Applying the VGs: Capacity Strengthening Challenges

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Applying the VGs Capacity Strengthening
Challenges

• Margret Vidar
• Human Rights Adviser
• Right to Food Unit
• FAO

SCN 33rd Session Joint Meeting of WG/NEHR and
WG/CDFN Geneva, 15 March 2006
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Overview

• Progress and Plans in Applying Right to Food
  Guidelines
• Lessons Learnt re. Capacity Challenge
• Training Agenda HQ, Regional, National Workshops

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Voluntary Guidelines

• Adopted by FAO Council Nov. 2004
• Human Rights Based Practical Tool
• Guidance to States Wishing to Implement Right to
  Food Obligations
• Advocacy Accountability Tool
• But
• Complex Issues
• Little Understanding of Right to Food
• Great Need for Strengthening Capacity

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Recent Forthcoming FAO Products

• Voluntary Guidelines (Published)
• Flyer on Right to Food
• Comic Book for Young People
• Briefs on Use of VGs
• Guide on Monitoring Right to Food
• Compilation of Information Papers
• Case Studies from 5 Countries
• How to Undertake RtF Assessment

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FAO Right to Food Programme 2006-8

• Mainstream Right to Food in FAO
• Normative Activities Research
• Public Awareness Raising
• National Capacity Development
• Training Support

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Right to Food Unit

• Senior Officer (Right to Food)
• Human Rights Adviser
• Training Specialist
• Communication Specialist
• Economist
• Legal Officer

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Lessons Learnt

• Very Limited Understanding of RtF
• Among FAO Staff
• Among Delegates to FAO
• In Ministries
• Within Pool of Consultants
• Distinguish Political Will from Implementation
  Capacity
• Uganda, Sierra Leone
• Danger of Raising Expectations

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Tailoring Capacity Development

• Different Stakeholders, Different Needs
• Examples
• Brazil CONSEA Officials Public Ministry
  Prosecutors
• Assessing Public Policies
• Responding to Right to Food Violations
• FAO HQ Technical Staff
• Integrating Human Rights Principles into
  Programmes
• Using the Voluntary Guidelines in Technical Work
• Integrating Right to Food into Policy Advice

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Training Agenda UN

• Within FAO
• SCN Members
• UNDG Members
• Partnership w/OHCHR
• HQ Level Rome, Geneva, New York
• Regional Level
• Sub-Regional Level
• National Level UN Country Teams

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Training Agenda National Actors

• Limited Number of Countries
• Link UN and Government Training
• Link Training to Specific Tasks, such as
• Formulation of Right to Food Strategy
• Food or Nutrition Policy Review
• Framework Law
• Institutional Development
• Monitoring Systems

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Training Tools

• Short Presentations
• 2 Day Workshops
• Interactive Learning on Web and CD
• Manuals
• Material for School University Curricula

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Long Term Aims

• Adapt Food Nutrition Security Development Work
  to Right to Food in UN System, Bilaterals,
  NGOs
• Voluntary Guidelines Applied by Countries
• Right to Food Better Implemented in Countries
• Speed up Achievement of MDGs WFS Hunger Goals

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Relevance to SCN and SCN Members

• Participate in Training Activities
• Advocate Within Agency for VGs
• Advocate Within Agency for Participation of Food
  Security and Nutrition Personnel in Training
• Help Shape Capacity Strengthening Agenda
• Please Contact Us
• Margret.Vidar_at_fao.org
• Righttofood_at_fao.org

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Thank you
www.fao.org/righttofood Righttofood_at_fao.org