Special Forum Panel - “Aid and Investment”

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Chairperson,
As FAO reports have shown us, there are still more than 800 million people in the world who suffer from either hunger or malnutrition or both. There are signs of improvement in some parts of the world, where as the outlook is still bleak in others. This is a development which cannot be met with one set of tools only, a broad understanding of the complex is needed.

Chair,

I believe, however, that agriculture is key, or perhaps even the key, to ensure development for the poorest among us. The fight against poverty and for the right to economic development, democracy, human rights and a sustainable development is among the biggest challenges facing the global community. To this end, I feel that it is imperative to have an active and strong dialogue with a broad set of actors on development policy.

As FAO so ably show us in their documentation, aid and investment directed specifically towards agriculture remains below the level necessary to achieve the WFS goals. In fact, their findings indicate a declining trend in national public investment in agriculture and rural development. The most depressing information in the document CFS 2006/3 Sup.2, however, is the fact that “…the agriculture sector receives less investment and support in the very countries where hunger and poverty are widespread.” This is the situation both for national investment and for ODA.

Poverty has many facets and must be dealt with accordingly. A majority of the worlds poor live in rural areas. They are for a large part directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture for their income and living. Increased aid to agriculture and rural development should follow as a consequence of this.

Now, Chair, I will not try to analyse this trend in more depth. We are all under obligation to do something about this as we have adopted the WFS Plan of Action and are thus bound to follow up both Commitment 3 and Commitment 6.

I think that our starting point in this must be the place where people live. What are the needs and demands of the people in a particular region or country and how can we best help them to fulfil these in accordance with principles of sustainability. The importance of involving the entire population regardless of where they live, is crucial if we are to succeed in our efforts to combat poverty and hunger.

Chair,

What principles, then, should guide the use of ODA and foreign investment into agriculture? In Norway, the following have been chosen to guide our efforts in this area:

1. Policy and reforms for poverty-oriented agricultural development
2. Food security
3. Strengthening women’s rights and their participation in agricultural development
4. Promotion of the sustainable use of natural resources
5. Strengthening basic services and poor people’s rights of use and properties rights to land and water
6. Strengthening education and research
7. Promotion of market development

With this list as a background, we see a need to improve co-ordination of policy areas at all levels if we are to reach the WFS goals and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. A more coherent approach to agricultural development must be achieved. Here, I also wish to stress the need for a reform of FAO. This is absolutely vital if the organisation is to fulfil its mandate and contribute fundamentally to the achievement of the WFS Plan of Action and the MDGs.

Chair,

Global food security is the end goal of our efforts. FAOs report prepared for the Special Forum shows that we are very far from achieving food security for all. In this regard, the Voluntary Guidelines for the Right to Food are fundamental. Here, I wish to emphasise in particular that foreign aid should support national efforts to achieve food security. Each country’s right to its own food production should be acknowledged and form the basis for policies in this regard.

Thank you for your attention!