Food security cluster holds first meeting

The first meeting of the Papua New Guinea Food Security Cluster (FSC) for the Highlands region was held in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands recently.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the stakeholders and partners who are supporting the PNG Government’s drought relief assistance programme. Representatives from the Western Highlands Provincial Administration and Fresh Produce Development Agency also attended.
The next meeting for the Highlands food security cluster is scheduled for Sep 19.
The meeting agenda included an overview of the food security cluster concept and structure at global and national levels; rationale for sub-regional and provincial Food Security Cluster Focal Points; update from Food Security Cluster stakeholders about their current activities; and a presentation of the draft El Nino Agriculture Recovery Plan 2016- 2017.
The meeting was chaired by NGO co-chair of the PNG Food Security Cluster, Joy Waffi, who is also the Information Manager with Care International in PNG. Waffi gave an overview of the cluster concept, when it was established, and other related information for the benefit of stakeholders who were not familiar with the cluster system – which is an important mechanism for coordinating relief efforts in times of emergencies.
She also informed the meeting on the rationale behind having sub-regional and provincial focal points for the food security cluster.
Waffi said the FSC want to better coordinate cluster activities taking place outside of Port Moresby as part of the El Nino Drought and Recovery projects.
Recommendations were put forward for provincial governments or responsible provincial government agencies to become sector leads in each of the seven highlands provinces as they would be the main beneficiaries of such a mechanism.
Government representatives told the meeting that they wanted more information on the role of the mechanism and how it operated.
It was agreed that more information on the concept be provided to the provincial administrations and that agriculture advisors or executive managers should take leading role to coordinate FSC activities at sub-regional level.
Waffi also presented the draft PNG El Nino Agriculture Recovery Plan 2016-2017 and asked the participants to make their input.
At the Mt Hagen meeting, representatives from the NGOs and other agencies gave updates about their current activities, including drought recovery and resilience trainings; distribution of planting materials and seedlings; distribution of gardening tools and equipment; distribution of food supplies including rice; and conducting health improvement activities among others.
The stakeholders and partners included Care International, Baptist Union, World Vision, International Migration Organization and Fresh Produce Development Agency.
The Food Security Cluster in PNG was initiated early this year in response to the onset of severe drought due to the El Nino southern oscillation.
The Cluster is led by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the National Disaster Centre, and co-led by the World Food Programme and FAO.
The cluster is currently chaired by DAL and co-chaired by Care International representing the NGO community.
The overall objective of the FSC is to respond to humanitarian crises in a coordinated, appropriate and timely manner by identifying critical food assistance gaps and avoiding response duplication.
FSC members in PNG include government, UN agencies, international NGOs, NGOs, faithbased organisations, private sector, the Red Cross and donors.
The Food Security Cluster is about enhancing cooperation and partnerships.
It works directly with its partners and stakeholders; including international NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, other cluster lead agencies, UN organizations, Governments and donors.
The FSC was formally endorsed
by the Inter Agency Standing
Committee (IASC) on Dec 15,
2010.
The Food Security Cluster (FSC) has been established to coordinate the food security response during a humanitarian crisis, addressing issues of food availability, access and utilisation. The Cluster is based in Rome and is co-led by FAO and the World Food Programme.
The FSC is committed to saving lives through the coordination of the food security response in major emergencies. Effective coordination is only possible through close cooperation with partner organisations.
The FSC provides the guidance at the country level that supports a broad base and timely response.