Discussions Points from the CISANET workshop Presented by Edson Musopole

1. Discussions Points from the CISANET workshop Presented by Edson Musopole

2. Introduction • The meeting took place in Lilongwe – Sheaffer Conference Centre • Meeting Outline • Presentations from the experts • - situational analysis • Group Discussions – divided into two • -- Agro-economy issues • -- Macro-economic issues

3. Macro-Economy Issues

4. Macro-Economic Issues • What are the gaps? • Governance aspects • - Legal framework • –- articulate Constitutional freedoms & other freedoms e.g. “Right to Food” • -- remedial & punitive measures against ‘perpertrators’ • - [Strong] Political will (to implement)/low interferance • - Accountability • - Commitment to set the environment working by Government

5. Macro-Economic Issues cont’d • Budgetary Allocations to Food Security • - Country agreements • –- commitment of Malawi Government to implement international agreements e.g. NEPAD’s 10% of budget for agriculture & food security etc. • - [National] resource allocation • -- low apportionment btwn admin. Vs. service delivery budget lines • Removal/tax exemption form agricultural inputs & equipment • -- spare parts etc. • Targetted production subsidies (as opposed to consumption subsidies)

6. Macro-Economic Issues cont’d Food Management • - Community Grain Banking • -- Macro (SGR) to microlevel (community) linkages • - Food Shortage • -- [Strong] Linkage of SGR facility to national food vulnerability • -- Food Aid not to undermine local production e.g. its effects on local producer prices • -- GM policy linked to ‘Right to Food’ • -- Suggest changes to all policies that conflict food management issues e.g. open right to import vs. stimulating local production • -- Encourage local, regional sourcing of food

7. Macro-Economic Issues cont’d Food Management • - Disaster Management/Food Shortage cont’d • -- Encourage local, regional sourcing of food • -- Facilitating agencies (Govt., NGO) to change mind-set of recipients • -- Resolve conflicting nature of relief vs. development services -- transition from relief to development activities I.e. develop exit strategies

8. Macro-Economic Issues cont’d • Linkages • -- decentralisation emphasis • -- [Strong] Inter-ministerial linkages • -- links between macro policies with all relevant sectors – ‘challenge’ • Micro-Credit Issues • - Lack of code of conduct • Conditions for Policy Feasibility • - Depoliticising food security issues/political will • - [Sufficient] Capacity to implement • - Diversify food reserves i.e. not only maize but other crops

9. Agro-Economy Issues

10. Agro-Economic Issues Information Systems • - Catalogue stakeholders involved in collection, processing, purposes and end-users of information • Link information systems with decentralised structures i.e. include grass-roots as end-users – strategies • Uniformity/standardisation of key/primary information • Development of guiding principles in collection and release of information

11. Agro-Economic Issues cont’d Nutrition • Situational Analysis • - Coordination lapse • -- different players doing it alone • -- situation: ’pockets’ of operations • Lack of nutrition knowledge amongst field staff • Field staff specialised in Nutrition lacking

12. Agro-Economic Issues cont’d Nutrition • Policy Actions • - Commitment by donors, Govt., NGOs to the establishment of a national structure on nutrition • [Intensive] Nutrition training of existing agricultural staff • Deliberate actions to mitigate HIV/AIDS • - HIV/AIDS mainstreaming at Ministry & hh level interventions

13. Agro-Economic Issues cont’d Agro-Economy • - At national level, recognition of livestock as a safety net measure • Agricultural intervention need to be multi-sectoral i.e. not only crop-based • Community empowerment to enhance food security & related issues • -- Community grainbanks, irrigation revolving funds, health & nutrition • -- Development & promotion of HIV/AIDS friendly technologies • -- Gender: recognition of women as major labour providers & reflect them in policies