ONU Bienvenue aux Nations Unies. C'est votre monde.

Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC)
Working Group 3- All food systems are sustainable
Terms of Reference

TOR – Consultation process
Jointly agreed by the Co-Chairs: 3 December 2014
Circulated to WG participants: 3 December 2014
Circulated to ZHC Global Focal Points: 9 December 2014
Shared with HLTF Senior Steering Group for information: 10 December 2014

Background

In June 2012, United Nations Secretary-General, who is also chairman of the High Level Task Force on Global Food Security (HLTF), launched a ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ (ZHC). ZHC is the UN Secretary General’s vision for the elimination of hunger that is ‘no person would go hungry within our lifetimes’. The underlying five elements of ZHC are: (1) Zero stunted children less than 2 years; (2) 100% access to adequate food all year round; (3) All food systems are sustainable; (4) 100% increase in smallholder productivity and income; and (5) Zero loss or waste of food. Subsequently five working groups (WGs) were established, one of which is WG3 focusing on the above element 3, i.e. ‘all food systems are sustainable’.

Purpose

The purpose of WG3 is to develop a common position among HLTF entities on sustainable food systems (SFS) that will achieve the ZHC vision.

Scope

The scope of WG3 is as follows: for achieving zero hunger agree on a shared working definition of SFS; develop key metrics to monitor progress of sustainability of food system; identify key policy measures for creating enabling environment for SFS; and develop relevant and action-able messages on SFS for private sector, farmer organizations, civil society, consumers groups, NGOs etc.

Membership

Participation by HLTF entities in the WG3 is voluntary. However, all HLTF entities are strongly encouraged to consider engagement so that the five elements of the ZHC are addressed by the whole of the HLTF. The three co-chairs of WG3 are: FAO, UNCTAD and World Bank. Taking into consideration the work already undertaken by FAO and UNEP in the development of the 10YFP Sustainable Food Systems Program (SFSP) to be formally launched at Expo Milan in May 2015, WG3 will maintain close links with SFSP to complement efforts and avoid duplication of activities.

Deliverables

The deliverables of WG3 are presented in Table-1 that describes outcomes, outputs and corresponding activities to be undertaken by WG3. A timeline for the deliverables is also indicated in the table.

Milestones

In 2-year time, all HLTF entities can demonstrate how their different expertise are connected and used for achieving progress on SFS in the context of ZHC.

In 3-5 year timeframe, consumers, agricultural producers, food-related businesses and government policy makers have good understanding of what constitutes SFS and its important role in achieving zero hunger.

Table-1: WG3 Deliverables

 

Outcome

Output/Timeline

Activities of WG3

1.
  1. Shared understanding of sustainable food systems (incl. a working definition) and how it would help country-level efforts to eliminate hunger

By mid-Feb 2015

  • Working definition of SFS in relation to ending hunger
  • Key underlying drivers of SFS and how these contribute to achieving zero hunger
  • Country examples that show how SFS has contributed to reducing hunger
  • Discuss with WG3 members to get endorsement of the current definition of SFS made by the High Level Panel of Experts for food security and nutrition
  • WG3 members submit inputs on the key drivers of SFS and how SFS contributes to ZHC using examples arising from their own works in countries
  • Have the working definition endorsed by the Principal of each of the WG3 members and make the definition public on the HLTF website
  • Prepare a joint statement by endorsing the FAO/UNEP definition of SFS, and on why and how SFS contributes to achieving zero-hunger

2.

ZHC vision implementers monitor progress of sustainability of food systems by using SFS metrics

By mid-April 2015

  • SFS metrics developed covering areas including use of natural resources (e.g. land degradation, fresh water storage), GHG emissions from agriculture and land-use change
  • WG3 members submit inputs on possible metrics for SFS to achieve zero-hunger
  • Compile and analyse the above info to evaluate the suggested metrics
  • Prepare a set of key SFS metrics

3.

A portfolio of coordinated and SFS enabling policy measures that support achieving zero hunger made available to HLTF entities and governments

By end-July 2015

  • Key coordinated policy measures defined to create/enhance enabling policy environment for SFS to eliminate hunger
  • WG3 members submit inputs on required policy environment associated with SFS to achieve zero hunger
  • Compile and analyse the above info to define SFS-enabling and coordinated policy measures for achieving zero hunger

4.

Private sector, farmer organizations, civil society, consumer groups and NGOs have relevant information on SFS to support implementation of ZHC

By mid-Sept 2015

  • PowerPoint slides incorporating outputs 1, 2 and 3, which will be made available on all the HLTF entities’ websites
  • WG3 members agree on key messages for the different stakeholders
  • Prepare a PPT that includes outputs 1,2 and 3 and key messages
  • Make the PPT and messages available to each HLTF entity