Background

The Covid 19 pandemic has exacerbated inequality and raised levels of hunger and poverty all over the world. The current food crisis may prove to be protracted in light of climate change, high levels of national debt and inflation. In his previous report on the food crisis, the Special Rapporteur identified some ways that governments could repurpose their existing budgets to help overcome structural constraints and trigger food system transformation, namely things like: 1. A just transition for workers; 2. Strong land/water rights and genuine agrarian reform; and 3. Hold corporations accountable. Effective programs have been things such as: 1. Direct cash transfers; 2. Universal school meals; 3. Support territorial markets; 4. Support small food producers; 5. Protection of workers' rights; 6. Social protection; and 7. Support local governments. The General Assembly has the asked the Special Rapporteur on the right to food to continue examining the current food crisis and provide guidance on recovery from the pandemic.

Despite the hardships of the pandemic, in the last three years, many have developed new ways to access and distribute good food. What has been clear that the key to ensuing the right to food was fulfilled was by protecting the rights of peasants, pastoralists, fishers, and workers especially amongst them women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, children, and migrants. People’s access to dignified work and social protection has also been key to fulfilling the right to food.

Governments have started to end pandemic-era food programmes, even though many of these programs have proven to reduce rates of hunger and malnutrition. It is therefore worth identifying which programs worked well and encourage governments to make these programs permanent. Moreover, many governments have not connected their food crisis responses to long term plans for food system transformation. This raises some concerns since how governments respond to the food crisis will have effects that last for the next decade at least. Finally, the world still lacks a multilateral coordinated plan of action to respond to the food crisis.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

1. Which government programs and measures were effective during the pandemic in ensuring that people had access to good food? Please identify those measures you think should be expanded and made permanent.
2. What specific measures would you like your government to build upon or implement that would enable: 1. A just transition for workers; 2. Strong land/water rights and genuine agrarian reform; or 3. Holding corporations accountable?
3. What government measures or programs can better connect small, local food producers to consumers?
4. What government measures or programs can better encourage local agroecological practice and movements?
5. What should an international coordination plan responding to the food crisis and based on the right to food focus on and include?

How inputs will be used

Kindly note that unless expressively specified, inputs will be published on the Special Rapporteur’s webpage.