Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Sixth Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis

The Task Force agreed on its programme of work for 2009, with a focus on reducing hunger, promoting food security and intensifying small-scale agriculture in countries that need –and request –assistance. The Secretary-General also announced that he has agreed with Prime Minister Zapatero of Spain to co-chair a high-level meeting on “Food Security for All” in Madrid on 26-27 January 2009 to gather governments, private entities and civil society groups and examine progress on improvements in food security, define a road map for the future and tackle hunger more effectively.

The Secretary-General also welcomed the follow-up to the proposals made by several heads of government at the "High Level Conference on World Food Security" in Rome last June to establish a global partnership for agriculture and food security. He acknowledged the contribution of the G8, under the presidency of the Government of Japan, to support the evolution of this partnership.

The Secretary-General announced that given the high demands on John Holmes in his role as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, he has asked David Nabarro to assume the role of Task Force Coordinator as of 1 January 2009. The Principal Hub for the Coordination Secretariat will be in Rome, within the premises of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Dr Nabarro will also continue in his role as Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza.