The Committee on World Food Security is the United Nations’ “most inclusive body,” providing a seat at the table for governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. It operates by consensus, negotiating policy documents on key food security themes line by line — until everyone agrees.
But the inclusivity that some see as the body’s greatest asset is a hindrance to others, dragging down its ability to reach deals and affect policy on important issues affecting global food security — such as land tenure and nutrition — as prices of key staples remain elevated globally and hunger spikes.
The relatively little known CFS was created in 1974 and reformed in 2009 after a global food price crisis which resulted in a drastic increase in the number of people unable to feed themselves. It meets once a year and operates on what it calls a “multistakeholder approach,” ensuring everyone’s opinions are heard even as member governments have the final say.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
