Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency: Norway’s strategy for promoting food security in development policy

Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strategy Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Norway’s strategy for promoting food security in development policy Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency 2 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Contents Foreword by the Minister of International Development....................................................................................3 Part I: The global situation.......................................................................................................................................5 Part II: Strategy objectives. ......................................................................................................................................9 General guidelines. ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Role of women in food production. ........................................................................................................................... 14 Role of persons with disabilities. ................................................................................................................................ 15 Role of youth and young adults.................................................................................................................................. 15 Part III: Implementation.........................................................................................................................................15 Areas of focus. .................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Productivity and production loss................................................................................................................................ 16 Value chains and markets............................................................................................................................................ 18 Malnutrition and undernutrition. ............................................................................................................................... 19 Preventive action and integrated food security efforts. .......................................................................................... 21 Partners................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Part IV: Combining forces against hunger...........................................................................................................25 3 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Foreword by the Minister of International Development A little more than 100 years ago, Norwegian society This strategy is part of the Government’s effort to underwent a process of radical change. We like to call follow up the ambitions set out in the Government’s it the ‘Great Transformation’, a period when cities and political platform. We are making food itself a priority. industrial towns grew rapidly – and more and more World hunger has increased since 2014. Almost 10 % people in urban centres had to be fed. of the world’s population – some 828 million people – have too little food on a daily basis. Transport routes were developed and food producers in the countryside gained better access to markets. In In the short term, fighting hunger is a matter of agriculture, the introduction of new tools, improved humanitarian aid. In the medium term, developing livestock breeding practices and new crops allowed countries must build their own food systems. To feed production to expand. There was a shift in Norway their populations, they must be able to design and from household self-sufficiency towards a cash-based implement their own policies. They must achieve economy. Agriculture became increasingly linked with national food sovereignty. Food sovereignty in each the market economy. individual country will mean greater food security globally. This strategy brings together the full force For agriculture, the transformation brought both of Norwegian development efforts to address food growth and crisis. The breakthrough for farmers security. really came with the emergence of cooperative models at the beginning of the 20th century. Primary Furthermore, we are integrating our development industry organised itself into long value chains. As and climate efforts. Climate change is a brutal a result, Norway has farmers and food processing reality for farmers and fishers in Africa. There plants all over the country to this day. is a widespread need for investment in climate adaptation. At the same time, we know we have Farm smallholders in developing countries will face to transform the world’s food system in order to an even bigger transformation in the coming years. achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals They will have to manage a transition to green and reach the climate targets contained in the Paris business as well as increased digitalisation. They Agreement. The world’s small-scale farmers hold the will have to produce food for an ever-increasing key to sustainable food production. But they will need population. At the same time, climate change is knowledge, technology and investments – and they making it far more difficult to produce food. need access to local markets. Small-scale producers are the backbone of local An overall objective of the Government’s food security. In sub-Saharan Africa, 70–80 % of development policy is to fight hunger and increase the population works in agriculture and fishing. global food security. Our efforts are to bring benefits Small-scale producers provide about 80 % of all food to people and the environment, locally and globally. consumed in developing countries. Paradoxically, these very farmers and fishers represent the majority of chronically hungry families. Another paradox is that African countries import food for about USD 60 billion every year. The African continent has both land and people. Africa can feed Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim itself. Africa wants to feed itself. African leaders Minister of International Development have been very clear: they want to develop their own November 29th, 2022 primary industry and increase self-sufficiency. In particular, they want to create jobs in food production value chains for their large cohorts of young people: jobs in sales, processing, technology and infrastructure. Just like in Norway during the Great Transformation. The opportunities for development in Africa are enormous.

4 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency BOX 1: Phase 1: None/Minimal. Five phases of food insecurity Households are able to meet essential food and In 2004, the UN created a system to classify non-food needs without engaging in atypical and the severity of food insecurity in an area. This unsustainable strategies to access food and income. system, part of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has become the global standard Phase 2: Stressed. for classifying acute food insecurity and malnutrition.1 Households have minimally adequate food The system employs a scale with five levels, or consumption but are unable to afford some essential phases, of acute food insecurity, with each phase non-food expenditures without engaging in stress- defined by clear criteria, such as the number coping strategies. of hunger-related deaths in a population or Phase 3: Crisis. the proportion of a population that is acutely undernourished due to lack of food: Households either: – Have food consumption gaps that are reflected by high or above-usual acute malnutrition; or – Are marginally able to meet minimum food needs but only by depleting essential livelihood assets or through crisis-coping strategies. Phase 4: Emergency. Households either: – Have large food consumption gaps which are reflected in very high acute malnutrition and excess mortality; or – Are able to mitigate large food consumption gaps but only by employing emergency livelihood strategies and asset liquidation. Phase 5: Catastrophe/famine. Households have an extreme lack of food and/ or other basic needs even after full employment of coping strategies. Starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical acute malnutrition levels are evident. (For Famine Classification, an area needs to have extreme critical levels of acute malnutrition and mortality.) 1 IPC Global Partners (2021) Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Technical Manual Version 3.1: Evidence and Standards for Better Food Security and Nutrition Decisions, Rome, IPC_Technical_Manual_3_Final.pdf (ipcinfo.org)

5 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Part I: The global situation The world is facing an unprecedented hunger The causes are complex. The main causes of catastrophe. Global food security has worsened food insecurity and hunger are armed conflicts every year since 2014.2 Almost 10 % of the world’s and natural disasters and extreme weather due to population – around 828 million people – experienced climate change. On top of these factors, the COVID-19 chronic food insecurity in 20213, meaning they pandemic in 2020 and 2021 brought shutdowns and lacked enough safe, nutritious food. The World Food lower economic growth. Russia’s illegal invasion of Programme (WFP) estimates that 345 million people Ukraine in February 2022 has further exacerbated in 82 countries have been hit by acute food insecurity global food insecurity. Exports from ‘Europe’s and that 50 million people in 45 countries are on the breadbasket’ have fallen dramatically. Global fertiliser brink of famine4 (see Box 1). and seed supply chains have proved vulnerable. Food, energy, transport and fertiliser prices are volatile and far higher than before. 2 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2022) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable, Rome, FAO. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 (fao.org) 3 WHO (2022) ‘UN Report: Global Hunger Numbers Rose to as Many as 828 million in 2021: The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition report shows the world is moving backwards in efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition’. Article on the webpage of WFP on 6 July 2022, UN Report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021 (who.int) 4 Anthem, P. (2022) ‘WFP and FAO sound the alarm as global food crisis tightens its grip on hunger hotspots: Urgent humanitarian action needed as record numbers face starvation’, article on the webpage of WFP on 21 September 2022, WFP and FAO sound the alarm as global food crisis tightens its grip on hunger hotspots | World Food Programme 6 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency The vulnerabilities in global food systems have The consequences could be far-reaching and become increasingly apparent during the pandemic difficult to predict. More people will fall into poverty and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many developing because there will be fewer income opportunities. countries are dependent on foreign imports to Food shortages could lead to social unrest, in turn ensure national food security. In some countries, providing fertile ground for extremism and political food imported from richer countries is cheaper than instability. Desperation could force millions of people locally produced food, and this has led to a long- to flee. term decline in local production. This undermines The world’s population is rising. The UN expects the resilience of national food systems in many the global population to increase to about 8.5 billion developing countries. It also deprives those countries by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050. The population of of job creation and investment opportunities sub-Saharan Africa could almost double to 2.1 billion associated with farm input products and the by 2050.5 The entire food production value chain processing and sale of locally produced foodstuffs. will play a key role in creating jobs for the growing populations of developing countries. The Earth today has the potential to nourish populations of that scale,6 but only if food production becomes more effective and technology use increases throughout the value chain.

Today’s global food systems are unsustainable for people and the environment. Climate change and environmental degradation are a threat to agriculture, fishing and aquaculture. Year by year, unsustainable management of natural resources reduces the world’s capacity to produce food.7 At the same time, more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions originate from food systems, though there is large variation between countries,8 food systems and sectors. Agriculture uses 70 % of freshwater resources and accounts for 70 % of the loss of biological diversity on land.9 But food production can be part of the solution. Carbon sequestration in soil, sound grazing practices and agronomic methods that improve soil quality and health are some of the ways agriculture can benefit the climate and the environment. 5 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022) World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results, UN DESA/POP/2022/TR/NO. 3, New York, United Nations, World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results (un.org) 6 Cornell University, IFPRI and IISD (2020) ‘CERES2030: Sustainable Solutions to End Hunger Summary Report’, ceres2030_ en-summary-report.pdf (iisd.org) 7 WWF (2021) ‘Farming with Biodiversity: Towards Nature-Positive Production at Scale’, Gland, WWF International, farming-with- biodiversity_wwf-report-2021_spreads.pdf 8 IPCC (2019) Summary for Policymakers, in: ‘Climate Change and Land: An IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems, P.R. Shukla, J. Skea, E. Calvo Buendia, V. Masson-Delmotte, H.- O. Pörtner, D. C. Roberts, P. Zhai, R. Slade, S. Connors, R. van Diemen, M. Ferrat, E. Haughey, S. Luz, S. Neogi, M. Pathak, J. Petzold, J. Portugal Pereira, P. Vyas, E. Huntley, K. Kissick, M. Belkacemi, J. Malley (eds.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, SPM_Updated-Jan20.pdf (ipcc.ch) 9 Ibid. 7 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Small-scale farmers play a crucial role in food Membership of organisations boosts income. security. About two-thirds of people who experience Small-scale farmers and fishers are often not insecure food access live in rural areas and are included in technological innovation and policy smallholders, meaning they farm 2 hectares or decisions. But these food producers are one of the less.10 Such small-scale farms produce a significant groups that are most vulnerable to climate change proportion of the food consumed in developing and other natural hazards. Their lack of organisational countries. Smallholders sometimes fail to produce affiliation and bargaining power in markets is a enough to feed their own households, but if given major constraint. Membership of organisations support, training in production methods and access or cooperatives is a means of increasing income, to markets, they can often generate a surplus that improving transparency, balancing power relations can be sold for income. Smallholders often lack within food systems and creating more economic access to agronomic knowledge and basic inputs such value locally. Studies have shown that membership as fertiliser, seed, pesticides, water and irrigation in farmers’ organisations and cooperatives can have systems adapted to their needs and preferences. a positive effect on farm incomes.14 Affiliation with organisations also opens up opportunities for more We can take much more food and nourishment effective climate adaptation, competence building, from the oceans, water bodies and rivers. Fish are advisory services, credit access etc. one of the most important protein sources for people in developing countries. Aquatic food accounts for Surplus food does not always reach markets. some 23 % of animal protein consumed in developing Poorly functioning local value chains keep products countries and helps to ensure intake of essential from reaching local markets. There is insufficient nutrients and micronutrients.11 More than 775 investment in storage, cooling, processing, transport, million people depend on aquatic foods for adequate energy and other forms of infrastructure. Unreliable nutrition and well-being.12 At the global level, small- access to stable markets makes it harder and more scale fishing accounts for about half of the total catch expensive to finance enterprises that process food volume, 90–95 % of which is consumed locally in from small-scale producers. rural areas.13 The unique role of fish in food security Good animal health and animal welfare are vital. and nutrition needs more recognition. Seafood has Productivity in animal farming is directly affected by major potential as a source of key micronutrients, the infectious diseases, malnutrition and poor animal lack of which in many diets leads to hidden hunger. welfare. Animal health expertise, infection control Globally, fishing and aquaculture are dominated efforts, hygiene measures and biosecurity measures by large commercial interests, and production and are all essential to ensure a healthy and safe food sustainability are threatened by climate change supply. and overexploitation of natural resources. Many traditional, small-scale, coastal fisheries and small- scale fish farms could become more environmentally and economically sustainable if research, regulation and monitoring were strengthened (see Box 2).

10 Lowder, S.K., Skoet, J. and Raney, T. (2016) The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide, World Development 87:16-29, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.041 11 FAO (2022) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022: Towards Blue Transformation, Rome, FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (fao.org) 12 Tilley, A., Cohen, P.J., Akester, M., et al. (2021) Increasing social and ecological resilience of coastal fisheries, CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems, Program Brief: FISH-2021-24, Penang, Malaysia, 1eb440b06cf8769f21232b1a44df2fee.pdf (worldfishcenter.org) 13 FAO (2022) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022: Towards Blue Transformation, Rome, FAO, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (fao.org) 14 Cornell University, IFPRI and IISD (2020) ‘CERES2030: Sustainable Solutions to End Hunger Summary Report’, ceres2030_ en-summary-report.pdf (iisd.org) 8 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Food loss and food waste are major challenges. Traditional cooking practices shorten lives. How The UN calculates that 30–40 % of all food produced food is prepared also has an impact on health. In is lost or thrown away before it reaches consumers.15 many developing countries, traditional stoves and 16 Such loss occurs in all segments of the value chain. open fires often use wood, charcoal and dried cow In developing countries, much of it occurs early in dung as sources of energy. The smoke and soot the value chain, after the harvest or catch but before emitted can have major harmful effects on health. arrival at market. This waste has a negative impact Women and girls generally cook the food and thus on the environment, increases food insecurity and are most exposed. The overuse of biomass as represents a major financial loss for small-scale an energy source for cooking also contributes to producers whose resources are marginal deforestation and undermines ecosystem services to begin with. that are important to food production. Malnutrition and undernutrition affect children’s physical and cognitive development. A healthy diet is the basis of sound nutrition and health, but the BOX 2: trend has been going in the wrong direction. In 2020, High-level Panel for a Sustainable more than 1 billion people in Africa could not afford Ocean Economy to buy healthy food.17 Access to a sufficient quantity The High-level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean of safe and healthy food is particularly important for Economy (Ocean Panel) consists of heads of women of childbearing age and young children. From state and government from 17 countries, who the beginning of pregnancy, there is a crucial window are working together to achieve a sustainable of 1 000 days in which an adequately balanced ocean economy, and have drawn up an ocean and nutritious diet can prevent undernutrition action agenda to this end. The Ocean Panel from irreversibly impairing cognitive and physical was established at Norway’s initiative and is development. Some 22 % of all children in the world chaired by the Prime Minister of Norway and under the age of five exhibited growth stunting in the President of Palau. The Panel’s action 2021.18 Due to food prices, seasonal variation, poor agenda is based on some 20 scientific reports, infrastructure or a lack of information and knowledge such as ‘The Future of Food from the Sea’. It about proper diet, not all households have access to emphasises the important role of the oceans nutritious and healthy food. in providing enough food for a growing Dietary challenges lead to a double burden of population, increasing resilience against crises malnutrition. One challenge that is linked to the and enhancing food security. The Ocean Panel problem of poverty is that a diet based on industrially has estimated that food production from the processed foods is often cheaper than a diet based sea could be increased sixfold by 2050.19 Most on local ingredients and food traditions, but is of the increase would come from aquaculture also often less nutritious. A diet based on highly and would require research and substantial processed foods can lead to people being overweight investment. or obese and malnourished at the same time. This is called the double burden of malnutrition and is causing a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes in low- and middle-income countries.

15 UN (2022) ‘Stop food loss and waste, for the people, for the planet’, article on the webpage of the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction, 29 September 2022, Food Loss and Waste Reduction | United Nations 16 HLPE (2014) ‘Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems’, a report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome, Food losses and waste in the context of sustainable food systems (fao.org) 17 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2022) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable, Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 (fao.org) 18 Ibid. 19 Costello, C., Cao, L., Gelcich, S. et.al. (2019) ‘The Future of Food from the Sea’, World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C., The Future of Food from the Sea – WRI Ocean Panel 9 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Part II: Strategy objectives The Government has made food security and the Norway will help to ensure that no one is left behind fight against hunger a priority area in Norwegian by working to reverse the negative trends related to development policy. This strategy is an important Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 on ending part of the Government’s effort to achieve its develop- hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, ment policy objective of promoting social change by and promoting sustainable agriculture. There is a clear fighting inequality and fostering economic develop- link between this SDG and the other SDGs. ment and welfare in developing countries. Without progress towards ending hunger in the world, The strategy also reflects a desire to transform the it will be impossible to eradicate poverty (Goal 1), to large-scale food systems that today feed much of the ensure good health (Goal 3) and education for all world’s population but at the same time create major (Goal 4) or to reduce inequalities (Goal 10). At the societal challenges. It highlights the need for more same time, food production must be expanded while resilient food systems based to a greater extent on making allowances for the planet’s carrying capacity local and national production. by focusing on additional goals relating to responsible consumption and production (Goal 12), climate Our vision is to promote, within sustainable action (Goal 13), life below water (Goal 14) and life frameworks, local production of nutritious food on land (Goal 15). Climate resilience and reduced that is processed and sold locally and regionally, environmental destruction are also essential to food thus increasing the incomes of small-scale food production security. Achieving progress towards end- ­producers, stimulating local job creation through- ing hunger will also require progress on other SDGs, out the value chain, and expanding access to such as gender equality (Goal 5), clean water (Goal healthy food. 6), clean energy (Goal 7), decent work (Goal 8) and innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9).

10 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency This strategy is a key element of Norway’s efforts to Implementation of the strategy is to be in line with follow up SDG 1 on ending poverty. In developing other relevant policy documents, in particular the countries, agricultural growth is three times more following strategies and action plans: effective in reducing extreme poverty than growth • Climate change, hunger and vulnerability: in other sectors. In sub-Saharan Africa, growth in Strategy for climate change adaptation, disaster the agricultural sector can be up to 11 times more risk reduction and the fight against hunger effective in reducing extreme poverty than growth in other sectors.20 Such growth is heavily dependent on • Norway’s Humanitarian Strategy: An effective private-sector investments and functioning market and integrated approach mechanisms. • Strategy for Norway’s efforts in the Sahel region This strategy is therefore an important part of • National Action Plan on Women, Peace and ­Norway’s broad commitment to the 2030 Agenda Security for Sustainable Development. The international human rights instruments, the Paris Agreement on • Equality for all: Norway’s strategy for ­disability- climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster inclusive development Risk Reduction and the upcoming UN Biodiversity Norway’s planned new action plan on women’s rights ­Framework underpin the strategy. and gender equality in foreign and development This strategy is intended to help achieve the following: policy and the upcoming Africa strategy will also be important in this context. • an increase in local climate-resilient food production Current global food systems are not sustainable, whether in terms of social sustainability, climate • an increase in local value creation and incomes and the environment, or human, animal and plant for food producers health. This strategy supports wider global efforts • a reduction in malnutrition and undernutrition to change how our food systems work. It provides the framework for this Government’s intensified • a reduction in the scale of hunger crises efforts to transform food systems in developing countries. Norway will contribute to improved food security through targeted efforts that draw on and combine Norwegian expertise in various fields (see Box 3). 20 FAO (2016) The State of Food Insecurity 2015 | The State of Food and Agriculture 2016 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (fao.org) 11

Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Small-scale food producers are the backbone of BOX 3: local food security systems. Paradoxically, they are Knowledge Bank programmes also the group most likely to suffer from hunger and The purpose of the Knowledge Bank is to malnutrition. For this reason, Norway’s efforts will be strengthen expertise and capacity in public insti- targeted towards small-scale food producers. tutions through long-term cooperation. Several We will focus in particular on the following: Knowledge Bank programmes will be especially important for the implementation of this strategy. • Identifying the most relevant partners for Agriculture for Development will be formally different initiatives, and building effective launched as a Knowledge Bank programme early partnerships. in 2023. Norwegian public institutions are key • Supporting national plans and strategies partners in the programme, but will be joined by for sustainable development, food security other specialist communities in order to provide and development of agriculture, fisheries and a broad knowledge base to partner countries aquaculture, including UN country frameworks, involved in the collaboration. The Knowledge pan-African strategies such as the 2014 Malabo Bank will also be able to draw on the expertise of Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth, multilateral organisations, international research and national food security or food system institutes, civil society organisations, farmers’ strategies and action plans. organisations and private companies. • Promoting coordination between different Each partner country’s needs and priorities will thematic initiatives, such as by linking energy determine which sectors and focus areas are investments and food security measures if poor addressed, but initially efforts will be targeted energy access is impairing food production towards the following: efficiency and local value chains. Implementation of • Strengthening framework conditions: the strategy will also promote women’s rights and ­Drafting and enforcement of laws and regu- gender equality in line with the new action plan. lations; organisational affiliation and social dialogue; facilitating farmers’ organisations; • Strengthening preventive action and integrated establishing cooperatives and seed ownership food security efforts. In recent years, Norway rights; and structuring local, national and has worked to strengthen early warning weather regional value chains to accommodate the systems as well as other forecasting and alert interests of local food producers. systems, but there is still a need to scale up • Building competence with an emphasis on and improve the quality of such efforts and to fields related to the One Health approach, such enhance coordination between humanitarian and as climate-resilient agriculture; forecasting and development assistance. response systems for animal and plant disease • Facilitating increased cooperation with civil outbreaks and the spread of pests; integrated society and the private sector. Norway will seek plant protection; antimicrobial resistance; closer cooperation with civil society to achieve veterinary services related to food production; desired results and will also consider introducing soil, water and ecosystem health; food safety; risk-reduction measures to encourage private- and nutrition. sector investments relevant to the implementation • Enhancing the knowledge base by strength- of the strategy. Norway will also work to strengthen ening national capacity for collection, analysis the role of the above-mentioned actors in the and use of agriculture and food security data. Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Fish for Development was established in 2016 • Working to ensure that the strategy produces to share Norwegian experience and expertise concrete results. We will integrate evaluative and help developing countries make fisheries and research and outcome assessments into key ecosystems more sustainable. initiatives, document results, and adjust the Oceans for Development was established in measures being employed when relevant. 2019 with the primary objective of promoting This strategy will provide the framework for stronger, more sustainable and more inclusive Norway’s food security efforts through the UN, the ocean economies in developing countries. development banks and the global funds, as well as

12 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency for Norway’s bilateral cooperation on food security General guidelines with partner countries21 and other developing countries experiencing food security challenges. It will The Government’s development policy is based on also underpin our collaboration with the business the SDGs, the climate targets and the international sector and civil society. human rights instruments. Efforts to implement the strategy will incorporate the four cross-cutting issues Norway’s cooperation with the African Union (AU) in Norwegian development policy: is key to the strategy’s implementation. The AU is a major regional actor whose decisions play an • human rights increasingly important role in norm-setting and policy • women’s rights and gender equality development at national level, including with regard to food security and nutrition. Norway will contribute • climate change and environment to the implementation of AU-adopted strategies and • anti-corruption plans such as the Malabo Declaration. Norway will also seek to expand its dialogue on food security The strategy takes a human rights-based approach and nutrition with the AU and the AU’s development that seeks to empower rights holders to claim their agency (AUDA-NEPAD). rights and enable the authorities to uphold those rights. The Government is consolidating its food security efforts and has designated five countries in sub- Safeguarding the right to food for all people is at the Saharan Africa as priority countries: Ghana, Malawi, core of this strategy. The right to food is recognised Mozambique, South Sudan and Tanzania. in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which These priority countries have been selected because the UN adopted in 1948. In 1966, this right was they face major food security challenges and are reiterated in the International Covenant on Economic, already partner countries where Norway has Social and Cultural Rights. Parties to the Covenant extensive cooperation in fields such as agriculture are obligated to respect, promote and protect the and fisheries/aquaculture. Dialogue with the national right to food and to take appropriate steps to ensure authorities and with local and multilateral actors gradual progress towards full realisation of the right active in these countries is well established, and there to adequate food. is potential to intensify our efforts. The recognition that food is a human right means Designation as a priority country will encompass that the authorities in countries where people are expanded political dialogue and cooperation between hungry or starving have a duty to secure food for all Norway and the relevant national authorities, inhabitants. But to fulfil this duty, the countries must international organisations and local civil society have the necessary framework in place. There are organisations. Norway’s embassies in the priority a number of underlying reasons and barriers that countries will implement the strategy through prevent many countries from fulfilling the right to development assistance projects and programmes. In food. these countries, particular emphasis will be placed on Discrimination and marginalisation of vulnerable coordination of Norway’s various activities, including groups is often cited as one reason. That is why it bilateral assistance, support provided through is necessary to ensure that human rights principles the UN and development banks, cooperation with such as inclusion, non-discrimination, accountability civil society, and the use of Norwegian expertise. and participation are integrated into development Norwegian embassies in the priority countries must cooperation. Realising the right to food will require have adequate expertise in agricultural development concrete efforts to combat discriminatory laws and and/or fisheries and aquaculture development. practices that often lead to inequitable distribution. Norway will create a special diplomatic envoy position Indigenous people’s rights, women’s rights, workers’ to promote food security in Africa, which will be rights, children’s rights and the rights of persons affiliated with one of the embassies in the region. with disabilities are key considerations in the In addition to focusing on the priority countries, implementation of this strategy. Norway will work to promote food security in line with the objectives of this strategy in other countries, Women are responsible for much of the food where relevant. production for households in rural areas of

21 Prop. 1S (2022-2023) Proposition to the Storting (draft resolution) for 2023 budget year. Prop. 1 S (2022–2023) (regjeringen.no) 13 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency developing countries, especially in the agricultural Corruption undermines sustainable development. sector. In implementing this strategy, we will Norway has zero tolerance for corruption, which therefore maintain a special focus on women’s means among other things that Norway and its rights and gender equality (see next subsection). partners will assess corruption risks in each individual development project as well as the overall risk of The global climate crisis and its impacts on food corruption more generally. production are expected to be a significant contributing factor to conflicts in the years to come. The private sector is an important actor in the value Norway’s efforts will be in line with its National Action chain. Norway’s Transparency Act22 requires larger Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which contains enterprises to carry out due diligence assessments objectives relating to inclusive crisis management of the state of fundamental human rights and decent and conflict mitigation practices where local women’s working conditions in their own organisations, among networks and organisations play a key role. their business partners and throughout their supply chains.23 Safeguarding human rights and decent Climate change is posing obstacles to sustainable working conditions is essential to sustainable value development, especially in food production. creation and the achievement of many of the SDGs. Environmental degradation and reduced biological diversity also threaten food production from soil, fresh water and the oceans. At the same time, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture can have harmful effects on the climate and the environment. Much of the work to implement the strategy will be specifically climate-related. This includes efforts to adapt to a changing climate and more extreme weather events, and efforts to counter the effects of climate change. We will prioritise measures that support Norway’s target to at least triple funding for climate adaptation by 2026 compared to the 2020 level. All recipients of aid funding from Norway are required to carry out an assessment of potential environmental and climate impacts, indicate how any such impacts have been addressed, and document that food producers will be able to adapt to climatic changes such as rising temperatures and more frequent droughts and floods. We will promote and support environmentally sustainable, climate-friendly measures that make food production more resilient to climate change. 22 Transparency Act (Act relating to enterprises’ transparency and work on fundamental human rights and decent working conditions), LOV-2021-06-18-99, Lovdata, https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2021-06-18-99 23 Regjeringen.no (2021) ‘Ansvarlig Næringsliv’, article on Norwegian Government website, last updated 16 Nov. 2021, Ansvarlig næringsliv - regjeringen.no 14 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Role of women in food production The constraints limiting women’s access to productive resources and services (such as land, credit and At least 150 million more women than men other farm inputs) lead to lower production. In 2010, experienced food insecurity in 2021,24 and this gender FAO estimated that yields could be 20–30 % higher gap is increasing.25 Crises have a particularly severe if women had equal access to such resources and impact on women and girls. services. Gender equality for women smallholders Women and girls around the world face a wide could potentially reduce the number of hungry variety of gender-related challenges. Discrimination people in the world by 12–17 %.29 may be the result of cultural norms and practices – or Not all measures directed at small-scale food be embedded in laws and regulations that affect their producers will automatically benefit women. Norway access to food and their opportunity to breastfeed or will seek to ensure that women are consulted and to produce food. allowed to participate on an equal footing with men At the global level, women represent 43 % of the in the planning and implementation of projects. We agricultural workforce in developing countries – and will also work to ensure that all our partners have 50 % in sub-Saharan Africa.26 Of those employed insight into how the various measures affect both globally in fishing and aquaculture, 21 % are women, women and men. Substantiating data and reporting a proportion that rises to more than 50 % when the on gender impacts will be required. rest of the value chain is included.27 Given the lack of We will also invest in targeted measures that data on women’s participation in the food production strengthen women’s position as food producers. sector, the true figure is probably higher.28 Women play a number of key roles in the food production Breastfeeding is one of the most effective means of chain, from processing and sales to cooking and promoting health and preventing disease in children distribution in households. Nevertheless, the role and mothers alike.30 Breastfeeding is sustainable women play in the value chain is less recognised than food production that contributes to food security that of men. By increasing the focus on women, we and progress towards multiple SDGs. It is crucial to will help to improve food security and nutrition for follow WHO’s International Code of Marketing of people in rural areas of developing countries. Breast-Milk Substitutes.31 We will work to include breastfeeding information in nutritional and food security guidelines.

24 Bryan, E., Ringler, C. and Lefore, N. (2022) To Ease the World Food Crisis, Focus Resources on Women and Girls. Nature 609: 28-31. To ease the world food crisis, focus resources on women and girls (nature.com) 25 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2022) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable, Rome, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 (fao.org)https:// www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2022/en/https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2022/en/ 26 FAO (2011) The State of Food and Agriculture: Women in Agriculture: Closing the gender gap for development, Rome, i2050e.pdf (fao.org) 27 FAO (2022) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022: Towards Blue Transformation, Rome, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (fao.org) 28 Ibid. 29 Ibid., footnote 26 30 Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, Franca GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al., ‘Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect’, Lancet, 2016;387(10017):475-90. 31 World Health Organization (1981) International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, https://apps.who.int/iris/ handle/10665/40382 15 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Role of persons with disabilities Role of youth and young adults Climate change, environmental degradation and One characteristic of populations in developing reduced food security have particularly severe countries is the high proportion of young people. In impacts on persons with disabilities. Because of Africa, between 10 and 12 million young adults are physical, economic and social barriers, including ready to enter the workforce each year, while the stigma, persons with disabilities have fewer number of new jobs created annually is just over 3 opportunities than others to take part in food million.32 This means that the opportunities many production. The situation for disabled women is young people seek for the future will not be available. especially difficult. Norway will work to ensure that It is also the case that many young people do not the right of disabled persons and their households want to take up work in small-scale food production. to safe, nutritious food is fulfilled, and that all people Active efforts will be needed to make food production are able to participate in food production on an equal more attractive to young people, including basis. investment and support for job creation in the food sector, in order to make use of this valuable source of We will work with our partners to ensure the labour and promote economic growth. inclusion of persons with disabilities in Norwegian- funded programmes. Norway will work to ensure that youth and young adults are consulted and included in processes that affect them and their futures. 32 African Development Bank Group (2016) ‘Jobs for Youth in Africa: Catalyzing youth opportunity across Africa’, Abidjan, AfDBG, Job youth Africa (afdb.org) 16 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency

Part III: Implementation This strategy has four main priorities: Areas of focus • improved productivity, including reduced production loss, for small-scale food producers; Productivity and production loss • well-functioning local value chains and markets Food production must be sustainable and ­ that strengthen the position of small-scale food climate-resilient. We will: producers in the value chain and accommodate • promote production methods that are adapted to small and medium-sized enterprises; a changing climate, and that take into account the • improved access to food that is healthy, varied effects on both the climate and the environment; and safe; • prioritise support for sound agronomic and • preventive action and rapid, integrated agroecological approaches that promote soil response efforts. quality, soil health and long-term sustainable use of These priorities form the basis for determining which agricultural land; activities Norway will support in order to achieve the • strengthen advisory services as well as plant health, objectives set out in this strategy. animal health and veterinary services, with a focus on the One Health approach and on antimicrobial resistance and the use of antimicrobial agents (see Box 4); • promote innovation that helps to raise climate- resilient productivity in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture in developing countries; • contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from food production. 17 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Food loss from small-scale food production must BOX 4: be reduced. We will: One Health and the multilateral • support measures that spread knowledge, system including via digital solutions for mobile phones, The United Nations Food and Agriculture about plant and animal health and the best ways to Organization (FAO), the World Organisation treat diseases and pests; for Animal Health (WOAH), the United Nations • work with partners to ensure that advisory services Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World provide information about food loss and measures Health Organization (WHO) have entered into to minimise it; an agreement to strengthen cooperation on the • help to enhance knowledge about climate-resilient One Health approach in order to balance and production, in order to reduce food loss due to optimise human, animal and plant health in a climate change. sustainable way. These four organisations are equal partners in the One Health collaboration. The agreement provides a legal and formal Aquatic food is crucial to future food security. framework for the organisations to work in We will: a coordinated and integrated manner at the • heighten awareness at the international level of the interface between people, animals, plants and oceans as an important food source and of their ecosystems. An important aspect of their work is role in contributing to sustainable food systems to prevent antimicrobial resistance by reducing and food security; use of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics. • help enable small-scale fishers to earn a sustainable profit and to continue to combat illegal, Input factors such as seed, fertiliser, soil health unreported and unregulated fishing; and animal feed are essential to increased productivity. We will: • continue to strengthen fisheries, aquaculture and integrated ocean management in partner • take political leadership to facilitate small-scale countries, including through the Knowledge Bank’s farmers’ access to fertilisers, efficient use of Fish for Development and Oceans for Development fertilisers and knowledge of other measures to programmes; improve soil health; • help to ensure that resource management is based • strengthen public-private cooperation, including on updated knowledge, for example through the with the involvement of multilateral partners that FAO’s Nansen Programme and the High-level Panel help to improve access to input factors relevant to for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (see Boxes 2 and the farmers’ various needs; 3); • strengthen local seed systems and promote • strengthen Norway’s efforts to improve small- seed variety development so that small-scale scale aquaculture and related value chains by farmers gain wider access to high-quality seeds, increasing cooperation with and the involvement of and strengthen farmers’ rights for example by Norwegian businesses and specialist communities. continuing the Norwegian initiative on smallholders’ access to the seed system presented at the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021; In our efforts in this area, Norway will promote • make the Svalbard Global Seed Vault a central the rights and opportunities of women small- component in Norway’s efforts to enhance global scale food producers. Among other things, we will food security; support changes in the business and regulatory • help to improve plant breeding, livestock breeding framework as it relates to women and their access to and genetic diversity management in small-scale key resources, with a special focus on input factors, production in order to increase knowledge of and financing and applicable technology. access to a greater diversity of climate-resilient Norway will continue to support knowledge varieties and species; development. Among other things, we will support • strengthen efforts to reduce health and research at universities and research institutions environmental risks linked to the use of chemical in partner countries and through the International pesticides, in part by emphasising the importance Consortium of Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR). of integrated plant protection and alternative methods.

18 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Value chains and markets Membership of cooperatives and organisation as producer-owned businesses can help to increase Norway will work to strengthen participation by income, market stability and economic growth. small-scale producers in the food value chain. We will: We will: • support the development of organisations for • help to increase knowledge about and access to small-scale producers such as farmers’ and technology and processing systems; fishers’ organisations or cooperatives and group • seek to facilitate effective financing arrangements purchasing networks, within the framework for small and medium-sized enterprises whose of national legislation. The Agriculture for harvests and catches contribute to local and Development programme is particularly relevant in regional economic growth; this context. • facilitate innovation and financing that encourages • support and contribute to efforts to establish local job creation related to small-scale food women-led cooperatives or farmers’ and fishers’ production and processing; organisations. • support measures to improve information flow • promote social dialogue that encourages between segments of the value chain; facilitate participation, co-determination and business food market development through digital tools that and regulatory practices beneficial to small- convey basic market information; and organise scale producers. This is an important part of an producer collaborations and cooperatives that effective human rights-based approach. Farmers’ increase the profit potential of food producers; organisations, for example, can serve both as the • help to strengthen the market position of small- voice of farmers in dialogue with authorities and scale producers in the face of unscrupulous donors and as a disseminator of knowledge among commercial practices and other challenges; farmers about suitable cultivation methods and • facilitate renewable energy use in the value chains other agricultural issues. in order to boost climate resilience; • participate in other initiatives that help to reduce the climate and environmental footprint of local food value chains. Value chains in the context of this strategy Framework conditions DISTRIBUTION INPUT FACTORS FOOD PRODUCTION VALUE CREATION AND MARKETS R i g h t s Membership of organisations 19 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Farmers are self-employed, so private investment BOX 5: in agriculture is crucial to food security. We will: Norfund’s agriculture investments • seek to ensure that development assistance is used as a catalyst to mobilise private capital; Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for • strengthen instruments that facilitate business developing countries, invests in food production development and targeted efforts through and agriculture, among other sectors. Successful risk-reduction measures to increase sustainable agriculture investment helps to combat poverty commercial investments in the food sector, by creating jobs, boosting incomes, promoting including through Norfund (see Box 5); climate change adaptation and enhancing food security. Agriculture is a demanding sector • facilitate the use of Norwegian agriculture, fisheries where risk is high and financial returns are often and aquaculture technology and expertise in local limited. There is therefore a great need for more food production and processing where appropriate risk capital than is available in the market. and if there is an interest in this at the local level; • encourage more effective public-private By investing directly in companies that cooperation, including by supporting a public- produce and process food, Norfund helps to private partnership for soil mapping in developing increase production efficiency and ease access countries on open access digital platforms to to local and/or export markets. Combining promote more efficient fertiliser selection, better a partner company’s own production with soil health and regenerative agriculture. contract cultivation by smallholders often leads to more secure market access. In recent years, Norfund has increased investments in companies that create markets for small-scale farmers and fish farmers. Norfund also reaches smaller companies through fund investments. Local fund managers have closer contact with smallholders than Norfund itself is able to have. They can also provide loans to small-scale farmers. This enables the farmers to invest in anything from new tools and seed varieties to artificial fertilisers and irrigation systems, thereby increasing their productivity and making production more climate-resilient. Through its ownership stakes and its lending to banks and microfinance institutions, Norfund helps to promote the development of agriculture- oriented loan products.

20 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Malnutrition and undernutrition Women play a key role in ensuring good nutrition for young children and the rest of the household. It is important to increase knowledge about Women can break the pattern of malnutrition that is varied and nutritionally appropriate food often passed down through generations. Although production. This is in line with the Rome Declaration the main problem in developing countries is a lack on Nutrition33 and the UN’s Decade of Action on of sufficient and nutritious food, the challenge Nutrition.34 Norway will contribute to these efforts, increasingly has more to do with unhealthy for example through local advisory services. Ensuring diets. We will therefore work to ensure that our that small-scale producers can produce enough safe partners include information on breastfeeding and and healthy food will enhance household nutrition nutritionally appropriate food in their activities. and the availability of more nutritious food in markets. Social safety nets are important to improve nutrition among the most vulnerable groups. Increased consumption of aquatic food will Norway will strengthen social safety nets such as contribute to improved nutrition and food security nutritional measures targeting children, including in general.35 We will work actively to increase children with disabilities. We will also continue to consumption of locally caught and produced aquatic support locally produced school meal programmes food, in part through Norway’s leadership role in (see Box 6). School meal programmes receiving the Global Action Network for Sustainable Food from Norwegian support are also to provide information the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and and education about a healthy diet. In addition, social Nutrition. safety net measures can help to create local demand Increased food safety is important to improve for varied and healthy food products. nutrition. There is a pressing need to establish and update food safety regulations in developing countries. Norway will use instruments such as the Agriculture for Development programme to promote stricter regulations and stronger national food safety agencies. 33 FAO og WHO (2014) Second international conference on nutrition, Rome, 19-21 November 2024, Conference outcome document: Rome Declaration on nutrition, FAO. ml542e.pdf (fao.org) 34 Decade of Action on Nutrition | (un.org) 35 HLPE (2014) ‘Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition’, a report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome.

21 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Children and adults with disabilities and other Nutrition requires cross-sectoral approaches. marginalised people are particularly affected by Food security and safety; human, animal and food insecurity. Moreover, inadequate access to plant health; gender equality and education are all sufficient and healthy food can lead to malnutrition important in enhancing nutrition. We will therefore and potentially to growth stunting and other strengthen coordination between our efforts to impairments. Our efforts to combat malnutrition and combat malnutrition and undernutrition on the one undernutrition should be designed to ensure the hand and our work to promote global health and inclusion of these groups. We will also try to reduce better national health systems on the other. stunting among children by continuing to support Harmful air pollution from cooking must be the development of national nutrition plans. reduced. We will continue to support measures to replace the use of highly polluting traditional ovens and open fires for cooking. We will view measures in this area in conjunction with our health and renewable energy efforts. BOX 6: Social safety nets Social safety nets are schemes designed to help improve living conditions and reduce economic and social vulnerability. They are essential instruments in long-term development and poverty-reduction strategies and are also vital in preventive and early-stage action and crisis response. In the food security context, social safety nets have a role to play in food production and nutrition as well as in wider, integrated efforts. Numerous studies show that social safety nets can enhance food access, food stability and food consumption. Cash payments are an element of some social safety nets, and studies show that such payments can be effective in combating hunger and food insecurity.36 37 School meal programmes are a form of social safety net that is particularly valuable to poor and vulnerable children and families. Such programmes improve outcomes related to children’s learning, nutrition and health:38 • When children receive a regular nutritious meal at school, it helps to prevent malnutrition and undernu- trition. • School meals result in greater school participation and in more children starting and continuing school. This is particularly important for girls, who are often the first to be taken out of school. Better nutrition can also lead to better learning outcomes. • School meals help to maintain stability and enhance resilience during and after crises, and are particu- larly important for girls and for children with disabilities.39 The pandemic showed how dependent many children are on the food they receive at school. When schools shut down, children lost out on more than tuition and adult supervision. Many of them also lost their only meal of the day. • School meal programmes serving locally produced food provide local food producers with a steady market for their products, resulting in stable income, more investment and higher productivity. Such ­programmes also promote nutrition, education and better eating habits while encouraging more ­diversified food production with an emphasis on local crops that are more climate-resilient.

36 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2022) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing food and agricultural policies to make healthy diets more affordable, Rome, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 (fao.org) 37 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2018) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018: Building climate resilience for food security and nutrition, Rome, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018 (fao.org) 38 Aurino, E., Gelli, A., Adamba, C., Osei-Akoto, I. og Alderman, H. (2020) Food for Thought? Experimental Evidence on the Learning Impacts of a Large-Scale School Feeding Program. Journal of Human Resources. Food for thought? Experimental Evidence on the Learning Impacts of a Large-Scale School Feeding Program (uwpress.org) 39 ECW (2022) ‘Achieving Results: A New Way of Working’, Strategic Plan 2023-2026, New York, f_ecw1016_strategic_report.pdf (educationcannotwait.org) 22 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Preventive action and integrated food BOX 7: security efforts Integrated efforts Food security is affected by the political and Food assistance and measures to combat environmental situation. Much of the work hunger account for a considerable part of described in this strategy will take place in countries Norwegian humanitarian assistance. Much of that are especially at risk – countries affected by this support is channelled through the World both conflict and climate change, such as South Food Programme (WFP), which increasingly Sudan, or particularly vulnerable to climate change, views humanitarian food assistance in such as Malawi. We will therefore adapt the use of conjunction with country-level preventive action instruments and choice of partners to the context. and resilience-building measures and seeks to Better coherence between humanitarian action purchase food commodities and food from local and long-term assistance is needed. Norway will producers. In 2021, WFP purchased 117 000 increase coherence in its own efforts and actively tonnes of food and food commodities from promote coordination internationally. Norway small-scale farmers in 27 countries – three times will also push for better interaction between UN as much as in 2019. organisations and the multilateral development Since 2014, WFP has collaborated with banks to achieve synergies between humanitarian authorities, businesses, academia and local response and long-term development efforts. organisations on a comprehensive resilience- While humanitarian action is intended to save building programme for 2 000 villages in lives and alleviate suffering in accordance with the Niger. The programme reaches 1.8 million humanitarian principles, long-term development food-insecure people. This is leading to better and peace efforts address the fundamental causes utilisation of agricultural land, composting, of conflict and vulnerability and are therefore forecasting services, climate adaptation and a crucial factor in reducing humanitarian needs local market access, and increased food over time (see Box 7). Humanitarian efforts must production and livelihoods. In 2022, when Niger do more, where possible, to support long-term was hit by the largest hunger crisis in decades, food production and local suppliers. 80 % of villages participating in the programme got through it without humanitarian assistance, contrasting starkly with villages in the same areas that did not participate. About 500 000 people in Niger avoided a hunger crisis in 2022 thanks to this programme.

We will increase synergies across various instruments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is consolidating the formal responsibility for Norway’s cooperation with the UN’s three main food security organisations – FAO, IFAD and WFP – under the Minister of International Development. This will facilitate even better coordination and synergy in the field of food security. Quick decisions and coordination with humanitarian efforts are essential. When dealing with humanitarian hunger crises, it is important to be able to quickly implement measures to promote food security in the long term. Examples include the provision of appropriate seed, animal feed, veterinary services etc. so that local food production can continue and reduce the scale of future humanitarian crises. 23 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency To this end, funds allocated to the food security In developing countries, the value chain consists budget have been set aside for food security- mostly of small and medium-sized local companies. related measures in connection with humanitarian Development cooperation that incorporates the responses. The Ministry will decide on the allocation private sector can help to improve the framework for of these funds, which will be managed by the food production and food sales. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Norway’s diplomatic missions play an important (Norad). role in promoting policy and dialogue with national The ability to anticipate hunger crises and act authorities and multilateral organisations. The early is crucial. Most hunger crises have clear missions also have contact with local civil society warning signs, and much can be achieved through representatives, farmers’ and fishers’ organisations, preventive and early-stage action. Norway will help cooperatives, businesses and academic institutions. to prevent hunger catastrophes and hunger crises Norwegian embassies will play a major role in by strengthening early warning and early action implementing the strategy and helping to achieve mechanisms. results on the ground in Norway’s designated priority countries and in other partner countries where Prevention, preparedness and early response are Norway is working to promote food security. crucial to reducing the consequences of hunger crises. Weather forecasting systems can be used to Through its cooperation with multilateral partners, develop scenario analysis methods and other ways of Norway is part of a global community that can work predicting future crises and their possible effects. together to implement a common, concerted effort. The UN and the development banks are knowledge centres that contribute to policy development and Partners maintain close dialogue with national authorities. UN organisations also play a key role in maintaining Civil society organisations often work directly important global norms and standards. The most with food producers and are therefore a key important organisations that deal primarily with channel for providing assistance to the producers. food security are the three UN organisations based In many cases, they can serve as implementing in Rome: FAO, IFAD and WFP (see Box 8). The World partners for multilateral organisations and are able Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations to reach people in areas that other actors cannot. Development Fund (UNDP) and the United Nations Norway provides support to both Norwegian and Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are other UN organisations international civil society organisations. Several that address nutrition and food security issues within have a presence or sister organisations in countries their mandates. identified by Norway as partner countries and/ The multilateral development banks are responsible or priority countries, and some have separate for much of the collective international effort on food agreements with Norwegian diplomatic missions. security in developing countries. The World Bank’s Farmers’ organisations and fishers’ organisations fund for the poorest countries (the International play several important roles. They are interest groups Development Association) supports regional and that represent small-scale producers in dealings with country-specific agricultural projects, social safety public authorities and other actors while providing nets and other projects that affect food security. On producers with business and technical advice as well the African continent, the African Development Bank as bargaining power. Producer organisations and and organisations under the aegis of the African cooperatives play a key role in strengthening the Union (AU) are important partners. position of their members in the value chain. Norway also supports major efforts through its The private sector plays an instrumental role in the contributions to a number of global funds, such as food production value chains. Private companies the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Agriculture supply the input factors that food producers need and Food Security Program under the World Bank and are involved in the processing and marketing (GAFSP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). of their goods. While the suppliers of inputs such as seed, pesticides, fertilisers, animal feed, vaccines and various kinds of infrastructure are often large international companies, the chain down to the producer level may consist of national or local actors.

24 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency The public sector in developing countries is of BOX 8: central importance. Public authorities create the UN food organisations headquartered business and regulatory framework for the food in Rome sector and decide on other political issues as well. FAO – the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Through the Knowledge Bank (see Box 3), Norwegian – works to improve nutrition, increase public institutions and expert groups offer to share productivity and sustainability in agriculture their knowledge and experience with public partners and fisheries, raise the standard of living in in the countries Norway works with. rural areas and boost global economic growth. Academic and research institutions in Norway and in FAO’s primary activity is to establish norms by developing countries are generating new knowledge developing guidelines and standards for all of relevance to the implementation of this strategy. countries of the world and helping countries to As part of its aid efforts, Norway has maintained implement knowledge-based national policies. partnership programmes between Norwegian and The organisation has about 125 country offices foreign universities, including agricultural universities, and implements programmes in cooperation for more than 50 years. CGIAR and other key with national food security authorities. FAO also agricultural research institutions contribute to the plays a role in humanitarian situations, assisting knowledge base that underpins policy development with seed, fodder or other necessities to keep in food security, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. food production going when war or natural CGIAR research centres have branches in several disasters strike. countries and contribute to the development and IFAD – the International Fund for Agricultural dissemination of scientific breakthroughs and Development – helps to improve food security, innovations. nutrition and incomes for rural people in low- and middle-income countries. IFAD provides both lending and donor assistance to national authorities to carry out agricultural development projects. The organisation has a clear focus on the poorest and most vulnerable countries and populations. WFP – the World Food Programme – seeks to save lives and change lives by providing food assistance and helping local communities and national authorities to build capacity to improve resilience. WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. Its mandate covers both humanitarian action and long-term development. About 80 % of WFP’s resources go towards humanitarian responses, while 20 % is spent on building resilience and addressing the underlying causes of hunger. CFS – the UN Committee on World Food Security – is a key policy development forum and meeting place for representatives of civil society, business and industry, multilateral organisations and research institutions. The CFS, whose secretariat is hosted by FAO, develops voluntary policy guidelines in areas such as the right to food, land rights, agricultural systems, fisheries management and sustainable food systems. 25 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency Part IV: Combining forces against hunger This strategy sets out the Government’s priorities in The Government will: the effort to promote food security in the context of Norwegian development policy. Norway alone • Take a leading role internationally to promote cannot bring an end to hunger, but we will target our food security, and increase national food self- efforts towards areas where we have advantages and sufficiency and national food sovereignty, while can help to ensure that more people have sufficient enhancing the role of small-scale producers in access to safe, healthy food. The strategy’s key action strengthening sustainable food systems. In our points are listed below. multilateral engagement, we will draw international political attention to the issue of food security, mobilise resources, and promote the strategy’s objectives.

• Focus on small-scale food producers. We will encourage farm smallholders, small-scale fishers and aquatic food producers to become members of organisations or cooperatives, and improve their access to the input factors and technology needed to cope with climate change. We will also seek to strengthen value chains serving local markets. 26 Combining forces against hunger – a policy to improve food self-sufficiency • Promote climate-resilient food production, • Support the development of digital solutions including nature-based solutions for carbon and relevant technology. We will, among other capture and sequestration. Small-scale farmers, things, seek to improve the quality and accessibility fishers and aquatic food producers must have of systems for weather forecasting and analyses access to knowledge about climate adaptation, relating to markets, soil, and animal and plant genetic resources and technology so that they can health. continue food production despite changing climatic conditions. • Strengthen social safety nets. We will promote increased use of cash transfers and support • Take a human rights-based approach. We will programmes for locally produced school meals that work to enable rights holders to claim their rights improve nutrition. and the authorities to uphold those rights, including the right to food. • Prevent hunger crises. We will strengthen early warning mechanisms. We will promote innovative • Strengthen the position of women as food financing models such as forecast-based financing producers and participants elsewhere in the and insurance. Such approaches can ensure value chains and food systems. We will require timely and predictable payouts to small-scale food our partners to give adequate consideration to producers in the event of damage from extreme gender equality, and to report on the effects of the weather or other causes. measures implemented under the strategy on both women and men. • Consolidate food security efforts. Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we will consolidate • Have a global perspective but target efforts responsibility for cooperation with all UN food towards sub-Saharan Africa. We will focus on security organisations, by assigning formal the designated priority countries, Ghana, Malawi, responsibility for cooperation with the World Food Mozambique, South Sudan and Tanzania, and Programme (WFP) to the Minister of International strengthen expertise on food security in Africa and Development. at our embassies in these five countries. We will intensify political dialogue with the governments, • Strengthen rapid, integrated food security the UN and the development banks in these priority efforts. We will facilitate effective coordination of countries. In implementing the strategy, we will also humanitarian action and long-term development attach importance to other partner countries facing assistance. We will set aside funds so that we can food insecurity. respond rapidly and in an integrated manner to avert forecasted hunger crises. We will encourage • Enhance value creation and business humanitarian actors to support long-term food development. We will strengthen local value chains, production and local suppliers wherever possible. so that any surplus produced can be sold in local markets. We will facilitate private investment that • Maintain dialogue on implementation of would otherwise not occur due to high risk, making the strategy with civil society, farmers’ use of instruments such as Norfund’s agricultural and fishers’ organisations, business and investments, Norad’s grant programmes and the industry, and academia. The Minister of development banks’ risk-reducing measures. International Development has set up a dedicated dialogue forum for regular discussions about • Cooperate more systematically with civil society implementation of the strategy and related topics. and with farmers’ and fishers’ organisations. We will set aside funds to enable Norwegian and • Strengthen cooperation between ministries. international civil society organisations to follow up We will regularly bring together the relevant the objectives set out in the strategy. ministries to discuss implementation of this strategy, with a view to ensuring coordination • Bring together Norwegian expertise that is in between Norwegian intergovernmental demand. Under the Agriculture for Development cooperation and development policy. programme, we will work to improve business and regulatory frameworks, develop expertise and strengthen the knowledge base in selected countries. The Fish for Development programme and other relevant Knowledge Bank programmes will also be important in this context.

27 Translated from the Norwegian: Kraftsamling mot svolt – ein politikk for auka sjølvforsyning Noregs strategi for matsikkerheit i utviklingspolitikken Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional copies may be ordered from: Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation publikasjoner.dep.no Telephone: + 47 22 24 00 00 Publications are also available on: www.government.no Publication number: E-1014 E Design: Miksmaster Creative – www.miksmaster.no Print: Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation 01/2023 – Impression 300