ERC/24/8 Rev.1, ERC/24/9 Rev.1 Regional results, priorities, the four betters and the Sustainable Development Goals
First of all, we appreciate the statements in support of the human rights-based approach, agroecology, gender equality made by the EU and various countries. However, we note insufficient acknowledgement and support for smallholders from the countries.
Regarding the context changes and priority adjustments, when we address the “better production” as one of the four betters, we must speak of the model of production. It is not enough and sometimes is not even appropriate to respond to the climate crisis with economic solutions, such as land markets. Land markets have provoked land grabbing and social inequalities in rural areas. Better production means more healthy and more sustainable production. Also, when we speak of “better environment'' it is not enough to note the unsustainable agricultural practices with overuse of pesticides and fertilisers. We need to point out the solution. Smallholders in our region are developing agroecological solutions on the ground for sustainable use of water and soil, increased biodiversity and nutrition, integrating women and youth in the food systems and supporting local economy and short food chains. There is evidence documented by FAO on Agroecology, having a positive impact on the production and the environment, supporting the transition to sustainable agrifood systems. Upscaling Agroecology needs to be emphasised in the action box and in the final report, as a measure that FAO needs to take in the region, to adapt to the changes in the operating environment.
While many regional results are very positive, civil society is concerned by the increased risk, including in the so called ‘donor countries’, to fail the achievement of the SDG 2 - end of hunger. The latest SOFI report and our own experience shows that the people seeking food assistance have increased dramatically. Statistics and data collection needs to be improved and better integrate the reality of smallholders, which are largely disregarded, to better understand the underlying causes of food insecurity. However, data is alarming us. For example, in France, recent studies show that 37% of the population has become food insecure and vulnerable categories such as youth and elders live below living wage. In Eastern Europe food insecurity is more problematic, with one quarter of the population being moderately or severely food insecure in 2020. According to the latest Global Nutrition report, diet-related non-communicable diseases affect 22.9% of the adult population, while 18.3% of adult men are living with obesity. CSOs in Moldova are actively advocating for the right to food to be reflected in primary and secondary legislation, inspiring civil society in many countries in the region.
We appreciate the cooperation with FAO REU, and this should be further strengthened, following FAO's Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations. We are very proud of the results of our work in the past 2 years. One of the most important was the publication of the Manual on the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, under the Regional Initiative 1, which is mentioned in the report. We also have many examples of projects implemented in cooperation with FAO at national level, particularly regarding local seed systems, rural women, empowering smallholders to ensure food security for vulnerable communities, agroecological solutions to climate change and many others. This shows an increasing capacity and commitment from civil society to work together. The cooperation with FAO is a priority for civil society and needs to be scaled up, throughout the region including small scale producers and Indigenous peoples’ organisations in programme countries and in EU countries. We need to continue to implement new projects, particularly regional and sub-regional projects to address problems that connect countries on climate, social and infrastructure problems. The partnership with civil society needs to be acknowledged in the document regarding FAO results in the region. We respectfully request that in the action box and in the final report, you include a reference to civil society, including small holder farmers, alongside the private sector and intergovernmental organisations, when speaking about strengthening partnerships in the region, to be consistent with the chapter on lessons learned, which include implications for future priorities. In the same logic, civil society must be part of the priorities of FAO in the region, under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, noting the importance of cooperation with civil society in the box where members states are invited to take action for future priorities.