VZCZCXRO1293
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #7298/01 2882210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 152149Z OCT 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0287
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY IMMEDIATE 1968

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 107298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD
SUBJECT: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY 
ACTION REQUEST 
 
STATE 00107298  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  On September 25-26 in New York, Secretary 
Clinton introduced the USG approach to combating global 
hunger and promoting food security.  The Secretary 
underscored that a key component of the U.S. plan is the 
support of country-led programs through strong 
partnerships and collaborations with other countries as 
well as with international organizations, NGOs, 
foundations, universities, and the private sector.  She 
invited the entire global community to work together in 
support of the goal of combating hunger.  Thus far, we 
have received tremendous support from partners for this 
initiative.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. Action Request: In order to continue this momentum, 
Posts are requested to deliver to host country Foreign 
Minister or other appropriate Ministerial-level official 
the letter in paragraph 7.  As an enclosure to the 
letter, please provide the proposal in paragraph 7 
titled Partnering for Food Security: Moving Forward. 
Our near-term goal is to use the proposal to inform the 
World Food Security summit declaration to be issued at 
the Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome November 
16-18.  When delivering the letter, we ask that Posts 
reiterate our vision and goals for combating hunger and 
increasing sustainable levels of food security and seek 
comments, questions, and suggestions, which will help to 
shape our future actions.  Please report responses by 
October 28 to Ann Ryan, EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT, Marisa 
Plowden, Office of the Counselor, Robert Hagen and John 
Tuminaro of IO, and copy U.S. Mission UN in Rome.  End 
Action Request. 
 
¶3. On September 25, the Secretary delivered a speech at 
the Clinton Global Initiative that outlined our strategy 
and set forth the key principles guiding our approach 
and that of many other countries:  country-led plans, a 
comprehensive approach to food security, strategic 
coordination of assistance, a strong role for 
multilateral institutions, and a sustained and 
accountable commitment of financial resources.  These 
principles were agreed to by 26 countries at the G8 
plus meeting in LAquila, Italy in July 2009.  To open 
the speech, the Department unveiled a short video that 
tells the story of why hunger and food security are 
critical issues that we must act on now.  We encourage 
you to share it broadly in host countries (see paragraph 
6). 
 
¶4. The Secretary and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 
co-hosted a Partnering for Global Food Security event 
on September 26.  Held at the UN, it took place on the 
margins of the UN General Assembly.  The event drew 
representatives from more than 130 countries, including 
more than 50 at the ministerial level or above  an 
impressive turn-out on this issue.  Representatives of 
the private sector, foundations, NGOs, universities, and 
international organizations also participated.  In 
addition to the Secretary and the UN Secretary General, 
there were 14 speakers representing the following 
countries and organizations:  Australia, Bangladesh, 
Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, 
Sweden, the UK, the European Commission, the World Bank, 
the World Food Program, and the Gates Foundation.  All 
speakers addressed one of the five principles agreed to 
at the LAquila Summit in July and which are guiding the 
U.S. plan.  A transcript of the event can be found on 
our website (see paragraph 6). 
 
¶5. Secretary Clinton closed the meeting at the UN by 
calling on all stakeholders to act in an expeditious 
manner over the coming months.  She emphasized that we 
cannot let the quest for a perfect plan become the enemy 
of a good plan -- action is what is most important.  To 
that end, she and the Secretary General put forth a 
proposed plan, Partnering for Food Security: Moving 
Forward (see letter in paragraph 7). We would like to 
draw on this document to shape our approach moving 
forward, including at the World Food Security Summit 
that will take place November 16-18 at the FAO in Rome. 
 
¶6. In dialogues with host governments and other 
stakeholders in country, please share the consultation 
document posted on our website which describes the 
elements of our approach, and invite feedback.  In 
addition to the consultation document, Posts can access 
the Secretarys speech and other resources at 
 
STATE 00107298  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
http://www.state.gov/s/globalfoodsecurity.  Posts should 
also flag these resources for Public Affairs Officers. 
Talking points (available on INFOCENTRAL) are copied 
below for Posts to draw on in conversations.  Please 
report feedback to Ann Ryan, EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT; Marisa 
Plowden, Office of the Counselor; and Robert Hagen and 
John Tuminaro, IO, copying U.S. Mission UN Rome. 
 
¶7. Begin text of letter: 
 
Dear Mr. / Madam Minister: 
 
I greatly appreciate the participation of more than 130 
countries at the Partnering for Food Security event that 
I co-hosted with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 
September 26.  Participants at the event expressed broad 
support for the five key principles for a comprehensive 
and coordinated approach to end global hunger through 
country-led food security strategies, as agreed to by 
more than 25 countries and organizations at the G8 
Summit in LAquila, Italy.  These principles include 
support for country-led processes; a comprehensive 
approach to global hunger and food security; strategic 
coordination of assistance; support for a strong role 
for multilateral institutions; and a sustained and 
accountable commitment of financial resources.  Building 
on this support, I am sharing with you a proposal from 
the Secretary-General and myself for putting these 
principles into action. 
 
We have an opportunity at the November 16-18 World Food 
Summit to build on this momentum through timely 
endorsement by the entire UN membership of the five 
principles and for moving forward as outlined in this 
proposal.  I appreciate your support and partnership and 
look forward to hearing your views. 
 
Sincerely yours, 
Hillary Rodham Clinton 
 
Enclosure:  Proposal 
 
BEGIN TEXT OF ENCLOSURE: 
 
Partnering for Food Security:  Moving Forward, 
A proposal from United States Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 
 
At the G8 plus meeting held in LAquila in July 2009, 
a joint statement was endorsed which expressed the 
commitment of participants to take decisive action to 
free humankind from hunger and poverty through improving 
food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, 
and to work together to: 1) support country-led 
processes; 2) ensure a comprehensive approach to food 
security; 3) strategically coordinate assistance; 4) 
support a strong role for multilateral institutions; and 
5) sustain a robust commitment of financial resources, 
including $20 billion in resources pledged at the G8 
Summit.  We convened a meeting in New York on September 
26 to broaden support for these principles and to move 
this agenda forward. 
 
Points of Agreement 
 
-       We support the principles of the LAquila Joint 
Statement on Global Food Security. 
 
-       We agree to continue building a Global Partnership 
for Agriculture and Food Security (GPAFS), which 
includes support for the ongoing Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) and Committee on Food Security (CFS) 
reform processes and the work of the UN High Level Task 
Force (HLTF). 
 
-       We have a common understanding of the importance 
of taking a comprehensive approach to improving global 
food security  one that includes agricultural 
development, research, trade, social safety nets, 
emergency food assistance, and nutrition. 
 
-       In Africa, we recognize that the Comprehensive 
Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) provides 
a framework through which we will coordinate our support 
for agriculture and food security, and we will support 
similar efforts in other regions. 
 
-       Consistent with the Accra Agenda for Action, we 
will work through, and in support of, country-led 
processes and build on existing platforms. 
 
 
STATE 00107298  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
The Way Forward 
 
We propose the following steps to move these principles 
into action: 
 
-       Intensify support for ongoing efforts to advance 
effective country-led and regional strategies; develop 
country investment plans and programs to achieve the 
goals of these strategies; ensure mutual accountability 
through public benchmarks, indicators, and a peer review 
framework to measure progress; and, develop a flexible 
financing architecture that includes well-coordinated 
bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to support these 
integrated country-led strategies and investment plans. 
 
-       Support and expand North-South, South-South and 
Trilateral cooperation for the development and 
implementation of country-led, comprehensive plans. 
 
-       Work with regional economic communities, 
associations, organizations and agencies to strengthen 
their mechanisms for financial and technical cooperation 
with donors and other stakeholders to support country- 
led strategies and investment plans and to facilitate 
regional economic integration. 
 
-       Support the on-going reform processes aimed at 
improved efficiency and effectiveness of existing 
international organizations and agencies, including the 
Consultative Group on International Agricultural 
Research (CGIAR) and FAO. 
 
-       Strengthen international coordination on financing 
and joint actions in global processes, including through 
the framework of the UN High Level Task Force. 
 
-       Adhere to the commitment of $20 billion over three 
years through a coordinated, comprehensive strategy 
focused on sustainable agriculture development, while 
keeping a strong commitment to ensure adequate emergency 
food aid assistance, in accord with the LAquila 
statement. 
 
-       Monitor and evaluate our contributions to ensure 
transparency and accountability. 
 
END TEXT OF ENCLOSURE. 
 
¶8. Posts may draw from the following talking points, as 
needed, in discussions with government officials and 
interlocutors in host countries.  Posts may also 
distribute the documents available at the website (See 
paragraph 6) as appropriate. 
 
Talking Points 
 
The Opportunity 
 
        More than one billion people - one sixth of the 
worlds population -- suffer from chronic hunger. It 
keeps adults from being able to work, children from 
being able to learn, and society from reaching its 
potential. 
 
        Global food supplies need to increase by an 
estimated 50 percent to meet expected demand by 2030. 
 
        Rates of agricultural growth are declining and 
will face further challenges due to competition for 
resources, such as water, and from temperature and 
precipitation extremes due to climate change. 
 
         Advancing sustainable agriculture is a powerful 
tool increasing availability and accessibility of food 
and reducing poverty. 
 
Collective Global Action 
 
        Momentum is building for global action.  Leaders 
of developing countries have recognized the need to 
invest in their own food security. 
 
        At the 2009 LAquila G8 Summit, donors committed 
$20 billion to reduce hunger and improve nutrition. The 
summit catalyzed new financial commitments and laid the 
foundation for a fresh approach. 
 
        Global interest in this issue continues to grow 
more than 130 countries attended an event Partnering 
for Global Food Security co-hosted by Secretary Clinton 
and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations 
 
STATE 00107298  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
on September 26. 
 
United States Commitment 
 
        President Obama announced that the United States 
would commit $3.5 billion over 3 years to agricultural 
development.  At the Presidents request, Secretary 
Clinton has been leading a whole-of-government effort to 
build a comprehensive plan.  Our commitment to emergency 
and humanitarian food assistance will not be affected by 
this investment. 
 
        The President and I are committed to working with 
partners across sectors to advance and execute country- 
led plans. 
 
        Currently, the USG is working with stakeholders on 
an action plan to address the needs of small scale 
agricultural producers, particularly women, who are 70 
percent of small-holder rural farmers, and their 
families. 
 
Environment 
 
        The United States is committed to environmental 
stewardship and protecting the natural resource base 
upon which agriculture depends. 
 
        We recognize that agriculture is inextricably 
linked to climate change and is a driver of 
deforestation.  We will need to work harder to use land 
more efficiently; revitalize the productivity of soils; 
conserve biodiversity, pollinators and fish stock; and 
adapt to climate change. 
 
        We also recognize the multiple challenges we face 
with regard to water usage, including melting glaciers, 
droughts, competition for water between cities, rural 
areas, and countries. 
 
Principles for Advancing Global Food Security 
 
¶1.      Invest in country-led plans; 
 
¶2.      Adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses the 
underlying causes of hunger and includes advancing 
agricultural development, reducing under-nutrition, and 
increasing the impact of humanitarian food assistance; 
 
¶3.      Strengthen strategic coordination; 
 
¶4.      Leverage the benefits of multilateral 
institutions; and 
 
¶5.      Make sustained and accountable commitments. 
 
Sustainable Solutions 
 
We will work with other governments, multinational 
institutions, NGOs, and especially rural farmers to: 
 
        Reduce hunger sustainably 
        Raise the incomes of the rural poor 
                Reduce the number of children suffering from 
under-nutrition 
 
To achieve these goals, we will act to: 
 
        Advance agriculture-led growth through increased 
investment across the agricultural production and market 
chain; focus on post-harvest infrastructure, protecting 
the natural resource base, developing climate-resilient 
agricultural systems, and harnessing the potential of 
women to contribute to economic growth. 
 
        Reduce under-nutrition by increasing access to 
diverse and quality foods, and enabling countries and 
communities to prevent, identify, and treat under- 
nutrition. 
 
        Increase the impact of humanitarian assistance 
through improved global coordination, strengthened 
government capacity to mitigate and prevent hunger 
crises, and increased local and regional procurement. 
 
Supporting Country Leadership 
 
        Country-led plans enable countries to identify 
their own solutions, increase the sustainability of 
investments, and strengthen coordination. 
 
 
STATE 00107298  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
Leveraging the Benefits of Multilateral Institutions 
 
        Reducing hunger requires collective action and 
long-term commitments.  Multilateral institutions 
complement bilateral activities and promote broader 
action, can engage in countries where we do not have 
presence, and develop expertise and replicate successful 
approaches. 
 
        The United States will invest in and encourage 
others to contribute to multilateral institutions that 
support agriculture-led economic growth. 
 
        The World Bank is developing a multilateral trust 
fund that we anticipate will support innovative 
bilateral and multilateral efforts to build sustainable 
agricultural systems, including programs like those 
developed through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture 
Development Program (CAADP). 
 
The Way Forward 
 
        The challenge of reducing global hunger and 
building sustained economic growth cannot be 
accomplished alone. Our actions and those of others must 
be coordinated, sustained, transparent, and inclusive. 
 
o       Corruption devastates efforts to grow economies and 
reduce hunger for the poor.  Donors and partners must 
engage in transparent and accountable actions. 
 
o       If you agree with our approach, we ask that you 
consider supporting the advancing of this approach in 
appropriate venues, including the November 16-18 food 
security summit hosted by the FAO in Rome. 
 
End Text. 
 
¶9. (U) Minimize considered. 
CLINTON