Social protection for food security

Prepared by the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on food security and nutrition of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS), this report is intended to feed policy debates during the 39th session of the CFS (October 2012). This version contains the analysis and recommendations of the HLPE, as approved by its Steering Committee in June 2012. This document aims to review evidence and experience, and proposes recommendations for using social protection more effectively to protect and promote food security.

The introductory part presents key concepts and definitions of food security, vulnerability and social protection, and the human rights based approach. Chapter 2 reviews empirical evidence on a range of social protection instruments that promote food security: food and agricultural input subsidies, agricultural insurance mechanisms, public works programmes, food price stabilisation, grain reserves, school feeding and supplementary feeding, and conditional or unconditional cash transfers. Chapter 3 argues that social protection instruments should be integrated in national systems with strong linkages to complementary sectors, and reviews relevant experiences from Brazil, India and Africa. Chapter 4 explores cross-cutting issues in the design and implementation of social protection and food security programmes (targeting, dependency, graduation, affordability, scalability and accountability). Recommendations are presented in two sets: one for consideration by policy-makers and the other for consideration by the CFS.

 HLPE - June 2012