Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Advancing Food Security in Fragile Contexts: Challenges and Promising Practices for Accountability and Partnering

Organizer(s): World Vision International, World Food Programme, Food And Agriculture Organization

26 Mar 25 09:00-10:30 UTC+1 (Salle Vevey)

SessionAbstract

Acute food insecurity is increasingly concentrated in fragile contexts, where political, social, environmental, and economic shocks threaten the dependability of food systems. Currently, an estimated 24% of the global population lives in fragile contexts and faces heightened food security risks due to supply chain and market disruptions, price volatility, poor infrastructure, ineffective governance, crop failures, violence, displacement, and other shocks. In 2023, more than 281 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 59 countries/ territories, according to the Global Network Against Food Crises. While the volume of needs continues to increase, the unique operational and access challenges present in fragile contexts and protracted crises paired with ongoing funding shortfalls challenges critical dimensions of food assistance programming, including maintaining standards, community engagement, and accountability mechanisms.

This session will explore best practices for meaningful participation and accountability to affected populations in food security programming in fragile contexts.In particular, this session will:

1. Showcase transformative approaches that promote dignity, co-creation with local actors, and engagement with/accountability to affected people.

2. Explore emerging models for integrating participatory accountability mechanisms into food assistance/food security programmes, with a focus on innovation.

3. Facilitate discussion around the importance and ways of integrating AAP with other people-centered approaches to ensure more integrated, coherent and joined up design and implementation of programmes.

In this session, participants will explore how to address acute food insecurity in partnership with affected communities, hear examples of successful programming, and share insights based on their own experiences through discussion and Q&A.

For further details about the session, please contact lora_boll@consultant.wvi.org

Agenda

● Welcome and introduction

● Accountability to affected populations and food security programming in fragile contexts: setting the scene

● Panel Discussion: Promising practices and lessons learned for accountability and partnering in food security programming in fragile contexts

● Q&A and discussion

● Closing reflections

Speakers

Amanda Rives, Senior Director for External Engagement and Resource Development, World Vision International.

Shannon Howard, Director (a.i.), Geneva Global Office, World Food Programme.

Zarlasht Rahimi, Accountability to Affected Population Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization Afghanistan.

Abdoulaye Ouedraogo, Président du Conseil d’Administration du SPONG, Burkina Faso

Sophie Tholstrup, Director of Policy & Climate, Ground Truth Solutions.

Moderated by Jeremy Wellard, Head of Humanitarian Coordination, International Council of Voluntary Agencies.