The Committe for World Food Security (CFS)

Online Consultation on the CFS Global Strategic Framework
CFS Annual Sessions and UNSCN Contributions

The Committee for World Food Security (CFS) is the United Nations' forum for reviewing and following up on policies concerning world food security. It also examines issues which affect the world food situation. Its reform was approved by the member countries in 2009 to make CFS the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. Currently, 125 countries participate in the CFS (for more information on the CFS you can visit the official website here).

The CFS Bureau and Advisory Group

The Bureau is the executive arm of the CFS. It is made up of a Chairperson and twelve member countries. The Advisory group is made up of representatives from the 5 different categories of CFS Participants.

These are:

1. UN agencies and other UN bodies;

2. Civil society and non-governmental organizations particularly organizations representing smallholder family farmers, fisherfolks, herders, landless, urban poor, agricultural and food workers, women, youth, consumers and indigenous people;

3. International agricultural research institutions;

4. International and regional financial institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, regional development banks and the World Trade Organization;

5. Private sector associations and philanthropic foundations.

The Advisory Group helps the Bureau advance the Committee's objectives in particular to ensure linkages with different stakeholders at regional, sub-regional and local levels and to ensure an ongoing, two-way exchange of information.

The UNSCN as part of the Advisory Group

At the 36th Annual Session of the intergovernmental CFS in October 2010 it was decided to:

- include the UNSCN into the Advisory Group of the CFS in addition to the present Advisory Group members, taking into account UNSCN's special nature as a UN coordination mechanism and platform in its own right, with its own stakeholder consultation mechanisms;
- entrust the CFS Bureau with looking into ways to invite and include the UNSCN or one of its member organizations in the Joint Secretariat of the CFS;
- suggest that the UNSCN works in coordination with the CFS to establish synergy and close coordination between their respective processes, mechanisms and proposals.The UNSCN has since been attending the CFS Bureau and Advisory Group meetings and will continue to play the role of nutrition advocate, communicator, catalyst and bridge builder towards the CFS community. Through participating in the CFS, the UNSCN establishes a two way communication avenue between the food security and nutrition constituencies by:
- exchanging information on nutrition with the food security constituency and bringing food security considerations to the attention of the nutrition constituency.
- encouraging and providing advice so that nutrition considerations are included in all CFS work streams:
- bringing to the attention of the CFS Member States new nutrition related issues as they emerge
- avoiding duplication of efforts related to improving food and nutrition security globally

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The Committe for World Food Security (CFS)

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