International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture

22 March 2022. 14:30 CET Special Event, Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture

Food for All explores how post-war developments have helped change the provision of international financial and technical assistance to support the global food and agriculture system and how developing countries' own efforts have contributed to this transformation. These developments and the increasing number of global actors have expanded and complicated global governance, presenting both opportunities and challenges for food systems. This volume analyzes the structure, coordination, and management of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), World Bank --the largest international funder of policy advice and investment projects, and CGIAR, a leading funder of international agricultural research.

This event featured a panel discussion on key topics raised in Food for All such as global governance, food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, and gender. 

• Opening Remarks - Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI
• Book Overview - Uma Lele, International Policy Expert and Development Economist and President, International Association of Agricultural Economists
• David Spielman, Senior Research Fellow/Program Leader-Rwanda, IFPRI- David Spielman commented on the changing global governance context for food security and nutrition and the role of CGIAR. David Bathrick, Rural Growth Strategist, Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, Minister Counselor, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) -  David Bathrick focused on the need for overarching strategies to facilitate the labor force’s transition from agriculture to other sectors in order to achieve poverty reduction for integrated agricultural and rural development.
• Nalishebo Meebelo, Executive Director at the Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI) Secretariat - Nalishebo Meebelo provided perspectives on Africa and gender. 
• Shahidur Rashid, Director for South Asia, IFPRI - Shahid Rashid spoke on the evolution of the CGIAR–NARS relationship.
• Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI

Resource:

Book available online: Lele U., Agarwal M, Baldwin B.C. , and Goswami S. (2021) Food for All International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture # 1063 p.

• This volume analyzes the structure, coordination, and management of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP), World Bank --the largest international funder of policy advice and investment projects, and CGIAR, a leading funder of international agricultural research.