Parallel Event

Food for the Cities Urbanization, Food Insecurity and Urban Management

Wednesday, 6th June 2001
11:00 - 13 :00
Conference Room 3

Background
The Habitat II Conference (1996) drew attention to the high urbanization levels and the rapid growth rates in developing countries and countries in transition, and stressed their direct relationship with increasing urban poverty levels.

The World Food Summit (1996), gave priority to improving the efficiency of food supply and distribution systems and linkages between production and consumption areas, with the aim of increasing access to food and hence food security in developing countries and countries in transition.

« Urban food security » requires to be followed up at the international level. Hence this parallel event during the United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly for Istanbul+5, aims at sensitizing participants on the issue of urban growth and its impact on urban food security. It will identify major constraints affecting food supply and distribution systems to cities and highlight the role of the Cities and Local Authorities in addressing urban food security. Key elements for a global Plan of Action in support of City and Local Authorities to address urban food security will be elaborated to form the basis for a joint forward-looking Agenda in support of the further implementation of both the Habitat Agenda and the World Food Summit Plan of Action.

The event is organised by FAO (InterDepartmental Working Group « Food for the Cities » and the AGS Divisional Project « Meeting Urban Food Needs ») , UNCHS (Urban Economy Branch as well as the two Campaigns respectively on Secure Tenure and Good Urban Governance) , in collaboration with the UNCHS/UNDP Urban Management Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean and the International Development Research Centre, IDRC (Canada) . Prominent personalities and Mayors are being invited to participate.

Objectives of the event
1. Sensitise participants on the issue of urban growth and its impact on urban food security;
2. identify major constraints affecting food supply and distribution systems to cities;
3. define the role of City and Local Authorities (CLAs) in addressing urban food insecurity;
4. identify key elements for a global Plan of Action in support of City and Local Authorities to address urban food insecurity.

Further information
Habitat Focal Points :
Sylvie.Lacroux@unchs.org and
Don.Okpala@unchs.org
FAO Focal Point : Olivio.Argenti@fao.org

11 :00 - 11 :15	Opening of the event (Conference Room 3)
	M. Howard W. Hjort, Director a.i., FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations; M. Paul Taylor, Chief Urban Development Branch , UNCHS(Habitat) Headquarter
11 :15 - 11 : 40	Presentation
	Key Issues in Food Supply and Distribution to Cities Olivio Argenti, Focal Point of FAO's Initiatives for "Food Supply and Distribution to Cities", Rome
11:40 - 12 :00	Presentation
	Role of Urban and Periurban Agriculture in Urban Food Security and Poverty Alleviation Luc Mougeot, Senior Programme Specialist, International Development and Research Centre, Ottawa
12 :00 - 12 :20	Presentation
	Food Security within Municipal Management Yves Cabanne and Marielle Dubbeling, UNCHS/UNDP "Urban Management Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean", Quito
12:20 - 12:50	Panel and floor discussions
	Achieving Urban Food Security: Key Elements for a Global Plan of Action
13:00 - 13:50	Video presentation and dicussions (Studio Room 4)
	Photo show "Food Supply and Distribution to Cities" (15"); Video "Agricultura Urbana en el Panecillo-Quito, Ecuador" (10") (to be confirmed).
13:50 - 14 :00	Closure of the event
	M. Howard W. Hjort, Director a.i., FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations; M. Paul Taylor, Chief, Urban Development Branch, UNCHS(Habitat)