High level technicians in food security and nutrition from seven Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles, are meeting for three days to provide their specific inputs to the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Food Security and Nutrition in SIDS.

The regional consultative workshop is co-hosted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in Mauritius from 4 to 6 April 2017. Discussions have focussed on key food security and nutrition challenges faced by these SIDS including the triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity), and recognizing the host of unique circumstances faced by SIDS, including limited land mass, remoteness, fragile natural environments, and high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.  

What is GAP?

The GAP is a guidance document intended to provide a framework for a more coherent approach to the design of interventions to improve SIDS’ food security and nutrition situation. The GAP is a direct follow-up to the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (the SAMOA Pathway). It aims to accelerate action on food security and nutrition in SIDS and in doing so, to support their efforts towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The GAP is structured around three objectives: (i) enhancing the enabling environments for food security and nutrition through increased political commitment and governance, improved capacities and resources, and knowledge and evidence generation, dissemination and use; (ii) the development of sustainable, resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems based on oceans and seas, freshwater, and terrestrial resources; and (iii) the empowerment of people and communities through social protection programmes and targeted community-based interventions and services to prevent and treat malnutrition in all its forms.

FAO, in partnership with United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least developed countries, Landlocked developing countries and Small island developing states (OHRLLS), is facilitating the development of the GAP and will contribute to its implementation through support to improved alignment of policies and the scaling up of the many good examples of projects being implementated in many member countries, under a more programmatic approach.  

Why bring the Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS together?

As stressed by the IOC Secretary General, Hamada Madi Boléro, in his opening remarks, « despite the contrasting levels of development, our islands now face common challenges ». This workshop offers opportunities to share experience, helping to further define priorities and actions that are clearly aligned to existing strategies on food security and nutrition at the global, regional and national levels and therefore better respond to the needs of Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS. As an example, the GAP will be aligned with PRESAN, the Indian Ocean regional programme for food and nutrition security.