© FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Global Forum
on Food Security
and Nutrition
Linking practice to policy through
online consultations
“Have your say where it matters”
www.fao.org/fsnforum

2. The FSN Forum
The Forum is an online tool for knowledge
sharing on food security and nutrition
Aims:
• Better and more informed food security governance
processes at global, national and regional level
•Increased understanding and recognition of Food and
Nutrition Security as part of the global policy agenda
•Incorporation of a wider number of stakeholders views
into food security governance and drafting processes.
•Support of innovative thinking and multidisciplinary
approaches.

3. About the Forum
The Forum in numbers
•Founded in 2007
•4500 Members from 170 countries
•88 Online discussions
•9Thematic consultations
Languages
Website available in English, French and Spanish.
Comments accepted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian
and Spanish
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4. Structure of Membership
Africa 24% Technical cooperation 2%
Government 9%
Asia 19%
Private Sector 9%
Europe 23%
NGO/CSO 22%
LAC 14% UN/intergovernmental organizations 19%
Financial Institutions 1%
Near East 6%
Academic/Research bodies 32%
North America 12%
Partnerships 2%
Southwest Pacific 2% Independent/other 4%

5. Partners & Affiliated Networks

6. Activities / services offered
• Online discussions
- Nurturing the community, exchanging
knowledge , finding solutions
• Policy-driven consultations
- Making FS policy and drafting
processes more inclusive
• Targeted and regional dialogues
and webspaces
- Responding to specific needs

7. How a Forum Discussion Works
1. Interested Member/ Team contacts FSN Forum
2. Topic note and questions are developed. FSN Team assists
3. A discussion page is created
4. Discussion is launched for 3 weeks
5. FSN Team provides the advertisement and moderation
6. Digest with latest discussion are sent out (approx. every 2-3
days)
7. Summary, brief, handout is prepared
8. Feedback is collected
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8. Post 2015 Development Agenda
The consultation is part of the global consultative process, which
aims to identify the actions, goals, targets and indicators needed to
achieve food and nutrition security, and the eradication of
hunger, in a post-2015 world.
Discussion with CFS
E- Stakeholders
consultation
to brainstorm
on new
agenda
High Level
meeting in Madrid
Adoption of post 2015 UN General
global development Assembly
agenda Discussion

9. CFS Global Strategic Framework (GSF)
In August 2011 the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
turned to the FSN Forum to help gather inputs and buy –in from
the widest possible range of stakeholders towards the
development of a Global Strategic Framework for Food Security
and Nutrition (GSF).
CFS
Secretariat
Review and Task Team to draft V1
facilitate
Proposed
buy-in by
Annotated
stakeholders Regional
Outline
Consultations
CFS
Final Draft

10. High Level Panel of Experts of the CFS
The CFS asked the HLPE to prepare studies on: Climate Change, Price
Volatility, Land Tenure and Foreign Investment in Agriculture, Social
Protection. The HLPE defined a rigorous process to carry out these
studies, which included the use of open online consultations through
the FSN Forum to set the track and review the drafts.
HLPE
Review Preparation of draft report
Proposed to set the
Scope track
Recommendations
to countries
Project
Team Seek
suggestions
and inputs
CFS 2012
Draft report Preparation
of final report

11. Regional consultations carried out by
the FSN Forum
Enact Legislation
Dominican
Government
Online Consultation on the Draft to be
Online
Draft Food Sovereignty and Consultation presented to
Security Law for the Draft Law Parliament
Dominican Republic
Physical consultation
meetings facilitated by
CSOs
CARICOM
Final Action Plan
Gather views Villages
and inputs of
Draft key regional
document CSOs CARICOM
Meeting of Online Consultation on the
Ministers CARICOM Regional Food and
Nutrition Security Action Plan
(RFNSAP)
Country
Implementation
11 Approved Action
Plan

12. Online discussions
that make a difference
This special publication showcases some of the FSN Forum’s
most significant discussions in recent years. From food
security concepts to climate change, and from street foods
to global
governance, see what happens when you “do knowledge
sharing right”!
Download the publication from the website at
www.fao.org/docrep/016/ap095e/ap095e00.pdf
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13. “For me the most interesting thing about the
Forum is the way in which members are invited
to participate towards solutions for today’s
burning issues in social
development, agriculture, food security and
nutrition. Through the Forum, FAO is able to
reach out
to relevant stakeholders from all of
its member countries, and involve them
in its decision-making processes.”
Kodjo Dokodjo
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Togo - Forum Member

14. For further information contact us at:
fsn-moderator@fao.org
and visit our website:
www.fao.org/fsnforum
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