Objectives
Bangladesh has made significant progress in boosting national food production. Production of the country’s main staple food rice, for example, is close to reaching self sufficiency. However, a large part of the population still lacks access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. About 40% of the population suffers from hunger, and a slightly larger proportion of children under the age of five is malnourished. Ensuring that everyone is food secure is therefore a high priority for the Government of Bangladesh.
The National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme helps build Bangladesh’s institutional and human capacities to design, implement, and monitor food security policies. Its immediate objective is to strengthen the capacity of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit - the reference Government unit for food security policy support - and its collaboration with the policy wings and planning units in the Government of Bangladesh to:
- effectively implement the National Food Policy, its associated Plan of Action, and the Country Investment Plan; and
- plan, monitor and assess food security situation and interventions in order to improve food availability; enhance physical, social and economic access to food; and promote food safety and better nutrition for all.
In its current phase of implementation (2009-2013), the Programme particularly focuses on strengthening national capacities to monitor the country’s food security situation, providing research-based knowledge as well as timely information and quality advice to policy makers on crucial interventions. Broadening the food security debate and establishing an effective platform for dialogue between Government officials, civil society and researchers on issues related to food security is another focus area of the Programme.
Two principles guide each activity and intervention in order to ensure sustainability beyond the immediate time horizon of the Programme. The first is to build upon existing structures, commitments and organizations. The second is to support initiatives that strengthen coordination between food security actors. At the end of the Programme, Bangladesh will thus have an effective food security policy and planning framework as well as the capacities for successful implementation.
