Presentation by Dr. Bernadette Lahai, President, Pan African Alliance for Food Security Restricted meeting of the Food Crisis Prevention Network - RPCA/Réunion restreinte du Réseau de prévention des crisis alimentaires - RPCA 10-12 April 2017, Paris/10-12 avril 2017, Paris

1. ERADICATING HUNGER AND
MALNUTRITION IN WEST AFRICA:
ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

2. Hunger is still prevalent in West African countries
Percentage of undernourishment Source: FAO State of Food Insecurity 2015

3. Malnutriton: a persisting problem in West Africa
(1/2)
Pays Prevalence of under five year stunting
in percentage (year of data collection)
Prevalence of under five year stunting in
percentage (year of data collection)
Benin 34 (2014) 5 (2014)
Burkina Faso 33 (2012) 11 (2012)
Cabo-Verde 21 (1994) Non Applicable
Côte d’Ivoire 30 (2012) 8 (2012)
Gambia 25 (2013) 12 (2013)
Ghana 19 (2014) 5 (2014)
Guinea 31 (2012) 10 (2012)
Guinea-Bissau 28 (2014) 6 (2014)
Liberia 32 (2013) 6 (2013)
Mali 39 (2006) 15 (2006)
Niger 43 (2012) 19 (2012)
Nigeria 33 (2014) 8 (2014)
Senegal 19 (2014) 6 (2014)
Sierra-Leone 38 (2014) 9 (2014)
Togo 28 (2014) 7 (2014)
Source: Global Nutrition Report 2015

4. Malnutriton: a persisting problem in West
Africa (2/2)
Source: Demographic Health Surveys and National Nutrition Surveys

5. The Pan African Parliament
requested FAO’s Technical Cooperation
Malabo Declaration:
Bring down stunting to 10% and underweight to
5% by 2025
Scaling Up Nutrition Movement
36 out of 54 African nations are members
2nd International Conference on Nutrition
Framework for Action and the Decade of Action
Commitment by African Countries
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African Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015-2025

6. Food Insecurity and Malnutrition threatens
human and socioeconomic development
• Cost of Hunger Survey: between 1.9% and 16.5%
of countries’ GDP is lost annually because of
malnutrition
• In turn, investing in nutrition is a wise
investment: for 1 USD invested the return in
investment is 16 USD (Global Nutrition Report
2014)

7. Evidence has shown that
the improvement of food security and nutrition
is principally due to
policies and frameworks
that are anchored in legislation.
Why parliamentarians?

8. Offers a dedicated space for dialogue on food
security and nutrition issues amongst
Parliamentarians at the sub-regional evel.
Issues of Food Security and Nutrition are elevated
by another branch of Government – the Legislature.
Provides an avenue for powerful voices on food
security and nutrition from the Legislature at
regional, sub-regional and country levels
A Parliamentary Alliance on food and nutrition
security is an excellent partner

9. Generate legal frameworks as a guide to national
governments
Promote relevant legislative and other measures at
the country level
Enhance the dialogue with similar Parliamentary
bodies through South-South Cooperation
Engage with civil society in the creation of national
alliances against hunger and malnutrition
The Pan-African Parliament can be
an excellent partner

10. Latin American and Caribbean Parliamentary Front Against Hunger (LAC PF)
- More than 20 laws have been enacted since establishment (2009)
- 17 National Fronts have been established; 4 sub-regional
parliaments are involved; 10 alliances with international and civil
society organizations.
Latin America and the Caribbean Region
- highest rate of reduction in poverty and hunger in the world
- achieving both Millennium Development Goal (halving the percentage)
and that of the World Food Summit (total value halved).
European Parliament
First Meeting of Parliamentarians held on the 26th April 2016
Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP)
Other Parliamentary Alliances – Key Highlights

11. Generate legal frameworks as a guide to national
governments (control of government’s/stakeholder
action)
Promote relevant legislative and other measures at the
country level
Enhance the dialogue with similar Parliamentary bodies
through South-South Cooperation
Engage with civil society in the creation of national
alliances against hunger and malnutrition
Advocate for sufficient budgetary allocations for Food
Security and Nutrition and serving as change agents in
their constituencies.
The Parliament in West Africa can be
an excellent partner

12. Promoting right to food in ECOWAS: a pillar of
zero hunger and malnutrition
“The Right to adequate Food is realized when every
man, woman and child, alone or in community with
others, has physical and economic access at all times
to adequate food or means for its procurement.”
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (General comment 12)
• The Right to Food is a human right that needs to be
promoted

13. The right to food: a multifaceted and
comprehensive approach
Component of the Right to Food:
• Availability
• Stability
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Adequacy

14. Involving Parliamentarians in West Africa to
achieve zero hunger and malnutrition: what
was achieved?
• Intensive sensitization held at regional and national
level within ECOWAS region on the role of
Parliamentarians
• Some countries have initiated actions: Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cabo-Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Togo
• Exchanges have started with ECOWAS to work with
the Community Parliament: towards the
establishment of ECOWAS Parliamentarians Front
Against Hunger and Malnutrition

15. TOGETHER
We can create a
WORLD FREE OF
hunger, poverty and malnutrition