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PP RUEHRN
DE RUEHRN #0059/01 2801846
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 071846Z OCT 09
FM USMISSION UN ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1158
INFO RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0372
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 1232

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 UN ROME 000059 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR PRATT, USDA FOR DOUVELIS, USUN NY FOR SNOWDEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EAID PREL UN FAO
SUBJECT: COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY:  FINAL DRAFT TEXT FOR 
NEGOTIATIONS IN OCTOBER 14-17 PLENARY SESSION 
 
REF: A. USUN Rome 55 
     ¶B. USUN Rome 49 
     ¶C. USUN Rome 41 and previous 
 
¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified.  Please handle 
accordingly. 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary and Action Request.  Pursuant to an agreement 
of the 34th Session of the Committee on World Food Security 
(CFS), members have been engaged in a year-long process to 
reform the CFS.  The focus of the October 14-17 35th Session of 
the CFS will be a discussion of the document resulting from this 
process.  The below text, "Reform of the Committee on World Food 
Security," (see paragraph 11), is a near final draft document 
leading into the CFS meeting.  While considerable progress has 
been achieved, substantial disagreement remains on the exact 
role and status of the CFS and the Rome-based agencies in 
general, and FAO in particular, versus other entities concerned 
with food security.  Mission offers suggestions on text and 
strategy below, and welcomes guidance for the October 14-17 
session by October 13.  End Summary and Action Request. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) The General Rules of FAO (GRO, XXXIII, para 6) designate 
the CFS as "a forum in the United Nations system for review and 
follow-up of policies concerning world food security."  The 
reform document seeks to upgrade this role, designating it as 
"the cornerstone for international coordination" (paragraph 2 of 
the Context section) and "the foremost inclusive international 
and intergovernmental platform for a broad range of committed 
stakeholders to work together in support of country led 
processes" ( paragraph 4 in the Vision and Role section). 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) There is considerable support for a central position 
for Rome and the CFS not only among the G-77, but also among a 
number of European countries (Netherlands, France, Germany, 
Russia) and other signatories of the L'Aquila G-8 declaration 
(Brazil).  While it is likely that compromise can be reached on 
individual phrases, such as replacing "cornerstone" with the 
less ambitious "vital role" (paragraph 2 of CFS text), the 
description of the "role" of the CFS under Phase 1 of the reform 
(paragraph 5) could be interpreted too broadly and therefore 
lead to activities that should only be considered during Phase 2 
of the reform.  Mission therefore recommends: 
 
 
 
- paragraph 5i be entitled "Discussion at the National and 
Global Level" rather than "Coordination at the Global Level" and 
the phrase "coordination, alignment and collaborative action" be 
deleted from the paragraph. 
 
 
 
- Similarly, in paragraph 5ii the following language be deleted: 
 "and coordination through the development and approval of 
international strategies or guidelines." 
 
 
 
- The entire paragraph 5iii be moved to paragraph 6 as it 
involves activities that should only be considered as part of 
the second phase of reform and that the beginning of the 
paragraph be worded:  "At country request, promote and seek to 
support and guide, where appropriate, the development and 
implementation of nationally and regionally owned plans of 
action~" 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The roles under Phase II of the CFS Vision and Role 
(paragraph 6) go further in prescribing a more top-down role for 
the CFS than preferable.  Disagreement among members also 
remains on introductory wording of Phase II and whether the 
additional roles for CFS "would" or "could" include the  areas 
outlined in paragraph 6.  Mission recommends strong advocacy for 
"could" so that the roles outlined in Phase II are conditional 
upon demonstrated reform.  We also see value in stressing at 
least two or three years before Phase II commences. 
 
 
 
 
UN ROME 00000059  002 OF 013 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Coordination at national and regional levels ( 
paragraph 6, i):  Mission suggests moving up within the 
paragraph the final line noting the work of the Secretary's High 
Level Task Force (HLTF) and the possibility for the CFS to build 
upon this role.  In addition, we propose to emphasize that 
FAO/CFS coordinating role must be at the request of individual 
countries and regions and in accordance with national food 
security strategy and plans. 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) Promote accountability and share best practices 
(paragraph 6, ii):  A number of developing countries, 
particularly Egypt and China, have expressed unease with the 
concept of monitoring.  Mission believes we can build upon their 
reservations to redirect CFS to focus more on a sharing and 
analysis of best practices and that efforts should be made to 
reassess what type of monitoring would support the new process. 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) There appears to be strong support and poor 
understanding of what is meant by "Develop a Global Strategic 
Framework" (paragraph 6, iii).  Such a Framework could be 
anything from a general outline of the range of options 
available in the development of a country plan to a prescriptive 
listing of how a plan must be articulated and implemented. 
Mission believes the first option, with an analysis of the 
effectiveness of certain programs under a range of 
circumstances, could be helpful to countries as they develop and 
fine-tune their country strategies.  Other outstanding issues 
include the size of the Bureau and the possibility of rotating 
the Secretary position among the three Rome-based agencies. 
 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) There are also a number of structural changes to the 
CFS that, unchecked, could have management and budget 
implications.  The new CFS anticipates an enlarged Bureau, a 
Secretariat, and a High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) comprised 
of a Steering Committee and project teams.  Mission supports 
expanding the Bureau from the current five members to eight or 
fourteen, allowing for representation from all regions.  Members 
have also been assured the Secretariat will remain essentially 
the same in size and cost and that this Secretariat could also 
serve as the Secretariat for the HLPE.  A draft budget presented 
by the Secretariat shows a flat budget in nominal terms for the 
CFS bureau and Secretariat for next year and establishes a trust 
fund to support activities of the HLPE.   Thus far, only France 
has contributed to the trust fund with USD 700,000. 
 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) Our in-depth discussions with some supporters of a 
stronger role for the CFS indicates there may be room for 
movement toward our objectives.  A clear statement from the U.S. 
at the CFS on how to operationalize the Global Partnership for 
Agriculture and Food Security, and the role we envision for Rome 
and the CFS within that partnership, will help persuade others. 
 
 
 
¶11. (U) Begin text of draft CFS reform document (internal 
numbering): 
 
 
 
¶I. CONTEXT 
 
¶1. The rise in food prices in 2007-08, followed by the financial 
and economic crisis in 
 
2009, has highlighted the unacceptable levels of structural 
poverty and hunger around the world. The food and financial 
crisis threatens global food security and nutrition and the 
achievement of the 1996 World Food Summit target and the 
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for reducing hunger and 
malnutrition. It is now estimated that more than a billion 
people, one in every six human beings may be suffering from 
under-nourishment. These are mainly small holder food producers, 
particularly women, and other rural inhabitants. 
 
 
 
¶2. Faced with rising hunger and a weak performing Committee on 
World Food Security 
 
UN ROME 00000059  003 OF 013 
 
 
 
(CFS), Member nations agreed at the 34th Session of CFS in 
October 2008 to embark on a reform of the CFS so that it can 
fully play its [vital role/as the cornerstone] for international 
coordination in the area of food security and nutrition. The 
reforms are designed to redefine the CFS' vision and role to 
focus on the key challenges of eradicating hunger; expanding 
participation in CFS to ensure that voices of all relevant 
stakeholders are heard in the policy debate on food and 
agriculture; adapt its rules and procedures with the aim to 
become the central United Nations political platform dealing 
with food security and nutrition; strengthening its linkages 
with regional, national and local levels; and supporting CFS 
discussions with structured expertise through the creation of a 
High Level Panel of Experts so that decisions taken by the CFS 
are based on hard evidence and state of the art knowledge. FAO 
Council considered "the CFS reform to be crucial to the 
governance of world food security, with a view toward exploring 
synergies with the emerging Global Partnership for Agriculture, 
Food Security and Nutrition" (CL 136/REP, paragraph 29). CFS 
reform has been a topic of discussion in several fora including 
G8, G20 and the UN General Assembly and is on the agenda for the 
World Summit on Food Security 2009. 
 
 
 
 
 
¶3. In order to realize this goal and ensure better coordination, 
CFS Members agreed on 
 
three key guiding principles for the reform - inclusiveness, 
strong linkages to the field to 
 
ensure the process is based on the reality on the ground and 
flexibility in implementation so that CFS can respond to a 
changing external environment and membership needs. Members 
agreed that effective implementation of CFS' new roles will be 
carried out in phases. Starting after the Committee's meeting in 
mid-October 2009, CFS' global activities, particularly in areas 
of coordination, policy convergence, support and guidance to 
countries will be the first to be implemented. While 
implementing Phase I, CFS will work on better defining the 
implementation details of other activities. In Phase II CFS will 
gradually carry out those additional activities which are 
related to coordination at national and regional levels, 
promoting accountability and sharing best practices at all 
levels, and developing a global strategic framework for food 
security and nutrition (see Section V for proposed 
implementation plan). 
 
 
 
II. VISION AND ROLE 
 
 
 
¶A. VISION 
 
¶4. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee. The 
CFS [as an important element of the Global Partnership for 
Agriculture and Food Security/as the Global Partnership for 
Agriculture and Food Security] will constitute the foremost 
inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for a 
broad range of committed stakeholders to work together in a 
coordinated manner and in support of country-led processes 
towards the elimination of hunger and ensuring food security and 
nutrition for all human beings. The CFS will strive for a world 
free from hunger where countries implement the voluntary 
guidelines for the progressive realization of the right to 
adequate food in the context of national food security. 
 
 
 
¶B. ROLE 
 
¶5. The roles of the CFS will be: 
 
i. Coordination at global level. Provide a platform for 
discussion, coordination, alignment and collaborative action 
among governments, regional organizations, international 
associations and agencies, NGOs, CSOs, food producers' 
organizations, private sector organizations, philanthropic 
organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, in a manner that 
meets each country's specific context and needs. 
 
 
UN ROME 00000059  004 OF 013 
 
 
ii. Policy convergence. Promote greater policy convergence and 
coordination through the development and approval of 
international strategies or guidelines on food security and 
nutrition on the basis of the lessons learned from local 
experience, 
 
inputs received from the national and regional levels, and 
expert advice and opinions from different stakeholders. 
 
iii. Support and guidance to countries. Promote and seek to 
support and guide the development, implementation, monitoring 
and evaluation of nationally and regionally owned plans of 
action for the elimination of hunger, the achievement of 
 
food security and the practical application of the "Voluntary 
Guidelines for the Right to Food" that shall be based on the 
principles of participation, transparency and accountability. 
 
¶6. In Phase II, the CFS will gradually take on additional roles 
that would/could include: 
 
i. Coordination at national and regional levels. Serve as a 
platform to promote greater coordination and alignment of 
actions in the field, encourage more efficient use of resources 
and identify resource gaps. One guiding principle to support 
this role will be to build on and strengthen existing structures 
and linkages with key partners at all levels. Key partners 
include national mechanisms and networks for food security and 
nutrition, the UN country teams and other coordination 
mechanisms such as the International Alliance Against Hunger and 
its National Alliances, food security thematic groups, regional 
intergovernmental bodies and a large number of civil society 
networks and private sector associations operating at the 
regional and national levels. In each case, the functional 
contributions they could make, as well as how the CFS could 
strengthen linkages and enhance synergy with such partners would 
have to be established. As the reform progresses, the CFS will 
build, as appropriate, on the coordination work of the United 
Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF). 
 
ii. Promote accountability and share best practices at all 
levels. One of the main functions of the current CFS is to 
"monitor actively the implementation of the 1996 World Food 
Summit Plan of Action (WFS-PoA)". However, although countries 
are taking measures to address food insecurity, the specific 
programs as they are presented do not necessarily help to report 
quantitatively on progress towards realizing the WFS PoA 
objectives. This role thus needs to be further discussed and 
developed in order to address the questions of whether we are 
achieving our objectives and how food insecurity and 
malnutrition can be reduced more quickly and effectively. This 
will entail developing an innovative mechanism to monitor 
progress towards these agreed upon objectives and actions taking 
into account lessons learned from previous CFS and other 
monitoring attempts.  Comments by all CFS stakeholders will have 
to be taken into account and new mechanisms will build on 
existing structures. 
 
iii. Develop a Global Strategic Framework. A prerequisite to 
facilitate the work of the 
 
Committee for improved coordination and synchronized action by a 
wide range of stakeholders would be a global strategic framework 
for food security and nutrition. The global strategic framework 
will aim at providing the analytical underpinning for the CFS' 
work and will be flexible so it can be adjusted as priorities 
change. The starting point for such a process could be a review 
of existing, related initiatives such as the UN's Comprehensive 
Framework for Action (CFA), and the Voluntary Guidelines to 
Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate 
Food in the Context of National Food Security. 
 
 
 
III. COMPOSITION, MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION, AND 
 
CONSULTATION / COORDINATION MECHANISMS 
 
¶A. COMPOSITION AND MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION 
 
¶7. The CFS is and remains an intergovernmental Committee. It 
will be composed of members, participants and observers and will 
seek to achieve a balance between inclusiveness and 
effectiveness. Its composition will ensure that the voices of 
all relevant stakeholders - particularly those most affected by 
food insecurity - are heard. It shall further take into account 
 
UN ROME 00000059  005 OF 013 
 
 
the fact that the overall CFS includes not only an annual global 
meeting, but also a series of intersessional activities at 
various levels. 
 
¶B. MEMBERS 
 
¶8. The membership of the Committee shall be open to all Members 
of FAO, WFP or IFAD, or non-member States of FAO that are member 
States of the United Nations. 
 
¶9. Member States are encouraged to participate in Committee 
sessions at the highest level possible (Ministerial or cabinet 
level is desirable), insofar as possible representing a common, 
inter-ministerial governmental position. In those countries 
where there is a multistakeholder, inter-ministerial national 
body or mechanism concerning food security and nutrition, Member 
States are encouraged to include its representatives in their 
delegations to the Committee. 
 
¶10. Members take part fully in the work of the Committee with 
the right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions, 
approve meeting documents and agendas, submit and present 
documents and formal proposals, and interact with the Bureau 
during the intersessional period. Voting and decision taking is 
the exclusive prerogative of Members, including drafting the 
final report of CFS Plenary sessions. 
 
 
 
¶C. PARTICIPANTS 
 
¶11. The Committee shall be open to participants from the 
following categories of organizations and entities: 
 
 
 
i. Representatives of UN agencies and bodies with a specific 
mandate in the field of food security and nutrition such as FAO, 
IFAD, WFP, the HLTF (as a coordinating mechanism of the UN-SG) 
and representatives of other relevant UN System bodies 
 
whose overall work is related to attaining food security, 
nutrition, and the right to food such as the Special Rapporteur 
on the Right to Food, the Office of the UN High Commissioner on 
Human Rights, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, Standing Committee on 
 
Nutrition (SCN). 
 
 
 
ii. Civil society and non-governmental organizations and their 
networks with strong relevance to issues of food security and 
nutrition with particular attention to organizations 
representing smallholder family farmers, artisanal fisherfolk, 
herders/pastoralists, landless, urban poor, agricultural and 
food workers, women, youth, consumers, Indigenous Peoples, and 
International NGOs whose mandates and activities are 
concentrated in the areas of concern to the Committee. This 
group will aim to achieve gender and geographic balance in their 
representation. 
 
 
 
iii. International agricultural research systems, such as 
through representatives of the Consultative Group on 
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and others. 
 
iv. International and regional Financial Institutions including 
World Bank, International Monetary Fund, regional development 
banks and WTO. 
 
 
 
v. Representatives of private sector associations2 and private 
philanthropic foundations active in the areas of concern to the 
Committee. 
 
 
 
¶12. Participants take part in the work of the Committee with the 
right to intervene in plenary and breakout discussions to 
contribute to preparation of meeting documents and agendas, 
submit and present documents and formal proposals. They commit 
to contribute regularly to inter-sessional activities of the 
Committee at all levels and interact with the Bureau during the 
inter-sessional period through the Advisory Group established by 
 
UN ROME 00000059  006 OF 013 
 
 
the Bureau. 
 
 
 
¶D. OBSERVERS 
 
¶13. The Committee or its Bureau may invite other interested 
organizations relevant to its work to observe entire sessions or 
on specific agenda items. Such organizations or bodies may also 
apply to the Committee for Observer status to participate 
regularly, periodically or exceptionally on specific issues 
subject to the decision of the Committee or its Bureau. Such 
organizations could include: 
 
 
 
i. Regional associations of countries and regional 
intergovernmental development institutions; 
 
 
 
ii. Local, national, regional and global CSOs/NGOs, other than 
those attending as participants, which are active in areas 
related to food security, nutrition, and the right to food, 
particularly organizations which are linked to a regional or 
global 
 
network; 
 
 
 
iii. Other networks or associative organizations including local 
authorities, foundations and research or technical institutions. 
 
 
 
¶14. Observers at Committee sessions may be invited by the Chair 
to intervene during discussions. 
 
 
 
¶15. Mechanisms for enhancing the effectiveness of CFS Plenary 
discussions will be explored, such as that of holding 
preparatory consultations of regional groups and of Participant 
constituencies (civil society, private sector, etc.) to define 
positions and nominate spokespersons. Plenary sessions of the 
Committee should be organized in a way that are manageable and 
produce concrete outcomes. There is no limit to the 
participation by Members. The Bureau will determine the 
allocation of seats for Participants and Observers in 
consultation with the CSO/NGO coordination mechanisms. The quota 
assigned to civil society organizations and NGOs will be such as 
to ensure their visible and effective participation, equitable 
geographic representation, with particular attention to the 
categories of organizations detailed in paragraph 11(ii). 
 
 
 
¶E. CONSULTATION/COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND ACTIVITIES 
 
¶16. Civil society organizations/NGOs and their networks will be 
invited to autonomously establish a global mechanism for food 
security and nutrition which will function as a facilitating 
body for CSO/NGOs consultation and participation in the CFS. 
Such mechanisms will also serve inter-sessional global, regional 
and national actions in which organizations of those sectors of 
the population most affected by food insecurity, would be 
accorded priority representation. Civil society 
organizations/NGOs will submit to the CFS Bureau a proposal 
regarding how they intend to organize their participation in the 
CFS in a way that ensures broad and balanced participation by 
regions and types of organizations keeping in mind the 
principles approved by the CFS at its Thirty-Fourth Session in 
October 2008 (CFS: 2008/5; CL 135/10: paragraph 15). The 
activities of the mechanism will include: 
 
i. broad and regular exchange of information, analysis and 
experience; 
 
ii. developing common positions as appropriate; 
 
iii. communicating to the CFS and, as appropriate, its Bureau 
through representatives designated by an internal self-selection 
process within each civil society category; 
 
iv. convening a civil society forum as a preparatory event 
 
UN ROME 00000059  007 OF 013 
 
 
before CFS sessions if so decided by the civil society mechanism. 
 
 
 
¶17. Private sector associations, private philanthropic 
organizations and other CFS stakeholders active in areas related 
to food security, nutrition, and the right to food are 
encouraged to autonomously establish and maintain a permanent 
coordination mechanism for participation in the CFS and for 
actions derived from that participation at global, regional and 
national levels. They are invited to communicate a proposal to 
that effect to the CFS Bureau. 
 
 
 
IV. MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES 
 
¶A. OVERALL PROCESS AND STRUCTURE 
 
¶18. Bearing in mind that CFS will include a Plenary, as well as 
intersessional activities at different levels, the process of 
defining strategies and actions to be adopted by Members should 
be transparent and take into consideration the views of all 
participants and stakeholders to the fullest extent possible in 
order to foster ownership and full participation during 
implementation of these strategies and actions. 
 
 
 
¶19. The CFS will include: 
 
i. The Plenary of the CFS 
 
ii. The CFS Bureau and its Advisory Group 
 
iii. The High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) - a 
multi-disciplinary scientific advisory body to the CFS 
 
iv. The Secretariat serving the CFS (Plenary, Bureau and its 
Advisory Group, and HLPE) 
 
 
 
¶B. THE PLENARY 
 
¶20. The Plenary is the central body for decision-taking, debate, 
coordination, lesson- learning and convergence by all 
stakeholders at global level on issues pertaining to food 
security and nutrition and on the implementation of the 
Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of 
the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food 
Security. It should focus on relevant and specific issues 
related to food security and nutrition in order to provide 
guidance and actionable recommendations to assist all 
stakeholders in eradicating hunger. 
 
¶21. Regular Plenary Sessions shall be held annually. 
Extraordinary sessions may be requested by its Members and 
approved by the Bureau after consultation with CFS Members.  The 
results of the CFS Plenary shall be reported to the FAO 
Conference and to the UNGA through ECOSOC. The Chair of the CFS 
should consult with ECOSOC and take all necessary actions so 
that modalities for meaningful reporting be established and 
implemented. CFS Participants, including UN and other 
intergovernmental agencies, NGOs and CSOs are encouraged to 
consider in their respective governing bodies the outcomes of 
the CFS which are relevant to their own activities. 
 
¶22. Any specific recommendations adopted by the Plenary of the 
CFS which affect the 
 
programme or finances and legal or constitutional aspects of 
concerned UN entities shall be reported to their appropriate 
bodies. 
 
 
 
¶C. LINKAGES BETWEEN CFS AND THE REGIONAL AND COUNTRY LEVELS 
 
¶23. It is crucial that the work of the CFS is based on the 
reality on the ground. It will be fundamental for the CFS, 
through its Bureau and Advisory Group, to nurture and maintain 
linkages with different actors at regional, sub regional and 
local levels to ensure ongoing, two-way exchange of information 
among these stakeholders during intersessional periods. This 
will ensure that at its annual sessions the Plenary is made 
 
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aware of latest developments on the ground, and that, 
conversely, results of the deliberations of the Plenary are 
widely disseminated at regional, sub-regional and country as 
well as global levels. Existing linkages should be strengthened, 
such as through the FAO Regional Conferences, and other regional 
and sub-regional bodies dealing with food security and nutrition 
related issues. 
 
 
 
¶24. CFS Members States are encouraged, at their discretion, to 
constitute or strengthen multi-disciplinary national mechanisms 
(e.g. food security networks, national alliances, national CFS) 
including all key stakeholders dedicated to advance food 
security at national and local levels. Through renewed 
mobilization and coordination of key stakeholders, such 
mechanisms will enable more effective identification and 
implementation of food security and nutrition policies and 
programs. 
 
 
 
¶25. Existing structures should be used to ensure programs are 
better integrated with each other and aligned with on-going 
national and local food security and nutrition priorities. This 
would take advantage of the field presence of stakeholders 
involved in the CFS. Key partners will include United Nations 
Country Teams, the United Nation's High Level Task Force (HLTF), 
the International Alliance against Hunger and its National 
Alliances, national and regional food security thematic groups, 
and a large number of civil society networks and private sector 
associations operating at the regional and national levels. 
 
 
 
¶26. Such mechanisms could contribute to the elaboration of 
national plans against hunger and assist with the monitoring and 
evaluation of agreed actions and outcomes designed to combat 
hunger and food insecurity. They could also be instrumental in 
informing regional bodies and the CFS Plenary about successes 
achieved as well as remaining challenges and needs with a view 
to soliciting guidance and assistance in this regard. 
 
 
 
¶27. Establishing linkages with the country level is likely to be 
more challenging in countries with weak capacity or in those 
without a central organization to address food security and 
nutrition in a multisectoral manner. Nevertheless, it is 
precisely in such cases that the CFS Plenary should ensure that 
consultation with and input from the national level takes place. 
Ways of enabling such linkages need to be found. 
 
 
 
¶28. FAO Regional Conferences and regional meetings of WFP, IFAD 
and other concerned organizations are encouraged to devote part 
of their agendas to disseminate CFS conclusions and 
recommendations and to provide inputs to the CFS. Such regional 
bodies should, in coordination with the CFS Bureau and Advisory 
Group, open themselves to the participation of regional 
representatives of CFS participants and observers, including 
active participation by relevant regional intergovernmental and 
CSO organizations and networks, and to regional development 
institutions. The possibility of the CFS establishing and 
maintaining contacts through its Bureau to other regional 
organizations, such as NEPAD/CAADP, MERCOSUR, Arab Organization 
for Agriculture Development, Community of Independent States, 
and others, including regional CSO networks, should also be kept 
open. 
 
 
 
¶D. BUREAU 
 
¶29. The CFS Bureau represents the broader membership of the CFS 
between plenary sessions. It ensures coordination among all 
actors and levels and advances tasks in preparation for CFS 
plenary sessions. 
 
 
 
¶30. The Bureau will perform tasks delegated to it by the Plenary 
including the preparation of documents and proposals such as 
setting the agenda and sending requests to and receiving inputs 
from the High Level Panel of Experts. It will facilitate 
 
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coordination among relevant actors and levels to advance 
intersessional tasks entrusted to it. The Bureau should also 
deal with matters related to the implementation of the reform 
proposed in this document. 
 
 
 
¶31. The Bureau shall be composed of the Chairperson and 
[seven]/[twelve]/[thirteen] members, [one]/[two] coming from 
each of the following geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, 
Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, and [one]/[two] from 
each North America and South-West Pacific3 The CFS Chairperson, 
on a rotational basis among regions, and other members of the 
Bureau shall be elected in CFS Plenary for a term of two years. 
 
 
 
¶32. The Bureau, immediately following its election, will 
establish an Advisory Group composed of representatives of FAO, 
WFP and IFAD and other non-Member CFS Participants (see para 
11). The Advisory Group will have the same tenure as the Bureau. 
The Bureau will invite the different constituencies of CFS 
Participants to designate their representatives to this Group, 
which normally will not exceed that of the CFS Bureau in 
numbers. The function of the Advisory Group is to provide input 
to the Bureau regarding the range of tasks which the CFS Plenary 
has instructed it to perform. Decision making will be in the 
hands of the member States. It is expected that members of the 
Advisory Group should be able to contribute substantive work and 
provide advice to the CFS Bureau. 
 
 
 
¶E. CFS SECRETARIAT 
 
¶33. There should be a small, permanent CFS Secretariat located 
in FAO Rome. Its task will be to assist the Plenary, the Bureau 
and Advisory Group, and the High Level Panel of Experts in their 
work. 
 
 
 
¶34. [For the biennium 2009-2010, the Secretariat will be headed 
by a Secretary from FAO and include staff from the other 
Rome-based agencies (WFP and IFAD). Further arrangements 
regarding the rotation of the Secretary among the Rome based 
agencies and the inclusion in the Secretariat of other UN 
entities directly concerned with food security and nutrition 
should be decided by the CFS plenary in 2011.] OR [The 
Secretariat will be headed by a Secretary from FAO and include 
staff from the other Rome-based agencies (WFP and IFAD). Further 
arrangements regarding the inclusion in the Secretariat of other 
UN entities directly concerned with food security and nutrition 
should be decided by the CFS plenary.] 
 
 
 
¶35. The present CFS Secretariat will continue to perform its 
functions until final decisions of CFS Plenary as per paragraph 
34 are adopted and implemented. 
 
 
 
¶V. EXPERT INPUT TOWARD REVITALIZED CFS 
 
¶A. HIGH LEVEL PANEL OF EXPERTS ON FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION 
 
(HLPE) 
 
¶36. In line with efforts to revitalize the Committee on World 
Food Security, members called for regular inclusion of 
structured food security and nutrition-related expertise to 
better inform its sessions. This effort should help create 
synergies between world class academic/scientific knowledge, 
field experience, knowledge from social actors and practical 
application in various settings. Given the multidisciplinary 
complexity of food security, the effort is aimed at improving 
communication and information-sharing among the different 
stakeholders in food security and nutrition. Its products will 
focus on better understanding current food insecurity situations 
and will also look forward toward emerging issues. The expert 
process will, through Plenary and the Bureau, aim to support CFS 
members and other stakeholders in designing strategies and 
programs for addressing food insecurity. Participants in this 
expert process will utilize and synthesize available 
research/analyses and add value to the work performed already by 
 
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numerous agencies, organizations, and academic institutions, 
among others. 
 
 
 
¶B. KEY FUNCTIONS OF HLPE 
 
¶37. As directed by the CFS Plenary and Bureau, the HLPE will: 
 
i. Assess and analyze the current state of food security and 
nutrition and its underlying causes. 
 
ii. Provide scientific and knowledge-based analysis and advice 
on specific policy relevant issues, utilizing existing high 
quality research, data and technical studies. 
 
iii. Identify emerging issues, and help members prioritize 
future actions and attentions on key focal areas. 
 
 
 
¶C. STRUCTURE AND MODUS OPERANDI OF HLPE 
 
¶38. The HLPE will have two main components: 
 
i. A Steering Committee composed of at least 10 and not 
exceeding 15 internationally recognized experts in a variety of 
food security and nutrition-related fields. 
 
ii. Ad hoc project teams constituting a larger subsidiary 
network of food security and nutrition experts acting on a 
project-specific basis, selected and managed by the HLPE 
Steering Committee to analyze/report on specific issues. 
 
 
 
¶39. Led by a Chair and Vice-Chair, elected among the members of 
the Steering 
 
Committee, the HLPE will: 
 
i. Ensure state-of-the-art studies/analyses for consideration by 
CFS sessions on a variety of food security and nutrition issues. 
 
ii. Assemble expert "project teams" to prepare studies/analyses 
for CFS sessions. 
 
iii. Determine working methodologies and terms of reference for 
project teams, and manage their work. 
 
iv. Normally meet two times per year in Rome and possibly more 
in extraordinary circumstances, to review work methodologies and 
prepare work plans/products. 
 
 
 
¶40. Led by a team leader, the time-bound expert "project teams" 
will be responsible for drafting of studies/analyses under the 
HLPE Steering Committee direction and oversight. 
 
 
 
¶D. OUTPUT OF HLPE 
 
¶41. By request of the CFS Plenary or Bureau, the Steering 
Committee will provide scientifically sound, clear and concise 
written reports/analyses for Plenary or inter-sessional purposes. 
 
 
 
¶42. Following its introduction as an item on the agenda by the 
Bureau and according to the nature and purpose of a project, a 
report, its conclusions and recommendations could be introduced 
in CFS Plenary by the Chair of the HLPE Steering Committee in 
possible conjunction with the head of a specific project team. 
 
 
 
¶E. COMPOSITION / SELECTION OF THE HLPE 
 
¶43. The CFS Bureau, in close cooperation with FAO management and 
drawing from applicable FAO legal texts, will solicit 
nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee. 
 
 
 
 
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i. The Steering Committee should reflect an assortment of 
technical disciplines, and regional expertise and origin. Ideal 
candidates will have relevant experience working with 
cross-disciplinary expert processes. 
 
ii. Members of the Steering Committee will participate in their 
individual capacities, and not as representatives of their 
respective governments, institutions or organizations. 
 
iii. Members of the Steering Committee will serve for a 2-year 
period, renewable once. 
 
 
 
¶44. The CFS Bureau will designate an ad hoc technical selection 
committee comprised of representatives from among the Rome-based 
food/agriculture agencies (FAO, WFP, IFAD, CGIAR/Bioversity, a 
CSO/NGO rep) to choose the Steering Committee members. The ad 
hoc technical selection committee will submit its 
recommendations to the CFS Bureau for approval. 
 
 
 
¶45. Early in 2010, the first 10 members of the HLPE Steering 
Committee will be selected.  The HLPE Steering Committee will 
then designate its Chair and Co-Chair to begin its work in 
anticipation of the CFS October 2010 Session, based on explicit 
instructions from the CFS Bureau. Additional members could be 
chosen shortly after October 2010 Plenary. 
 
 
 
¶46. Members of the HLPE ad-hoc project teams will be chosen by 
the HLPE Steering Committee notably drawn from a database of 
experts to which CFS stakeholders can nominate experts at any 
time. 
 
 
 
¶F. SECRETARIAL SERVICES 
 
¶47. The joint CFS Secretariat, will assist the work of the HLPE 
Steering Committee and its Chair. Its functions will include, 
though are not limited to: 
 
i. Maintain a roster of experts. 
 
ii. Organize meetings of the HLPE Steering Committee and assist 
project teams, as needed. 
 
iii. Maintain system of communications, including posting of 
relevant reports/analyses. 
 
iv. Assist with preparation of working budget and other support 
documentation. 
 
 
 
¶G. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO THE HLPE STEERING COMMITTEE 
 
¶48. Immediately following adoption of this agreement during the 
October 2009 CFS Plenary, a letter co-signed by the CFS Chair 
and FAO Director General will be sent to CFS members and others, 
soliciting nominations for the HLPE Steering Committee. This 
letter would explain the structure of the new process, and 
contain the agreed Terms of Reference. 
 
 
 
VI. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS 
 
¶A. LEGAL MATTERS 
 
¶49. The extent to which CFS reform proposals would require 
changes to the Genera Rules and Regulations of FAO governance 
aspects such as CFS membership, composition of the Bureau and 
Secretariat, and reporting arrangements, would require 
adjustments to legal dimensions of the CFS will be addressed by 
FAO Legal Counsel once the nature of the proposed changes is 
established. 
 
 
 
¶B. COST AND FUNDING 
 
¶50. The cost of a reformed CFS will be influenced by the nature 
 
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and extent of functions and activities ascribed to it, 
particularly to its Bureau and Secretariat. Funding implications 
include considerations such as whether the costs of the new CFS 
would be shared by the main agencies involved, and to what 
extent (as per paragraphs 32-34). A preliminary budget and 
modalities of funding for the next biennium, including the use 
of voluntary contributions and trust funds for the HLPE, will be 
prepared by the Bureau and will be presented to the October 
plenary session for consideration by Members with a view to gain 
approval by FAO Conference. Resource mobilization strategies to 
cover the costs of participation by NGOs/CSOs from developing 
countries will also need to be addressed, as agreed by the CFS 
at its Thirty-Fourth Session. 
 
 
 
¶C. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 
 
¶51. Bearing in mind the complexity of the tasks ahead and with a 
view to improving the effectiveness of CFS, the Committee should 
focus on tangible outputs and outcomes as well as a roadmap for 
the progressive attainment of the renewed vision. More specific 
outcomes will have to be defined by the revitalized CFS in its 
forthcoming Sessions. It is proposed that, at its next Session, 
the CFS agrees on a phased and results-based plan to implement 
reform as outlined in this document. With this in mind, it is 
suggested that at its 35th Session, the CFS be invited to: 
 
 
 
Task Proposed deadline 
 
October 2009: 
 
- Approve CFS Reform document 
 
- Election of CFS Bureau (paras 29-32) 
 
- Bureau to present a draft budget and financing strategy for 
the reformed CFS including the HLPE(para 49) 
 
- Call for nominations to the HLPE Steering Committee 
 
 
 
November 2009: 
 
- Legal Office to finalize changes to the General Rules of FAO 
and the Rules of Procedure of the CFS (para 48) 
 
- Bureau to designate the ad-hoc technical selection committee 
for HLPE Steering Committee members (para 46) 
 
 
 
January 2010 
 
- Bureau to establish an Advisory Group (para 32) 
 
- Make arrangements to establish a Secretariat (paras 33-35) 
 
- Designate the HLPE Steering Committee members (para 44) 
 
 
 
February 2010 
 
- First joint meeting of the HLPE Steering Committee and CFS 
Bureau and Secretariat to discuss areas requiring advice from 
the HLPE and agree on a timetable for delivery (para 45) 
 
 
 
April 2010 
 
- Bureau to develop a work programme through a consultative 
process 
 
 
 
October 2010 
 
- Bureau to submit a proposal for a work programme including 
implementation of (some parts of) Phase II, to the 36th Session 
of CFS. 
 
 
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¶52. The Committee may wish to endorse this document and entrust 
the Bureau to proceed with implementation as outlined above. 
 
 
 
NOTES 
 
Concept of Food Security 
 
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have 
physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious 
food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an 
active and healthy life. The four pillars of food security are 
availability, stability of supply, access and utilization. The 
nutritional dimension is integral to the concept of food 
security and to the work 
 
of CFS. 
 
 
 
Reform process 
 
The reform proposals made in this document are the results of 
deliberations between the CFS Bureau and an open Contact Group 
established to advise the Bureau on all aspects of CFS reform. 
This participatory process included representatives from FAO 
Membership, WFP, IFAD, Bioversity International, the UN-High 
Level Task Force on the Global Food Security 
 
Crisis (HLTF), the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, and 
NGOs/CSOs/private sector. 
 
 
 
Next steps 
 
In order to complete this process, the Committee is invited to 
first focus its attention on bracketed text. 
 
 
 
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