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Minutes of the General Assembly of Food
Security Working Group
December 14, 2009 Chartrium Hotel Yangon
Introduction
The Food Security Working Group (FSWG)
is a network of 41 International and Local
NGOs while 51 individual members concerned
with networking, collaboration and
facilitating among the food security
stakeholders in Myanmar. In terms of
worsening food security situation in
Myanmar, FSWG has become a common platform
to develop partnership with the NGO and
community based organizations by healthier
coordination in approving access to
information, technical inputs and capacity
building for livelihood development.
The main objective of the General Assembly
is to review activities of the FSWG and plan
for the next steps.
The agenda of the general assembly;
Updates FSWG activities
FSWG application to LIFT
Lead Agency
Steering committee member selection
Roles & Responsibility Matrix; Member fees
Generate basic ideas on new FSWGs projects
Attendees
Lucas Cin Than Kham (Oxfam); Zaw Min
Htwe, Zun May Aung (Humantaria); Yadana (BraveHeart);
Finbarr Sweeney (CARE); Shwe Win,
Zin Ei Ei Win (RI); Belete, Aunt Gyi Kyaw
Maw zan (WV); Pyae Phyo Aung
(LRC); Vincent Roger, Mra Sabai Nyun (MC);
Nang Swe Swe Aye (AVSI); Saw Teddy, Aung Zaw
Min; (ADRA); Htwe Htwe Aung, Thein Thein
Aung (Golden Plain); Heather Morris, Dave
(WC); Regina (Welthungerhilfe); Khin Aung, U
Ag Din ( (CCF); John Aye Lwin, K.La Aung
(Men Association), Than Hla (CDN); Jared
Hove (IDE); Aung Phyo Oo (WRTC); Fumika
Vchiyama (AMDA); Karine Eberhardt; Marcel
(IRC); Ei Kalar More (SwissAid); Ma Kay Thi,
Aung Kyaw Thein (Pyo pin); Siu Sue Mark,
Isidro Davarro (SC); Win Win Myint (Action
Aid); Samantha, Capucine (Helpage); Michilon
Nicola (Tdh); Saw Hei Moo, Mai Lu Lu Phay (MBC);
Bobby (NAG); Kariyn Nelissen, Miohael
Roelands (ICCO); Dr Ohnmar Khaing (FSWG)
Opening Session
The Food Security Working Group kicked
off its General Assembly at the Chartrium
Hotel, Yangon on 15th December 2009.
Highlighting the opening session was
introductions members and observers,
presentations by Vincent Roger (Mercy Corps)
on lesson learnt of Labutta Community
Resource Center (LCRC) and Dr Ohnmar Khaing
on updates of networking activities of FSWG.
I. Updates of FSWG
(i)The Dry Zone workshop and next steps
FSWG conducted the coordination workshop
on drought- related issues in Dry Zone on
25th September 2009. Participants identified
preliminary indicators; rainfall pattern,
crop yield and loss (expected and previous),
loss of on- farm labor, number of acres
cultivated (present and previous), reducing
livestock assets and animal mortality,
market movements/access, nutritional status
(malnutrition), access to water (drinking,
irrigation), water source (tube well),
capital for planting season, sale of
productive assets, food intake consumption
and level of migration.
WFP led-Assessment was in November. Data has
already been analyzed and results are
presented by WFP on 15th December at the
follow up meeting. According to the result
of WFP led assessment, it is not an
emergency situation but food insecurity is
worse this year, mostly as a result of lack
of water.
FSWG is updating Agency Operation and the
Dry Zone Coordination Matrix to help those
agencies working or planning to work there
to coordinate by location and by program
themes. Collaborative effort by agencies is
needed to develop and implement regular
monitoring system in the Dry Zone.
(ii) FSWG involvement with TGFSA and DLRWG
FSWG presented on food access and
utilization at donor meeting of Thematic
Group on Food Security and Agriculture (TGFSA)
on 3rd December 2009.
FSWG also coordinated with task force
members of Delta Livelihoods Recovery
Working Group (DLRWG) and 2 page document
presented to donor meeting on 6th November
2009.
(iii) Cross-cultural learning between China-Myanmar Food Security
Issues
Cross country learning through visit to
Yunnan Province to examine bamboo
cultivation and utilization. Five
participants from FSWG member organizations
made the study tour in October 2009 with the
following objectives:
Bamboo cultivation and experiences of
farmers in bamboo management
Potential market and value chain of bamboo
products in Yunnan Province
Explore the area of collaboration between
Myanmar's NGO and Chinese Stakeholder
The outcome of the trip is to conduct joint
pilot project of bamboo resource inventory
that includes two phases.
The FSWG coordinator attended Annual
General Meeting of China Council for
International Cooperation on Environment and
Development (CCICED) in Beijing in November
2009. The main issues are;
Food security, rural development and its energy, environment and
climate change adaptation
Energy efficiency and urban development
Promoting low Carbon economy in response to Climate Change
Sustainability (Sustainable resource management, Energy security,
Climate Impact)
Instruments (Holistic approach, Planning, Policy, Public awareness,
Standardization)
Demonstration (Funding for R & D, Public Private partnerships, Small
Services, Business energy audits)
Capacity building
Reduce Energy Poverty & Leaderships Role of China
Draft policy recommendation
Courtesy call on State Leader of the Chinese Government
(iv) IEC Materials
Seventeen IEC materials in stock and
available;
1. Forage
2. Pig rearing
3. Goat rearing
4. Duck rearing
5. Indigenous chicken production
6. Vegetable manual
7. Food security strategy (English &
Myanmar)
8. Plant insects and pests
9. Farmer field school guideline
10. Plant diseases
11. Integrated pest management
12. Community forestry operational book
13. Field note on established of
multipurpose tree nursery
14. Basic land survey and GPS application
15. Poster (Rice pest)
16. Poster (Rice disease)
17. Poster (Proper pesticide handling)
II. Lesson learnt of Labutta Community
Resource Center (LCRC)
There is a big weakness in that the
Labutta Community Centre has not resulted in
either tangible change to food security in
country and no value has been added to any
FSWG members proposal.
There needs to be considerable dialogue
within the FSWG to clarify what we want to
achieve.
We should use the network to have a broader outreach.
We need to define what our main objectives in having the group?
What kind of field activities do we want to implement together?
What kind of sub-grant does it make sense to use?
Who will fund these grants?
There is a need for independent NGOs to raise funds to ensure the
working of the FSWG & food security
interventions.
Questions:
Has any questionnaire been given out to
other NGOs working in Laputta to examine why
the LCRC has not successfully improved
networking? No
What activities do you think the LCRC should
become engaged in?
This is not clear and would need to be
brainstormed to find answers. Local
organisations need to take a larger role in
the LCRC as they are under a lot less
scrutiny by the local authorities than
international organisations.
One advantage of the LCRC has been to build
trust and facilitate discussion between
local authorities and NGOs.
III. Presentation on recommended model for
central hub/regional hub
Questions:
Where are the regional hubs?
Labutta
Pyapon
Lashio (although no contractual obligation
with the FSWG)
Dry zone, Northern Shan State, Chin and
Kachin centres existing through a local
area network coordination body.
IV. FSWG Application to LIFT
Gap in the policy highlighted no mention made
of implementation around
sub-grants:
Priority areas clarity and specificity
what are the actual food security issues
we want to address over the next 5 years.
Do we want to engage in?
Field level implementation
Advocacy/research
Capacity building
Some of these components can be done by
individual organizations; others such as
advocacy are best approached through the
network.
Do we want to raise funds for the LIFT
through the FSWG?
What kind of specific activities is it
important to identify?
There was the request that if agencies
are submitting proposals for LIFT and they
want to engage with specific
advocacy/research issues/form a consortium
etc. using resources from the FSWG that they
inform the FSWG coordinator.
V. Outcomes of small group discussions
What are burning issues for the FSWG
over the next 5 years?
o Geographical focus
Dry Zone, Chin, Rakine, Kokang/Wa, Delta, Southern Shan
o Innovations (research/ advocacy)
Climate change adaptation/mitigation (cultivation practices, pest
control)
Shared information food related DRR mechanism (seed bank, CFW
etc.)
Land policy/land tenure/access to land/land endorsement
Trade policy (rural product marketing, market chains)
Water management (promotion, adoption simple technique foot pumps
hh level water catchment)
Rural finance/ agri finance, credit savings
Soil fertility
Energy poverty and reduction processing
Natural resource management (preservation, watershed management,
local mechanisms, authorization)
Off-farm livelihoods (market assessment, vocational training)
Rise of agribusiness and its impact on local food security
Chinese influence (trade & investment)
o Capacity Building
FSWG members to share resources (lesson learnt, best
practices) for FSWG members and CBOs
capacity building
Forestry (training workshop on community forestry, more
sustainable methods of agroforestry)
o Other suggestions
FSWG focal person at township level supported by MO and
working at that township
The focal person should decide TOR for coordination,
sharing and learning b/n MO, local authority
and CBO
He or she should represent every information and
experiences to FSWG
What fits under LIFT?
The discussion is that LIFT timing and
guidelines was not in line with the need to
spend more time on the FSWG strategy. The
FSWG will probably focus on capacity
building; research and advocacy first,
identify opportunities and maybe later
develop an implementation strategy.
VI. Lead Agency:
NAG has volunteered to be lead agency
They will be supported by Mercy Corps
Sound financial systems need to be in place
Sub-granting may take place although it is cumbersome
to administer
There is increased awareness to use the network to share
best practices
The matrix detailing roles and responsibilities of the
Steering Committee members needs to be
shared to all members
It is essential that the FSWG has an MOU between itself and
the lead agency
Choice of the lead agency can be on a project by project
level and can be 1 year
The lead agency will be in charge of the running operations
of the network
There is also a need to clarify what lead agency means.
VII. Steering Committee Member Selection
Voting for the new steering committee has been postponed until
February. For the moment, the group will
focus on developing and finalizing the
strategy.
VIII. Roles & Responsibility Matrix
Attached is the matrix of FSWGs roles
and responsibility for members. Member
organizations are requested to get back with
their feedbacks/comments by 31st January
2010.
IX. Membership Fees
INGO $500/year
LNGO $150/year. FEC also accepted
3,000 Kyats for individual member for use of
library for six months.
o Deadline for payment is the 31st January 2010.
Payment should be made in cash.
XI. Next Steps
Sharing of draft project design
Sharing of matrix describing role of lead agency and
the members
Format indicating use of membership fees to be
revised and disseminated to all FSWG members
Next General assembly date to be decided
XII. Closing Remarks
The closing remark was made by Vincent
Roger, chair person of the GA. The GA was
successfully ended at 4:00 pm.
Attached: 1) Matrix Roles of FSWG members
2) Services provided by FSWG for membership
fees
3) Participant list
4) Presentation-Updates of FSWG
5) Presentation-Labutta Community Resource
Center
6) Presentation -FSWG future approach &
model for central hub/regional hub
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