The High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis (HLTF) was established by the UN Chief Executive Board (CEB) in April 2008 to ensure that the UN system’s work is coherent, coordinated and effective. It is a decision making body bringing together the heads of 22 different UN system agencies, funds, programmes and financial institutions (as of September 2009). It is chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General with the Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as Vice-Chair.

The GOAL of the HLTF is to ensure that all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

The PURPOSE of the entities represented within the HLTF is to work and support the outcomes within the Comprehensive Framework for Action (CFA) at community, country, regional and global level. This purpose is realized through assisting national authorities in their efforts to ensure that:

• Those in need benefit from safety nets including cash transfers and food assistance to prevent adverse consequences of hunger – including malnutrition – in ways that reflect best practice and are adequately funded,
• Governments have the fiscal space to implement policies that benefit the poor and avoid imposing export bans – especially for food destined for the most vulnerable,
• Smallholder farmers are able to access the fertilizers and seeds they need for coming planting seasons, and to sell their products at a fair price through accessible markets,
• Underlying structural problems in food systems are tackled through strategic and long term investment in improved agricultural productivity – in ways that involve community groups and the private sector.

The HLTF members have agreed, in 2009, a Programme of Work organized around four major OBJECTIVES:

• Coordinated support for in-country action to improve food and nutrition security;
• Mobilization of investment from within countries and from the international community to support urgently needed actions and longer-term national and regional plans for food and nutrition security;
• Galvanizing the strategic engagement of multiple stakeholders in concerted and sustained efforts to improve food security through partnering at local, national, regional and global levels;
• Tracking the efforts of the international community as it makes commitments for food and nutrition security, and examining progress towards the realization of the CFA outcomes.

The HLTF meets every two months. It also meets when urgent situations require its attention and involvement.

• Eleventh Meeting of the High-Level task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis – October 2009
• Tenth Meeting of the High-Level task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis – September 2009
• Ninth Meeting of the High-Level task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis – June 2009
• Eighth Meeting of the High-Level task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis – 23 March 2009
• Seventh Meeting of the High-Level task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis – 20 February 2009
• Sixth meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis - 15 December 2008
• Fifth meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis - 18 September 2008
• Fourth meeting of the High-Level Task Force of the Global Food Security Crisis - 28 July 2008
• Third meeting of the High-Level Task Force of the Global Food Security Crisis - 24 June 2008
• Second Meeting of the High-Level Task Force of the Global Food Security Crisis - 28 May 2008
• First meeting of the High-Level Task Force of the Global Food Security Crisis - 12 May 2008

The HLTF Senior Steering Group (SSG)

The Senior Steering Group facilitates the work of the High Level Task Force for the Global Food Security and serves as a technical working group. The SSG provides the Task Force with substantive analysis and advice and brings together senior level representatives of the 22 agencies part of the HLTF. It meets once a month and when situations require its attention. In July 2008, it completed the Comprehensive Framework for Action in consultation with concerned stakeholders.

The HLTF Coordinator

In January 2009, the Secretary General designated David Nabarro as Coordinator of the High Level Task Force for the Global Food Security Crisis. The Coordinator chairs the Senior Steering Group and assists the HLTF as it pursues its Programme of Work. He reports to the UN Secretary General and serves as his representative when requested.

The HLTF Coordination Team and Network

A small HLTF Coordination Team (up to 10 staff seconded from HLTF agencies and governments) supports the HLTF Coordinator. The Team is located in Rome (main hub), New York and Geneva and its role is to help ensure that existing coordination mechanisms function as intended, with specific focus on country level. The Coordination Team performs five key functions:

• Monitoring coordination in country with a view to supporting stronger country-led responses: tracking the overall response to food insecurity (including resource flows) at country level;
• Encouraging in-country partnerships which can contribute better towards the realization of the Comprehensive Framework for Action outcomes;
• Maintaining productive relations with key outside stakeholders: the private sector, civil society (NGOs), regional bodies and Member States (including major donors in particular);
• Supporting the members of the HLTF on consolidated analysis and advocacy issues, including links between research and policy, stocktaking and reporting, resource mobilization and high-level conferences;
• Providing briefings and other support to the office of the Secretary-General and the HLTF.

The HLTF Coordination Team is also fostering the evolution of a functioning Network of various stakeholder organizations engaged in the response to food insecurity. The Network offers the HLTF (through its Coordinator) a facility for multi-way communication among different stakeholder groups. The Network members work together, as effectively as possible, within the spirit of the Comprehensive Framework for Action, with a focus on listening and responding to vulnerable groups and national authorities, on linking with donor agencies, regional bodies, civil society, farmer organizations and private sector stakeholders and encouraging collective action at country level. The Network encourages, and acts as a springboard for, the shaping of a movement towards enabling food security for all.

The Coordination Team does not have responsibility for project formulation, nor does it mobilize funds or other resources on behalf of the members of the HLTF. Resource mobilization and project design functions are undertaken by the individual agencies, funds, programmes and financing institutions.

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