On 29 April 2008, the Chief Executives Board (CEB) of the United Nations decided to establish a High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Global Food Crisis, under the leadership of the Secretary-General which brought together the Heads of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, Bretton Woods institutions and relevant parts of the UN Secretariat. The Director General of the FAO was asked by the Secretary-General to serve as Vice Chair of the HLTF.
HLTF participation has included: FAO, IFAD; IMF; OHRLLS; UNCTAD; UNDP; UNEP; UNHCR; UNICEF; WFP; WHO; World Bank; WTO; DESA; DPA; DPI; DPKO; the Special Adviser on MDGs; and the OECD.
As set out by the CEB, the aim of the HLTF was to create a prioritized plan of action for addressing the current crisis and coordinate its implementation. The Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA) responds to this request.
The CFA is a framework for setting out the joint position of HLTF members on proposed actions to:
1) address the current threats and opportunities resulting from food price rises; 2) create policy changes to avoid future food crises; and 3) contribute to country, regional and global food and nutritional security. While the CFA is the agreed product of the HLTF, it has been widely consulted with other parts of the UN system, international experts, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
The CFA aims to be a catalyst for action by providing governments, international and regional agencies and organizations, and civil society groups a menu of policies and actions from which to draw appropriate responses. It recognizes that any response must take into account the specific needs, capacities, and circumstances of particular countries or regions. While many actions may require external assistance, the policies and actions described in the CFA are intended to improve country capacity and resilience to absorb future shocks. The key to achievement of the outcomes set in the CFA will be close partnerships between national governments, HLTF members, civil society and private sector organizations, donors as well as other vital actors.
The structure of the CFA is as follows: Section A presents an analysis of the food crisis, and identifies major threats and opportunities upon which governments, civil society and the international community can act. Section B sets out critical actions to address urgent needs and build resilience to these threats and opportunities. Section C proposes practical ways of working together to achieve CFA outcomes at country, regional, and global levels and discusses the related financial implications.

By: High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis

download this document:    1019 kb