Presentation by Clemens Breisinger, Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) at "Consultative and Planning Workshop for Reactivating National Food Security Strategy", September 18-19 in Sana’a, Yemen.

1. Food security in Yemen:
An Update
With support from: CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Gesellschaft fuer
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Presenter:
Clemens Breisinger

2. Framework and indicators
Yemen National Food Security Strategy
National food security
(Availability)
Macroeconomy Key sectors Governance
Food imports/foreign exchange earnings
Human capacity
and productivity
Stability, jobs and
services
Household food security
(Access and utilization)
Income Food Services
Calorie defiency
Child stunting
Policiesandinterventions
Crisesandshocks(Stability)
Source: Yemen National Food Security Strategy, simplified version)

3. Yemen is the most food-insecure Arab country and
among the 10 most food insecure countries globally
Source: Breisinger et al. 2012. Beyond the Arab Awakening. IFPRI Food Policy Report

4. Food security at household level is improving again –
after a succession of several crises
Global food, fuel
and financial crises
unravel
Global food
prices rally
again
Revolution
Transition
Source: own representation based on data from Central Statistical Organization, Gallup World View, UNICEF and WFP

5. What explains recent improvements in
household food security?
• Inflation declined to 9.9 percent from 19.5 percent in
2011
– Appreciation of Yemeni rial to its pre-crisis level
– Moderation of international food prices
– Easing of supply shortages
• Subsidies and public wage bill have increased to 9
percent and 11% of GDP, respectively (which helps
households, but is not well targeted and fiscally
unsustainable)
• Per capita incomes started to rise again in 2012 after
the steep fall in 2011
Source: IMF 2013 and MOPIC 2013

6. Food security at national level is also improving -
The role of remittances and ODA is increasing
Source: Own representation based on IMF 2013 and MOPIC 2013

7. Agriculture’s role for food security is stagnating -
Cereal imports continue to rise
Source: own presentation based on data from IMF 2013 ; FAO 2013; and MOPIC 2013. Note: Numbers for 2013 are estimates.

8. What keeps growing is qat,
both in production and value terms
Source: Own representation based on MOPIC and FAOSTAT, various years

9. What can Yemen learn from Brazil when
implementing its National Food Security Strategy?
 Highest-level commitment: presidential initiative, ‘right-to-food’ stated
in the constitution, and, state accountability.
 National strategy coordinates programs from 11 ministries.
 Establishment and close collaboration of two secretariats, food and
nutrition and social protection.
 Targeted, large-scale poverty alleviation program with conditional cash
transfers (children’s school attendance and participation in child and
maternal healthcare and nutrition programs - ‘Bolsa Familia’)
 Large-scale nutrition interventions and investments in drinking water
and sanitation infrastructure
 Regular process of monitoring and evaluation of progress
 Building credibility by promoting transparency of policies and
discussions amongst the population
Source: Ecker & Nene (2012) – Nutrition Policies in Developing Countries (IFPRI PN).

10. The basis for Action:
NFSS: 7-point Plan

11. 11
1. Leverage the petroleum subsidy reform to promote food
security through direct transfers and investments
 Smart transfers to those who need them
6. Better target public investment to the food insecure and
improve service provision, especially in rural areas
 Restructure public spending and services
7. Launch high-level awareness campaigns for family planning,
healthy nutrition, women’s empowerment and qat
 Targeted nutrition interventions and
women empowerment
Improving household-level food security
7-Point Action Plan

12. Improving national-level food security
7-Point Action Plan:
12
2. Improve the business climate to foster pro-food secure private
investments in promising sectors
 It’s jobs, jobs, jobs
3. Combine qat reduction policies with support for non-qat
agricultural development
 Agricultural transformation
4. Improve risk management and enforce competition among cereal
importers and consider physical grain storage for emergencies
 Food trade revolution
5. Implement the water sector strategy decisively
 Water, water, water