conference on Nutrition in 1992 and World Food Summit in 1996.

  • ITS COMPOSITION…

Partner organisations of this IAWG are WFP (present chair), FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIFEM, WHO and World Bank.

  • ITS ANNUAL WORKPLAN (2003)…
  • UN Common Position Paper on Nutrition

          1. Create platform for discussion to minimise malnutrition.

          2. Information sharing on status of nutrition in India.

          3. Sharing information on intervention of individual UN agencies and World Bank in overcoming the

              intractable malnutrition problem in India.

  • To collect gender disaggregated data on Nutrition.
  • Assisting the Food and Nutrition problems in the State of Orissa following the super cyclone of 1999 to ensure nutritional surveillance through increased collaboration among the UN agencies.
  • Assist the initiative "Food Security and Vulnerability Information and Mapping systems (FIVIMS)".
  • Smooth and efficient coordination of Inter Agency at National and State level to ensure National, State and District level status, data, information collection and documentation to address disaster preparedness.
  • Build / enhance information sharing and technical expertise on Food Security and Nutrition resource bringing IAWG members with Multilaterals, Bilaterals and NGO.

  • ITS ONGOING ACTIVITIES…

  • The immediate focus on the IAWG is to launch the UN Common Position Paper on Nutrition within UN internally.
  • The work on the development of FIVIMS in India is in progress.
  • This IAWG played an important role in the UN Disaster Management Team (DMT) in assessing Food and Nutrition problems in the state of Orissa after the super cyclone. WFP assessed the scope of Food and Nutrition Insecurity. FAO studied the extent of damage the agriculture sector suffered due to the cyclone. These reports when ready would serve as guidelines for this IAWG for further action in medium and long-term rehabilitation programmes.
  • In accordance with its plan of playing an active role in the implementation of FIVIMS, the collection of disaggregated data on nutrition by gender has already begun.
  • The need for further cooperation between FAO- FIVIMS with WFP-VAM, IAWG on Database and IAWG on Food Security and Nutrition has been felt. Efforts in the same direction would be soon taken up.

Coordinator

Satya Ranjan Mishra : smisra@unicef.org