INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The effective implementation of Food and Nutrition Security policy hinges on appropriate governance and management arrangements. A number of stakeholders will therefore have an important role in improving collaboration and partnership in implementation of food and nutrition security programs and livelihood vulnerability interventions in South Africa. This would require development of protocols for partnerships and coordination, dissemination forums and information sharing, participatory consultations and assessments and inclusive engagements and joint implementation of food and nutrition security assessments and analysis to promote inclusive interactions in SAVAC operations. This also stipulates the need for enhanced collaboration of all players including government departments (national, provinces and municipalities), donor partners, NGOs, CBO’s and research and technology institutions in implementing and coordinating food and nutrition security interventions.

The national, provincial and local municipalities will be required to coordinate and partner with existing stakeholders in their spheres of government as they implement their food and nutrition security programs and interventions. These arrangements require conducive environment for Government and non-state actors to interact and implement relevant interventions and programs. This arrangement therefore seeks continued focus, commitment, transparency and accountability of all players. For successful implementation of the policy, there is need for clarity on roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders. The major functions of the proposed implementation and coordination mechanism are:

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  Implementation: Plan, facilitate and coordinate the day-to-day management of the policy implementation process and the reporting mechanisms. This will also include the tasks of developing specifics programmes and projects;
  
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  Mobilize Investment Finance: Facilitate and promote the necessary partnerships, due diligence processes, as well as national budget engagement processes as needed to mobilize resources for implementing the policy;
  
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  Capacity Development: Establish priorities for institutional capacity development for key players involved in implementing the policy and supporting capacity development efforts;
  
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  Policy alignment and engagement: Given that food and nutrition security is multi-sectoral and cuts across sectors, there is need to provide space and support to efforts aimed at aligning multi-sectoral policies and regulations to the food and nutrition security policy . There is also need for the implementation process to be aligned to the CAADP and other regional agricultural policies; and,
  
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  Performance management and impact enhancement: This includes monitoring and evaluation, networking, as well as development of communication and social marketing strategies.
  

Given these strategic roles the following government departments and institutions are considered central to the implementation of the policy:

1. Office of the President / Cabinet

2. Government Departments

3. Technical Multi-Stakeholders’ Forum