Civil society participation and intersectoral collaboration: 15 Countries in the region identify key Governance challenges for food security

Within the framework of the CELAC Food and Nutrition Security Plan 2030, experts and technical teams from Latin American and Caribbean countries highlighted two key challenges for food security and nutrition governance in the region: advancing towards more effective intersectoral coordination mechanisms with real capacity to influence planning and budget allocation, and strengthening civil society participation, moving beyond its regulatory recognition to guarantee its active involvement in public policy formulation, decision-making, and accountability processes. 

Convened on June 8 and 9 by the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean for the workshop "Governance for Food Security and Nutrition (FSN): Institutional Frameworks, Progress, and Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean," with technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), officials analyzed and exchanged national experiences on governance for food security and nutrition. 

On this occasion, technical and civil society representatives from 15 countries in the region were able to observe the diversity of contexts, institutions, and trajectories in food security and nutrition governance in the region, reflecting both significant progress and common challenges, and demonstrating the influence of local contexts in shaping governance processes. 

Food security and nutrition (FSN) governance encompasses the set of formal and informal norms, organizations, and processes through which public and private actors coordinate their interests and make and implement decisions related to FSN in a country on behalf of its population. 

“Having strong, transparent, efficient, inclusive, and accountable governance institutions is an enabling condition for driving sustainable structural changes in agri-food systems. In this regard, this initiative contributes to regional cooperation and mutual learning among countries to guarantee the right to adequate food for all people without exception,” stated Daniela Godoy, FAO's Senior Policy Officer for Food Security and Nutrition, who highlighted the positive work with countries in the region to improve the institutional framework responsible for implementing food and nutrition policies. 

It is worth noting that Latin America and the Caribbean have shown progress in reducing the prevalence of undernourishment, reaching 5.1% of the population in 2024, compared to 6.1% in 2020. At the same time, moderate or severe food insecurity affected 25.2% of the population, showing a sustained decrease for the fourth consecutive year. However, the region simultaneously faces the growing double burden of malnutrition: adult obesity affected 29.9% of the population in 2022; childhood overweight reached 8.8% of children under 5, exceeding the global estimate of 5.5%; and anemia among women of reproductive age also continues to rise. Adding to these challenges is the increasing cost of a healthy diet in the region, the highest in the world. In 2024, 181.9 million people in the region (27.4% of the population) could not afford a healthy diet. 

During closure ceremony of the National Meeting, authorities commemorated the 20th anniversary of Brazil's National Food and Nutrition Security System (SISAN), with the participation of Rosângela Lula da Silva, FAO Special Goodwill Champion against Hunger – recently appointed during the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean – as well as Wellington Dias, Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and the Fight against Hunger. 

Working Group session 

During the meeting, the countries participated in the validation process of the publication “Governance for Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean: Institutional Frameworks and Challenges,” prepared by the FAO Regional Office, with support from the Spain-FAO Program, the project to support the Latin America and the Caribbean Without Hunger Initiative, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 

This initiative aims to examine the characteristics of public institutions at the national level that are currently implementing food security and nutrition (FSN) governance processes in Latin America and the Caribbean, systematizing and describing their main characteristics and challenges. 

On this occasion, the countries were able to learn about the main findings and analyze them together to strengthen the quality and relevance of the document, which seeks to guide future FAO technical support and cooperation efforts in the area of FSN.