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On Thursday morning, plenary attended special events on youth and resilience.
Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network, moderated the special event on developing the knowledge, skills and talent of youth to further food security and nutrition. The event aimed to raise awareness of the challenges and lessons learned in building the capacity of youth in agriculture and food systems. Panelists included: Luz Mery Benavides Orrillo, International Movement of the Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth; Jaime Albarillo Manalo IV, Philippine Rice Research Institute; and Hlamalani Ngwenya, Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services.
Discussion focused on ways to make agriculture attractive and remunerative. Benavides Orrillo highlighted their work on developing and strengthening local-level organization through community programmes. Manalo presented the Infomediary Campaign, which engages schools to serve as a nucleus for youth engagement in agriculture, by reaching out to high school students who facilitate access to information for their communities. Ngwenya underscored government policies in South Africa that aim to coordinate skills development, including the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) systems. Participants discussed a wide range of issues, including: incentivizing youth to pursue careers in agriculture; addressing what drives youth away from agriculture; and lack of access to land.
Willem Olthof, EU delegation to the Holy See, the Order of Malta and UN Organizations in Rome, moderated the special event on resilience building for sustainable food security and nutrition. Amb. Josephine Gaita (Kenya) described policies and initiatives to build community resilience in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. Mariam al Jaajaa, the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, outlined requirements for international and civil society organizations promoting resilience for food security and nutrition, including a holistic approach linked to human rights. Cesarie Kantarama, East African Farmers Federation Board, presented successful experiences regarding cassava production, which led to improved income and processing facilities, and establishment of a cooperative. Adolfo Brizzi, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), drew attention to the work of the three Rome-based agencies on resilience. Carlo Azzarri, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), said resilience embraces the capacity to address environmental and economic shocks, natural disasters and political instability.
In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, among other issues: measuring resilience; addressing root causes of protracted crisis; and measures to build the resilience of smallholders to climate change shocks.
In the afternoon, the closing plenary: elected the new Bureau, including Amb. Amira Daoud Hassan Gornass (Sudan) to be the new CFS Chair; expressed their appreciation to outgoing Chair Verburg; adopted the report of the meeting; and noted CFS 43 will be held from 17-22 October 2016, in Rome. In her closing remarks, outgoing Chair Verburg described her dream that one day the entire UN system will adopt the CFS multi-stakeholder model of inclusive engagement, partnership and trust, to address the world’s most pressing problems. She then gaveled the meeting to a close at 6:00 pm sharp, and offered the gavel to incoming CFS Chair Hassan Gornass.
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» CFS 42
