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Seminar on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Food Security Information Systems in the SADC Sub-Region
Johannesburg, 15 November 2011 (ECA) - The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office has organized a Seminar on “Enhancing the Effectiveness of Food Security Information Systems in the SADC Sub-Region”. The Seminar, which is taking place at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa is aimed at reviewing issues and challenges faced by member States and other stakeholders in developing Food Security Information Systems and make policy recommendations to strengthen production, delivery and consumption of quality agricultural and food security information in the SADC region. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Bentry Chaura, Senior Programme Officer, SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate, stated that food security is one of the priorities of the SADC as re-emphasized by the SADC Food Security Extraordinary Summit held in Dar es Salaam in 2004. He explained that as early as 1986, SADC put in place the Regional Early Warning System for Food Security. He further informed the meeting that SADC Council of Ministers which was held in Luanda, Angola in 2003 directed the integration of the information systems in food security, agriculture and natural resources to improve effectiveness and efficiency. Mr. Chaura noted that a number of challenges existed in SADC information systems including the manner in which food security and agricultural data and statistics were currently collected by different Ministries, programmes or projects, making it difficult to access them. He emphasized that SADC’s Agriculture Information Management System is “to develop an integrated database at both Secretariat and Member State levels, with national databases linked to the regional data base.” He expressed the hope that the market information system will make it easier for policymakers, planners, researchers and other stakeholders to have a one stop access to information on food security. The meeting was officially opened by Mr. Sizo Mhlanga, the Acting Head of the ECA Southern Africa Office. In his remarks, Mr. Mhlanga thanked the SADC Secretariat for partnership on our Multiyear programme from which the seminar is derived. He concurred with the SADC Secretariat by expressing the need to strengthen early warning systems and market information systems, enhance vulnerability monitoring capabilities and develop a Regionally Integrated Information System to enhance food security. Mr. Mhlanga emphasized that early warning systems needed to “establish sufficient credibility before decision makers gain confidence to utilize their information.” In concluding, Mr. Mhlanga appreciated the rich mix of experts attending the seminar and expressed optimism that the deliberations over the two-days would yield the desired goals which included generating strategies and actions that would enhance the capacity of the sub region to manage and coordinate food security and early warning systems, improve vulnerability assessment and market information systems. He hoped that the recommendations “would ultimately promote food security in Southern Africa through enhanced quality of food security information and reinforced capacity of different stakeholders in the food security value chain.” The meeting has gathered experts from SADC and COMESA Secretariats, FEWS-Network, Media Institute of Southern Africa, Universities and Research Institutions. |
