An Assessment of the Governance Structure and Coordinating Mechanisms for Food and Nutrition Security in Guyana
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An Assessment of the Governance Structure and Coordinating Mechanisms for Food and Nutrition Security in Guyana With the technical support of: i An Assessment of the Governance Structure and Coordinating Mechanisms for Food and Nutrition Security in Guyana Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Georgetown, 2017 ii Table of Contents Page List of Tables ii List of Figures ii Acknowledgements ii Acronyms iii Forward 1 Key Findings 3 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study…………………………………................................. 5 1.1 Framework for Governance for Food and Nutrition Security…….……………………… 5 2. Economic and Social Situation and Political Leadership Perspectives on FNS in Guyana……………………………………………………………………………………. 10 2.1 Political Leadership Perspectives……………………………………………………….. 10 2.2 The Economic and Social Situation in Guyana…………………………………………. 11 2.2.1 Food and Nutrition Security Status……………………………………................ 12 2.2.2 Rural-Hinterland Development………………………………………….............. 20 3. Existing Institutional Structures and Resources for Implementing FNS Strategies, Policies and Programs in Guyana……………………………………………… 25 3.1 Legislative and Institutional Agencies………………………………………………….. 25 3.2 Operations, Decentralization and Participation………………………………………… 28 4. Analysis of the Implementation Process of Guyana’s FNS Strategy……………………. 30 4.1 The Food and Nutrition Security Strategy………………………………………………. 30 4.2 Implementation of the FNSS……………………………………………………………... 30 5. The Main Public Policies under the FNS Strategy & Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Place for Evidence-Based Decision Making………………………………. 38 5.1 Programs and Policies that deal with FNS……………………………………………….. 38 5.2 Global, Hemispheric, and Regional Mandates and Domestic FNS Policies……………... 41 6. Synthesis of Main Findings and Recommendations………………………………………. 44 6.1 Synthesis of Main Findings……………………………………………………………… 44 6.2 Recommendations……………………………………………………………………….. 47 5. Summary and Conclusions……………………………………………………………........... 49 References………………………………………………………………………………............... 50 List of Tables Table 1: Poverty Trends in Guyana, 1992-2006 (Selected Years)……………………………… 16 Table 2: Poverty Trends at the Regional Level in Guyana, 1992-2006 (Selected Years)……... 17 Table 3: Guyana Income Distribution between 1992 and 2006………………………………… 17 Table 4: Top Six Leading Causes of Death in Guyana (Selected Years)……………………… 19 Table 5: Children (< 5 years) Nutrition/Health Status (%)…………………………………….. 19 iii Table 6: Hazard Matrix (Scale 1-5, with 5 the most severe)…………………………………… 20 Table 7: Guyana’s Hinterland Areas…………………………………………………………… 22 Table 8: Urban-Rural Areas by Regions and Population………………………………………. 22 Table 9: Summary of Goals, Objectives and Activities of Guyana’s FNSS…………………… 31 Table 10: Implementation Score Card, 2011-2013, of Guyana’s FNSS...……………………... 33 Table 11: Implementation Status, 2011-2015, of Goal 3, Guyana FNSS……………………… 34 List of Figures Figure 1: Key Influences on Food and Nutrition Security Status………………………………. 5 Figure 2: Guyana Governance Indicators, 2010 and 2015 (Percentile Rank)………………… 9 Figure 3: Guyana Food Calorie Availability, 1990-2011……………………………………… 13 Figure 4: Guyana Food Production Indices, 1990-2013 (2004-06=100)……………………... 14 Figure 5: Guyana Food Imports, 1990-2013 ($US ’000)……………………………………… 14 Figure 6: Real GDP Growth, 1990-2015 (1988=100)………………………………………… 15 Figure 7: Guyana—Prevalence of Undernourishment, 1990-2016 (3-year averages)………... 18 Figure 8: Regions of Guyana and Population Distribution…………………………………… 21 Figure 9: Food and Nutrition Security Implementation Framework…………………. 31 iv Acknowledgements This publication is based on research conducted on Guyana’s existing food and nutrition security (FNS) situation. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) expresses gratitude to the lead researcher and author, Tigerjeet Ballayram (PhD) for the depth of his analysis of the socio-economic and political factors and indicators that underpin food and nutrition insecurity in the country. His collective recommendations serve to reinforce that FNS is critical to national development and to also provide a clear outline for advancing governance of FNS in Guyana. A debt of gratitude is also owed to several persons for their inputs and relevant information at a critical point in the preparation of this document. In particular, we wish to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Fransen Jean, Food Security Officer, FAO, Barbados; Dr. Teri Raney, Policy Advisor, FAO, Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Odhu Homenauth and Dr. Raghunauth Chandranauth of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) of Guyana Special thanks to the Government of Guyana for its cooperation and for its continuing partnership with FAO in ensuring food and nutrition security for all Guyanese. Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder and Permanent Secretary, George Jervis must be highly commended for their unflinching support and leadership in ensuring that the research which led to this publication was conducted without complications. Special thanks to the lead members of staff in the Ministry of Agriculture including Ms. Aileen Nestor, Ms. Natasha Beerjit-Deonarine as well as the staff of other agencies and statutory bodies including representatives of the private sector and other interest groups. Finally, gratitude is extended to Mr. Reuben Robertson, FAO Representative – Guyana and Ms. Angela Alleyne, AFAOR for their exemplary leadership and commitment to achieving the goals of FAO in Guyana. Acronyms v ADP/AEDP Agriculture Export Diversification Project AFC Alliance for Change APNU A Party for National Unity APP Agriculture Policy Programme ASDU Agriculture Sector Development Unit CAFAN Caribbean Farmers Association CARDI Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute CARICOM Caribbean Community CDIP Community Drainage and Irrigation Program CELAC Community of Latin American and Caribbean States COTED Council for Trade and Economic Development CRFM Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism D&I Drainage and Irrigation EU European Union FAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FNS Food and Nutrition Security FNSS Food and Nutrition Security Strategy GAP Good Agriculture Practices GAPA Guyana Agro-Processors Association GAPA-FG Guyana Agricultural Producers Association Farmers Group GDP Gross Domestic Product GLDA Guyana Livestock Development Authority GLSC Guyana Land and Survey Commission GRA Guyana Revenue Authority GRDB Guyana Rice Development Board GUYSUCO Guyana Sugar Corporation HFLACI Hunger Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative HIES Household Income and Expenditure Survey IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IICA Inter American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture LAC Latin America and Caribbean Countries LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MOA Ministry Of Agriculture MOF Ministry of Finance MOH Ministry of Health NFNSC National Food and Nutrition Security Council NGMC New Guyana Marketing Corporation PPP People’s Progressive Party WPA Working People’s Alliance ZHCI Zero Hunger Challenge Initiative vi Forward The government of Guyana has indicated an interest in the governance of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) in the country. This was demonstrated in October 2015, when the representatives of six key government ministries discussed with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the current context in which FNS was taking place in Guyana. The Ministries and representatives included: 1. Agriculture - represented by the Minister of Agriculture; 2. Education- represented by a Minister within the Ministry of Education; 3. Governance - represented by the Minister of Social Protection; 4. Public Health - represented by a Member of Parliament; 5. Indigenous Affairs - represented by the Minister (who is also a Vice President) of the Ministry 6. Social Protection - represented by the Minister, and the communications advisor of the Ministry. Some simple steps that can be taken to advance the concept of governance for FNS in Guyana were agreed upon. These include the way forward in which the requisite institutional arrangements could be put in place for the Guyana Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and the CELAC FNS PLAN of Action1. In particular, the Hon. Ministers in principle agreed on the following four-point road map to enhance Governance for Food and Nutrition Security in Guyana: 1. The Minister of Social Protection will brief the lead Minister of Governance in Guyana on the agreements reached in principle at the meeting of the Ministers; 2. A ministerial committee will be set up to review the existing National FNS Policy and Action Plan and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Action Plan, to ensure that the mandates of the ministries of Social Protection, Indigenous Affairs and the other areas of priority of the new government are fully captured in these plans. 3. Upon completion of the review of the documents, the Ministers would be in a position to submit a Cabinet Paper for endorsement, following which; the expectation is that the proposals will be presented to Parliament for its consideration. This was motivated by the view that FNS and Poverty Reduction are the responsibilities of government, Opposition, Private Sector and Civil Society; 4. Finally, a calendar of activities will be prepared for the implementation of the action plan, with financing allocated by the government and other partners in 2016.