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RPCA restricted meeting 2021

RPCA restricted meeting 2021

RPCA restricted meeting

From 08/04/21 to 09/04/21 - Virtual event

For the second consecutive year, the region must prepare for a major food and nutrition crisis in 2021. The March update indicates that 27.1 million people might need emergency food and nutrition assistance in June-August 2021, if appropriate measures are not taken. Via videoconference, some 200 RPCA members examined the final results of the 2020-21 agro-pastoral campaign and validated key findings of the Cadre harmonisé analysis on the food and nutrition situation. They also discussed the theme for the 37th RPCA annual meeting and the third PREGEC Charter evaluation, as well as preparatory work underway for the United Nations Food Systems Summit scheduled for September. The 37th RPCA annual meeting will be held on 6-7 December 2021 with the general theme, “Women, conflict and food and nutrition issues.”

Summary

Agro-pastoral situation

The 2020-21 agro-pastoral campaign was good overall, despite disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some localised dry spots and flooding. Total cereal production reached 74.3 million tonnes, up by 9% compared to the five-year average and up by 0.6% compared to the previous campaign. The average per capita production (175 kg) increased by 1% compared to the five-year average. However, cereal production is down by 8% in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea compared to the previous campaign. Tuber production, estimated at 194.9 million tonnes, increased by 11.6% compared to the five-year average. For pastoralists, there is enough pasture and water, but access to these resources continues to be severely limited in many conflict-affected areas. Similarly, public health measures related to COVID-19 continue to disrupt, and even block, cross-border migratory movements, affecting the livelihoods of livestock farmers and others in the pastoral economy. Nearly 57 000 livestock farmers with some 1.5 million cattle were blocked in January 2021.

Food and nutrition situation

For the second consecutive year, the region is facing an unprecedented food and nutrition crisis. The Cadre harmonisé analysis indicates that 19.6 million people, including 9.2 million in Nigeria, currently require urgent food and nutrition assistance. By June-August 2021, the number of acutely-food insecure people may reach 27.1 million people, including 12.8 million in Nigeria, if appropriate measures are not taken. An additional 51 million people are currently “under pressure” (phase 2) and could fall into a crisis situation. This number may reach 67 million during the lean season. In 2020, more than 1.5 million malnourished children aged 6-59 months were admitted to recovery health centres. The overall nutritional situation could deteriorate further in 2021 as the security crisis persists, causing health centres and schools to close and depriving children of school meals.

Resilience

During the Senior Experts Group of the Global Alliance for Resilience (SEG-AGIR), members discussed Mali’s progress in strengthening the resilience of vulnerable populations as well as best practices. The SEG/AGIR members recall governments and all stakeholders to make more structural, long-term investments to build resilience among the most vulnerable. This is the best option to tackle the root causes of hunger and malnutrition and thus break the vicious circle of recurrent food crises.

Civil Society Oversight Committees

Members took stock of progress made in establishing Civil Society Oversight Committees to apply the PREGEC Charter principles. Since 2019, two Civil Society Oversight Committees have been set up in Burkina Faso and Mali. Their objective is to strengthen knowledge of the PREGEC Charter principles, commitments and to hold public authorities and technical and financial partners accountable for their commitments made under the Charter.

The third evaluation will focus on the theme of “Effectiveness of social protection and regional solidarity mechanisms in response to the structural causes of food and nutrition crises”.

 

FNS governance

The Government of Burkina Faso presented initial findings from the self-assessments of its leadership capacity in food and nutrition security governance. The pilot experience of Burkina Faso has confirmed that the analytical tool for assessing leadership in the governance of food and nutrition security is useful in helping countries to pinpoint their weaknesses and identify possible corrective measures. Participants congratulate Burkina Faso and urge other countries to accelerate their self-assessment exercises so they can share their experiences. Find out more

PREGEC - innovation

The debate also focused on challenges related to the adapting the data collection tools to crisis situations. The participants reiterate the need for effective gender mainstreaming in this on-going innovation process.