CFS 52: A Collaborative Step Towards Global Food Security
At the 52nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), member countries and diverse stakeholders came together to reaffirm the progressive realization of Right to Food as a universal goal. In the face of escalating food crises, CFS 52 achieved critical consensus on new Policy Recommendations on Reducing Inequalities and an Action Plan to increase the impact of its policy products worldwide. This collaborative spirit underscored CFS’s unique role as a platform for all stakeholders to work together to make food security a reality for all.
By Noispho Nausca-Jean Jezile
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The CFS is like a great family and families fight sometimes, but in the end, we choose to stay together and overcome difficulties through dialogue and cooperation (CFS 52).
The 52nd Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 52), which took place from 21 to 25 October, was an excellent illustration of this – the CFS report, a set of new Policy Recommendations and an Action Plan for enhanced uptake of CFS policy products were adopted by consensus of its 141 Member States.
The session marked a pivotal moment for advancing the Right to Adequate Food as it coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Right to Food Guidelines. Centered around this fundamental right, we hosted a Global Thematic Event (GTE) that brought together diverse stakeholders, including representatives from civil society, the private sector, Indigenous Peoples, parliamentarians, and academia. Each of them contributed their unique insights into the journey toward realizing the Right to Food for all and offered their perspectives on the implementation of the Right to Food Guidelines. Success stories were shared, but so too were the numerous challenges that persist. For the CFS and its network of stakeholders, the GTE was a powerful learning opportunity—a chance to reflect on the progress made, the obstacles encountered, and the critical priorities for moving forward. The GTE underlined the cross-cutting nature of the Right to Food for the CFS and other initiatives focusing on food security, while underscoring the need for additional action in implementing the Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food.
While highlighting various achievements, the discussions during the CFS plenary week made clear that much remains yet to be done.
In today’s world, hunger is unfortunately still a reality for many. According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, last year, 9.1% of the global population was undernourished.
Conflicts, climate change, and economic instability continue to drive food crises all around the world. Political and economic interests often diverge, complicating the collaborative international efforts needed to overcome these challenges.
Yet, CFS 52 demonstrated the potential of unity: the CFS successfully achieved consensus among its stakeholders, an achievement underscoring the strength of joint purpose in a diverse, multistakeholder environment. A major outcome of CFS 52 was the adoption of the latest Policy Recommendations on Reducing Inequalities for Food Security and Nutrition. This document addresses the various dimensions of inequality, providing governments and other stakeholders with a roadmap to tackle these issues.Among others, the document recommends that governments and other stakeholders contribute to a reduction of inequalities within food systems, for example by providing more equal access to land and markets. Furthermore, the Policy Recommendations highlight the importance of addressing the social and political drivers of inequalities, for example through the promotion of gender equality policies.
Alongside the Policy Recommendations, CFS 52 also adopted an Action Plan dedicated to improving the uptake of CFS policy products, which will serve as an important reference in the years to come. The Action Plan marks a proactive shift in CFS’s approach. While CFS has been successful in developing globally agreed-upon policy recommendations and voluntary guidelines, information and data about the uptake of these products have been limited. The new Action Plan sets a framework to systematically analyze the effectiveness of CFS products, foster awareness and promote ownership of the CFS policy tools, thus enhancing their practical utility and integration at country-level.
Implementing this Action Plan over the coming years will provide states and other stakeholders with actionable tools to increase the impact of CFS policy products at local, national, and global levels. Given that the Right to Food Guidelines underpin all CFS policy products, this effort will contribute significantly to advancing the Right to Adequate Food for everyone.
As the world’s foremost inclusive intergovernmental and multistakeholder platform for food security and nutrition, the CFS is uniquely positioned to bring together the range of stakeholders required to address these challenges.
Governments, the private sector, and civil society—particularly those most affected by food insecurity and malnutrition—find a space within the CFS to collaborate and move toward shared goals. The successes of CFS 52 have shown that with concerted effort, agreement can be achieved on complex and often controversial issues.
Looking ahead, the CFS will continue to unite these stakeholders in pursuit of the Right to Food, aiming for meaningful change and enhanced action. By maintaining its inclusive approach and commitment to collaboration, the CFS remains a beacon of hope and a critical actor in the global movement to achieve food security and nutrition for all.
