National Dialogue on the Population and Peace Building Towards Food Security

Governments are the primary actors in the social and economic aspects of the Philippines’ food security. A stable agriculture and food security systems can help to establish stable and transparent governments, which will contribute to more inclusive and effective agriculture and food security systems.

There is an undeniable link between conflict and hunger. For people who rely on agriculture, conflicts destroy food systems and cost of assets and incomes which may trigger food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger. Additionally, population living in countries affected by conflict are more likely to be food insecure and malnourished.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development firmly prioritize inclusive social and economic transformation anchored on peace. To put this into action, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which aims to accelerate progress towards eradicating poverty and ending hunger and malnutrition. Added to this, the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased humanitarian for food security. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that the number of accurately food-insecure people has increased by over 80 present by the end of 2020 compared with the pre-COVID 19 level (-to 272 million –in 79 of the countries and territories where WHO works).

All these efforts will require international cooperation, including regional cooperation and engagement with stakeholders, including private sector and civil society organizations. And, this will contribute to a long-term transformation of food systems. The growing population must be fed with food that is healthy, equitable and sustainable to ensure healthy future.

The main objective of this Consultation Forum on Peace Building towards Food Security is to better understand and appreciate the interrelationship of population, peace and food security, to gather national, regional and local key stakeholders and partners for collective actions needed on the sustainability of the food security in the country and to present concrete steps and recommendations to achieve the objectives of the UN Food Systems Summit.