Food Price experts get together in West Africa to prescribe solutions high and volatile food commodity prices.

FAO, ECOWAS and other experts plan the way forward

Dakar, Senegal - The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted a consultative meeting earlier this month to address the problem of volatile and soaring food prices in West Africa.  The FAO reports that commodities in West African countries, (along with the rest of the global economy), are witnessing seasonal price increases for staple foods, including but not limited to livestock products, cooking oils and sugar.  ECOWAS Member States have also experienced several floods which have led to a drop in production in certain areas, thereby affecting local food security.  Added to problems with flooding, the post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire has resulted in significant displacement of populations in the border regions, thereby contributing to hikes and increased volatility in many markets.   West Africa hopes to take measures to address the emerging food price crisis should be initiated immediately, taking into consideration the experiences and lessons learned from the previous crisis.

Participants of the meeting developed measures to address food price volatility on a sustainable basis, taking into account the current global financial crisis, coming up with several ideas, both macro-economic as well as institutional and process related issues and propose ideas for the way forward.  Various presentations have been made available by ReSAKSS-West Africa participant, Mbaye Yade.

Presentations Available in English

• FAO regional/subregional policy consultations on volatile prices - West Africa consultation on policy response to food price volatility. Presenter: David Phiri, Chief, FAO Policy Assistance Support Service
• High Food Prices, Food Security, Growth and Poverty Reduction, Presenter: Ousmane Badiane, Director for Africa, IFPRI
• Trade and Supply Management, Policies to Stabilize Domestic Food Prices. Presenter: Mbaye Yade, Director, ReSAKSS-West Africa
• ECOWAS/FAO Consultative Meeting in Response to Volatile and High Food Prices in West Africa - Policy responses/impact, lessons learned, and gaps. Presenter: Mahamadou Maïga
• Overview of the Global Situation and Recent Trends in Food Prices. Presenter: Jean Senahoun, FAO Economist
• ECOWAP: Overview of the Regional Investment Plan to Implement Mobilizing Programs.
• Comprehensive  Food  Security  and  Vulnerability  Analysis  (CFSVA), The Gambia.

Papers and Presentations Available in French

• Intervention du Resimao - Réunion conjointe CEDEAO/FAO de consultation sur la volatilité et la flambée des prix des denrées alimentaires en Afrique de l’Ouestesimao. Présentation: Noël Kouable,  Vice-Coordonnateur du RESIMAO
• Positions d’Oxfam - 37ème Session du Comité de la Sécurité Alimentaire Mondiale
• WFP - Hausse des Prix des Produits Alimentaires au Senegal:  La Response du Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM).
• Dispositif d’atténuation des effets de la flambée des prix des denrées alimentaires de première nécessité: cas du Mali. Présentation: Manda Sadio KEITA, AFAOR/MALI; Adama KOUYATE, Conseiller Technique Chargé de la Production au Ministère de l’Agriculture; Tagalifi Bazo MAIGA, Conseiller au Commissariat à la Sécurité Alimentaire
• Oxfam: Pour des réponses ambitieuses à la volatilité des prix des denrées alimentaires.
• Reunion Conjointe Cedeao/FAO de Consultation sur la Volatilite et la Flambee des Prix des Dentrees Alimentaires en Afrique de L'Ouest. Présentation: Agricultural Ministry of Togo.

Among the discussions were lessons learned from the 2007-2008 food crises, during which millions of people in West Africa were unable to meet their minimum food requirement needs, as well as trade-related measures in favor of consumers or producers.  Senior government officials from ECOWAS-FAO Member States, including those from the Ministries of Agriculture attended the meeting.  Those present at the meeting came from agencies responsible for agricultural and market information, trade or financial planning, national food ministries, economic security and those representing civil society.