Innovative funding needed for food problems

Food problems in the Horn of Africa can be overcome if donors show more long-term commitment and introduce innovative funding, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says. FAO made the statement in Rome on 22 March, at the start of a two-day donor meeting, attended by other UN agencies and international organisations. The FAO, which hosted the meeting, is participating in an inter-agency task force initiative launched by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan a year ago to eliminate food insecurity in the Horn of Africa. The initiative came as the region was hit by chronic drought, requiring massive international intervention. “Both multilateral and bilateral donors need to pledge long-term funding in support of national efforts to end famine and food insecurity at a level that is commensurate with the scale of the problem,” the UN inter-agency task force said. It also called for governments in the region to assume full responsibility for eliminating food insecurity by ensuring good governance, health and education services, and democracy. Each government would need to formulate a Country Food Security Programme (CFSP), building on the recommendations of the World Food Summit Follow-up Strategies, as well as existing national food security initiatives and Poverty Reduction Strategies, FAO said.