Due to the ongoing restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the CFS Bureau confirmed that also the CFS 47th Plenary Session, taking place from 8 to 11 of February 2021, will be hold virtually too.
Despite CSM contributions, the Bureau confirmed a timetable that will challenge inclusive participation to the Plenary, since plenary sessions debates, as well as side events, are scheduled from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm Rome time.
The current timetable, was received with concern and surprise by CSM Advisory Group members when realizing that COVID-19 crisis, which has exacerbated so many pre-existing structural problems and which is affecting hundreds of millions of people most at risk on all levels, was not put at the center nor explicitly mentioned in the draft agenda of the plenary. Despite CSM’s vocal advocacy for such an inclusion and the urgent demand of a CFS global policy response to COVID-19, CFS Bureau outcomes disappointedly confirmed the draft plenary agenda as presented prior to the meeting, arguing that Covid-19 would we mentioned cross-cuttingly throughout the week and that CFS should not pursue a global policy response to covid, considering the current work plan already a stretch in terms of workload.
This Plenary session is expected to take decisions on the following relevant items:
- Adoption of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition;
- Adoption of the Terms of Reference of the CFS Guidelines on Gender equality and women’s empowerment;
- Decision on the HLPE Report in 2022: on Data or Inequalities? There was no consensus found by the Bureau meeting in July 2019 about the sequence of these two work streams, and precisely for that reason, two events were agreed to be held on inequalities and data to explore which theme should come first (these events were included into the MYPOW). Based on the outcomes of these events, the CFS Plenary would have decided about the sequence of the two HLPE reports when discussing the rolling section of the MYPOW. CSM expected this discussion to resume from this starting point, but during the last CFS Advisory Group and Bureau meeting of 23 November, the CFS Secretariat resume the discussion from the assumption that a decision was already taken during CFS plenary 2019 and that Data would go first, followed by the process on inequalities. In terms of content, CSM clearly see that the Covid-19 crisis has made visible and exacerbated structural inequalities which are now among the main drivers of increasing hunger and malnutrition. Reducing inequalities is among the biggest urgencies of our times, especially when it comes to address increasing hunger and malnutrition.
Moreover, this upcoming CFS Plenary session will also hold its third Global Thematic Event to monitor the Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in protracted crisis. The CSM Monitoring and Protracted crisis working groups are currently working jointly on the CSM independent monitoring report to be presented during this dedicated CFS plenary session.
A limited number of virtual side events will be taking place during CFS 47th Plenary session and the CSM Global Food Governance in collaboration with the Youth and Women Working Groups will be working to submit a proposal on CSM’s behalf.
➡️ Any questions related to registration for CFS-47, should be made to: CFS47-registration@fao.org
➡️ As new documents and details about the Session emerge, they will be made available on the CSM website.
In order to attend CFS 47th Plenary Session, participants should register in advance of the meeting through this link or clicking on the button below by 22 January 2021.
This post will expire on Thursday February 18th, 2021 10:21am
