Highlights and images for 9 October 2017

44th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 44)

Summary

On Monday, 9 October, Chair Amira Gornass (Sudan) opened the 44th plenary session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 44) drawing attention to its theme “Making a Difference for Food Security and Nutrition.” The first day focused on CFS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the morning, participants discussed the 2017 Report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2017). In a video message, UN Secretary‐General António Guterres underlined the importance of investing in food security in the face of rising hunger. CFS Chair Gornass stressed that conflicts create long-lasting consequences on food security and nutrition, economic growth and development. FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva called on CFS to step up its guidance on nutrition. IFAD President Gilbert Houngbo said rural transformation is a precondition for the sustained impact of policies. WFP Executive Director David Beasley called on donors to work more cooperatively and efficiently. UN Assistant‐Secretary‐General Fabrizio Hochschild stressed improved collaboration within the UN system to create meaningful linkages with humanitarian aid. In his keynote address, Ghana’s former President John Agyekum Kufuor discussed the need to sustainably increase food production for a growing global population under increasingly severe impacts of climate change. He urged UN organizations, researchers, philanthropic organizations and civil society to collaborate in advancing global and national governance.

In the afternoon, the plenary considered lessons learned from the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, based on the review of voluntary national reports (VNRs) presented to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2017. In the evening, participants discussed the outcomes of HLPF 2017 and its review of the implementation of SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture), and how CFS can contribute to future sessions of the HLPF.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates from CFS 44. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary report of CFS 44 which is available in HTML and PDF.

Opening Session: CFS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) ©FAO

Amira Gornass (Sudan), Chair of the CFS44 ©FAO

Gilbert F. Houngbo, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) ©FAO

David Beasley, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP) ©FAO

Marco Sanchez Cantillo, Deputy Director, Agricultural Development Economics Division, FAO ©FAO

John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of Ghana ©FAO

L-R: John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of Ghana; David Beasley, Executive Director, WFP; José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO; Amira Gornass (Sudan), CFS Chair ©FAO

Lessons learned from Implementing the 2030 Agenda

Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UN DESA), moderated the session. ©FAO

Opening Session: CFS and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Lessons learned from Implementing the 2030 Agenda

Around the Venue