What international mechanisms and instruments are available for Germany and China to cooperate more closely on global food security? This was the question addressed by the 6th DCZ TALKS webinar on 26 June.
Three speakers – Dr. Carolin Weber from the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Ms. Allegra Bruni from the World Food Programme (WFP), and Dr. SONG Yuhe from the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC) of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) – discussed different instruments of cooperation, including the human rights-based approach to food security laid out in the Voluntary Guidelines of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as South-South and triangular cooperation approaches.
Carolin Weber presented the human rights-based approach that guides BMEL policies for global food security. Combating hunger and malnutrition requires a holistic transformation of food systems to be more resilient and sustainable, Dr. Weber stressed in her presentation. She highlighted the achievements of the Policies against Hunger conference series—a key instrument used by BMEL to bring together different stakeholders and drive forward the right to food.
The South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) mechanisms of WFP was the focus of Allegra Bruni’s presentation. SSTC brings together developing countries with a donor country and/ or multilateral organization to support country-led efforts food security efforts through the provision of funding, capacity building, and technical assistance. Her presentation showed how SSTC implemented by WFP can support countries from the Global South to share solutions and best practices in combating hunger and malnutrition.
Last but not least, Song Yuhe showcased China’s experience with South-South and triangular cooperation within the framework of FAO. Drawing on experiences within FECC as China’s key agency for international cooperation in agriculture, Dr. Song presented successful examples from cooperation projects between China and other countries in the Global South. She also shared experiences from a trilateral cooperation project between China, Germany, and FAO focused on carbon-neutral tea value chains in Kenya.
The debate highlighted the importance of cross-institutional coordination to create synergies between different mechanisms as well as the need for long-term financing and support. The speakers also discussed how to make outcomes transferable and promote best practices amongst donors and affected communities.
Recording
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