FAO’s Experience in Mainstreaming Communication for Development to Reach the MDGs

1. FAO’s Experience in Mainstreaming Communication for Development to Reach the MDGs Riccardo del Castello Communication for Development Officer 10th Inter-Agency Roundtable on Communication for Development Addis Ababa, 12-14 February 2007

2. FAO and the Millennium Development Goals • Mandate to promote agriculture, nutrition, forestry, fisheries and rural development • WFS goal:Eradicate Hunger • FAO a world centre of food and agricultural information and knowledge • A forum for policy dialogue, agreements among nations, and as a resource for its members • Improve livelihoods of rural populations through information and communication

3. FAO and the Millennium Development Goals Direct and indirect contributions of FAOto the Millennium Development Goals

4. Communication for Development in FAO "a social process designed to seek a common understanding among all participants of a development initiative, creating a basis for concerted action".

5. Communication for Development in FAO Support and advice to member nations: Communication for Development approaches and methodologies (i.e. needs assessments, PRCA) Communication strategy design and formulation Capacity building Communication for Development Policy formulation

6. Communication for Development and MDGs Bridging the Rural Digital Divide (BRDD) Innovative approaches to knowledge exchange using ICTs Synergies between communication and information management Examples: VERCON/RADCON – Strengthening information and communication between agricultural services and farmers to improve food production and nutrition. IMARK – Information management resource kit

7. Communication for Development and MDGs Communication in Emergencies Emergency programmes threatening food security incorporating community-led and participatory based communication approaches. Examples: Information campaigns for Avian Flu – in collaboration with WHO and Unicef Information and Communication activities on desert locust outbreaks, preventive control methods and safe use of pesticides

8. Communication for Development and MDGs Multi-media approaches Use of new and traditional communication tools to exchange information, promote participation and ownership, support bottom-up articulation of IC needs Examples: Rural Radio Communication systems for NRM, indigenous people and HIV/AIDS

9. Inter-agency collaboration Potential areas of collaboration: FAO, UNDP, ITU, UNESCO, UNFPA Joint in-country level planning to provide communication projects where each agency brings their respective expertise. (i.e. infrastructure, telecoms, policy, training, information providers)

10. Country Evidences from Specific Programmes DIMITRA Right to Food

11. WHY DO WE COMMUNICATE GENDER FOR DEVELOPMENT? Eliane Najros – Dimitra Project Coordinator FAO – Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division http://www.fao.org/sd/dimitra

12. Why communication for development? Access to information and knowledge is a human right. How is it linked to gender? The world can only grow if it involves the totality of its population, women and men.

13. Dimitra puts gender into practice: Dimitra is an information and communication project. It aims to highlight the contribution of rural women to the development of their communities.

14. Dimitra stands for: PARTNERSHIP – PARTICIPATION – NETWORKING • Dimitra works in close collaboration with partner organizations in Africa and the Near East in order to collect information and raise awareness on gender issues.

15. Dimitra collects a body of knowledge on organizations and projects involving rural populations, particularly women (Dbase of some 1500 organizations) • Dimitra widely shares information and experiences, using both modern and traditional communication methods and tools, rural radio in particular.

16. Dimitra contributes to the organization of workshops, conferences and events on specific issues. • The topics are chosen by grassroots organizations themselves. • Examples are: women and access to land; women and the fight against sexual violence; the impact of HIV/AIDS on rural women; the synergies between rural women’s networks and rural community radios; etc.

17. In short, what does Dimitra do? • Show those who are invisible • Give a voice to those unheard • Provide a face to gender

18. Communication for Development in Rights-based Approach to Food Security Andreas Von Brandt Right to Food Unit - FAO

19. Communicating Rights-based Approach to Food Security • In 2004, member states of the Food and Agriculture Organization unanimously adopted the Voluntary Guidelines to support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the context of National Food Security. • FAO's Right to Food Unit was formed in 2005 to work on the implementation and operationalization of the human right to adequate food using the Voluntary Guidelines.

20. Operationalization of Right to Food • The Unit focuses more and more on “putting into to practice” the right to adequate food at country and regional levels. In practical terms, the Right to Food Unit has been assisting governments in implementing the right to food in their countries by providing: • Advocacy and training • Information and assessment • Legislation and accountability • Strategy and coordination • Benchmarks and monitoring

21. Implementation of Right to Food in Brazil • Started with the mobilization of civil society, organized around the National Platform on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights; • The National Council of Food and Nutritional Security (CONSEA) established with the aim to advise the President • The Public Ministry was active both at state and federal levels on right to food violations. FAO provided technical guidance and support. • Grassroots mobilization forced the government to recognize the human right to adequate food, resulting in the adoption of the Food and Nutritional Security law in 2006.

22. Value-added of using rights-based approach • The rights based approach can strengthen multi-sectoral policy coordination, initiate the support of decision-makers, keep a dialogue open between stakeholders, and promote reflection, participation and action at community level • A functioning rights-based approach is in itself a big step towards sound two-way communication supported by law and governance, as it fosters political dialogue and ensures accountability • Human rights add legitimacy and carry a greater weight in international and national policy dialogue.

23. Synergiesbetween rights-based approach and ComDev • Communication for development tools can play a vital role in empowering the right-holders and providing mechanisms that do not yet exist in formal recourse. • This is particularly relevant in informing the right-holders and enabling them to take an active part in their own development. • Need to explore potential synergies with traditional and new communication methodologies and tools to maximize the impact and effectiveness of rights-based approach.

24. Thank You