DESCRIPTION

Action Track 4 focuses on inequality and power imbalances at household, community, national and global levels. They are consistently constraining the ability of food systems to deliver poverty reduction and sustainable, equitable livelihoods. For food system to advance equitable livelihoods, there is a need to look at poverty across the food value chains, the groups whose livelihoods are most limited by current food systems practices, and the discriminatory practices and norms that limit equitable livelihoods, in particular for those whose livelihoods are most marginalized (women, youth, people with disabilities).

Action Track 4 is highly relevant to Rwanda’s national plans. Vision 2050 sets ‘high quality and standards of life for Rwandans’ as the overarching goals with human development and agriculture for wealth creation among the pillars. It is also strongly linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 5. Gender Equality, and 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth. With less than 10 years remaining to achieve the SDGs, it is of paramount importance we reassess our current progress, identify gaps and work collaboratively on solutions. In advancing equitable livelihood across the food system, smallholder farmers and other rural people should be positioned at the heart of transforming food systems and achieving the SDGs.

The three thematic areas below will guide discussion on Action Track 4 at the Rwanda Country Level Food System Dialogues. While these themes are interrelated, focusing on each theme individually will allow us to recognize specific challenges in building sustainable food systems in Rwanda and come up with actionable solutions.

3. Promoting productive employment and decent work for all. This thematic area includes topics such as employment creation, decent work, and rights at work. We will discuss challenges in creating inclusive work opportunities along the food system/value chain, importance of skills development and roles of the private sector such as traders/off-takers, agro-input dealers, and processors. Rwanda’s main employment challenges include working poverty and underemployment (<35 hrs/week), which are underlying causes of the higher poverty rate among rural residents (49%) compared to urban areas (22%). Despite the importance of the agriculture sector in Rwanda’s economy, we are yet to create sufficient employment opportunities and the majority of workers are in subsistence agriculture. Through the national dialogue event, we will explore challenges and opportunities in the food system in order to promote more equitable value distribution.
4. Raising income and social protection programs. This thematic area focuses on the role of the Government through its programs and policies in raising income for all. Home Grown Solutions such as Girinka Programme and Ubudehe have made positive impacts in economic and social spheres among the vulnerable populations. For example, since its start in 2006, Girinka Programme has supported the poor and vulnerable families. It has contributed in doubling the milk production, helping reduce malnutrition as well as improving household income. In addition, this thematic area will look into how smallholder farmers have increased their incomes through agriculture productivity increase and market access. Further modes of integrating smallholder farmers into productive and improved value chains for increased agriculture revenues will be explored. This thematic area will explore what’s next – what more can be done in the food system to raise income among the vulnerable populations? The discussion will focus on the roles of the Government and its programmes and policies relevant to the food system as well as discussing the role of the private sector and potential for public private partnerships in supporting the existing initiatives and creating new opportunities
5. Redistributing/mitigating social and societal risks. This thematic area explores the risks of unemployment, increased health inequalities, financial instability, reduced education attainment and how we can redistribute/mitigate them. In the agriculture context, it would also be important to consider the weather/climate-related risks and how we mitigate the negative impacts on farmers. Small-scale farming is often considered more environmentally sustainable than industrial scale systems. While over 60% of the workforce is in agriculture and its sub-sectors, their informal form of employment creates a risk, making it difficult for many to access financial services. We need smarter investments in small-scale farming, through strategic multi-stakeholder partnerships. The discussion will focus on how smallholder farmers can mitigate social, societal and environmental risks and the role of the private sector.

Discussion of each theme will be structured around guiding questions and key discussion questions. The participants will be split into breakout sessions, in which technical experts/facilitators will lead the discussions. Each group will discuss their assigned thematic area with focus on smallholder producers, women, youth, and people with disabilities. The participants are encouraged to share their perspective and experiences as a key food system stakeholder. Through the discussions, it is aimed to define and map out solution areas as an output.

Proposed focus areas on each theme are provided below:

Thematic Area 1. Promoting productive employment and decent work for all

Guiding Question: How can we improve the employment conditions and structures that are more inclusive and productive?

Discussion Questions:

• What are the barriers on creating employment for marginalized groups and how can we reduce or eliminate them?
• What is decent work? How can we increase available decent work opportunities in the food system and what are the roles of the private sector?
• What are the challenges we face from employers’ and employees’ perspectives, for respecting the rights at work? How do moral and legal rights affect productive employment and decent work?
• In the food value chain system, where are the gaps and opportunities in increasing more productive employment?
• How can unemployment level be reduced?

Cross-cutting topics

The discussions should consider specific constraints and opportunities for each group below.

• Smallholder farmers, cooperatives/farmers organizations
• Women, youth and people with disabilities
• Private sector: producers, processors, traders, etc.

Thematic Area 2. Raising income and social protection programs

Guiding Question: What role does the Government play in raising income for all, and how can it be improved for advancing equitable livelihood and fairer value distribution?

Discussion Questions:

• How has the Government social protection program succeeded in raising income for vulnerable groups (e.g. Girinka, Ubudehe, etc.)? Where are the gaps and opportunities to enhance the program?
• What is the role of Government policies on raising income along the food value chain system? What are the challenges and opportunities?
• What are the mechanisms to put in place to increase the income in a consistent manner? What would be the role of both government and the private sector?
• How can we integrate marginalized groups into the food value chain? What are the roles of cooperatives/farmers groups?
• What are the challenges and opportunities for the law and policy makers in order to improve resilience and livelihoods of marginalized groups? What are the gaps in the current laws and policies in order to become more inclusive of marginalized groups?
• What are the impacts (positive or negative) of social networks and intimate relationships on access to productive resources, services and markets?

Cross-cutting topics:

• The discussions should consider specific constraints and opportunities for each group below.
• Smallholder farmers
• Women, youth and people with disabilities
• Private sector

Thematic Area 3. Redistributing social and societal risks

Guiding Question: How do we improve the structure (legal and societal) to become more inclusive of marginalized groups? How do we systematically address social and societal risks embedded in the food system?

Discussion Questions:

• What are the biggest risks smallholder farmers and smaller business operators face today in order to improve their livelihoods and how can we mitigate them?
• What are the barriers in improving financial instability among business operators, smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups? What are the roles of financial institutions?
• What are the potential impacts on climate risks on smallholder farmers and what can be done from private (e.g. agri-insurance) and public sector (policies, social protection)?
• What are the barriers on building capacity among marginalized groups? How can these barriers be reduced or eliminated?
• What are the factors we need to consider when providing knowledge, skills and capacity development? What are the needs of each group?

Cross-cutting topics:

• The discussions should consider specific constraints and opportunities for each group below.

o   Smallholder farmers

o   Women, youth and people with disabilities

o   Private sector including small business operators

Participants will come from farmer representatives, selected farmer organizations/cooperatives, Youth groups, Government institutions, Local Government, Private sector, Financial institutions, Research organisations/academia/Independent Researchers, Development Partners, International/national NGOs, Civil Society and UN agencies.