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| Five agents of change for a sustainable world | Five agents of change for a sustainable world |
| (3 days later) | |
| As the focus of the post-2015 development agenda shifts from goals and targets to measures and means, discussion is building on innovative ways to address the world’s most pressing challenges. The ambition of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 targets will mean a significant investment of resources, and sharing of knowledge if sustainable development is to become a reality in the post-2015 era. | |
| With smart solutions increasingly courted by decision-makers, policies directed towards five agents of change – family farmers, rural women, investors in infrastructure, vulnerable people and policymakers – have the potential to produce dramatic and lasting effects on the economies of developing countries, transforming people into investors and stewards of the environment. Investment in rural development offers multiple benefits in targeting poverty and hunger, driving national growth and promoting the sustainable use and management of natural resources. | |
| Family farmers and small-scale producers | Family farmers and small-scale producers |
| Often isolated and seldom well represented, rural people are regularly overlooked when it comes to focusing on solutions to combat poverty and hunger. This situation is all the more striking as more than three-quarters of the global poor are in rural areas. | Often isolated and seldom well represented, rural people are regularly overlooked when it comes to focusing on solutions to combat poverty and hunger. This situation is all the more striking as more than three-quarters of the global poor are in rural areas. |
| Yet, investing in small producers, family farmers, fisherfolk, livestock breeders, forest users, rural workers, indigenous peoples and entrepreneurs can promote growth and development in economically depressed rural areas. Increasing their access to resources, employment and incomes will not only lead to better food security and nutrition outcomes and improved management of natural resources, but will also raise productivity, catalysing national development. Agricultural growth is, on average, at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as non-agricultural growth, and up to five times more effective than other sectoral growth in resource-poor low-income countries. | Yet, investing in small producers, family farmers, fisherfolk, livestock breeders, forest users, rural workers, indigenous peoples and entrepreneurs can promote growth and development in economically depressed rural areas. Increasing their access to resources, employment and incomes will not only lead to better food security and nutrition outcomes and improved management of natural resources, but will also raise productivity, catalysing national development. Agricultural growth is, on average, at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as non-agricultural growth, and up to five times more effective than other sectoral growth in resource-poor low-income countries. |
| A strong entrepreneurial spirit already exists in the rural sector, where small-scale producers invest much more in agriculture than governments, donors and private enterprises combined. With proper access to resources, knowledge transfer and investment in education, nutrition and skills of rural youth, family farmers and small-scale producers can help ensure sustainable stewardship of the planet’s natural resources. | A strong entrepreneurial spirit already exists in the rural sector, where small-scale producers invest much more in agriculture than governments, donors and private enterprises combined. With proper access to resources, knowledge transfer and investment in education, nutrition and skills of rural youth, family farmers and small-scale producers can help ensure sustainable stewardship of the planet’s natural resources. |
| Rural women | Rural women |
| Women’s empowerment is a powerful multiplier of well-being, a prerequisite for sustainable development. A focus on rural women in the new development agenda is likely to have a considerable impact on overall well-being. Generally, rural women fare worse than urban women (as well as rural and urban men) for virtually every MDG indicator. Although women make up almost half the agricultural labour force in developing countries, they own a much smaller fraction of land and lack access to resources. Research suggests that if women have the same access as men to productive and financial resources, income opportunities, education and services, agricultural yields and output would increase and the number of poor and hungry people would be significantly reduced. Key policies include investing in the nutrition of women and young children, investing in labour-saving technologies and infrastructure to free women’s time for more productive activities, and increasing women’s participation in rural labour markets and in decision-making at all levels. | Women’s empowerment is a powerful multiplier of well-being, a prerequisite for sustainable development. A focus on rural women in the new development agenda is likely to have a considerable impact on overall well-being. Generally, rural women fare worse than urban women (as well as rural and urban men) for virtually every MDG indicator. Although women make up almost half the agricultural labour force in developing countries, they own a much smaller fraction of land and lack access to resources. Research suggests that if women have the same access as men to productive and financial resources, income opportunities, education and services, agricultural yields and output would increase and the number of poor and hungry people would be significantly reduced. Key policies include investing in the nutrition of women and young children, investing in labour-saving technologies and infrastructure to free women’s time for more productive activities, and increasing women’s participation in rural labour markets and in decision-making at all levels. |
| Public and private investors in roads, markets and infrastructure | Public and private investors in roads, markets and infrastructure |
| In 2009, the number of people in the world living in urban areas surpassed those in rural areas for the first time in history. While rapid urbanization has attracted significant attention from policy-makers, the majority of people in developing nations still live in rural areas. Improving rural-urban linkages can contribute to a more interconnected, inclusive society, not least by stimulating employment and growth, and slowing the exodus of rural people to cities. | In 2009, the number of people in the world living in urban areas surpassed those in rural areas for the first time in history. While rapid urbanization has attracted significant attention from policy-makers, the majority of people in developing nations still live in rural areas. Improving rural-urban linkages can contribute to a more interconnected, inclusive society, not least by stimulating employment and growth, and slowing the exodus of rural people to cities. |
| Key policies include public investment in rural infrastructure – roads, transportation, electrification, communication; promoting access to, and participation in, markets; encouraging entrepreneurial behaviour; diversifying rural employment, including in agro-processing; and targeting rural youth, who are most likely to migrate to cities in search of jobs. | Key policies include public investment in rural infrastructure – roads, transportation, electrification, communication; promoting access to, and participation in, markets; encouraging entrepreneurial behaviour; diversifying rural employment, including in agro-processing; and targeting rural youth, who are most likely to migrate to cities in search of jobs. |
| Vulnerable people | Vulnerable people |
| A significant number of the world’s poor and hungry live in areas prone to natural disasters or protracted conflict. Volatile food prices can spark crises and have far-reaching consequences, as the global food price spike in 2007–08 when riots broke out in many countries around the world. Disasters and crises directly affect food access and production, undermining efforts to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and to achieve sustainable development. | A significant number of the world’s poor and hungry live in areas prone to natural disasters or protracted conflict. Volatile food prices can spark crises and have far-reaching consequences, as the global food price spike in 2007–08 when riots broke out in many countries around the world. Disasters and crises directly affect food access and production, undermining efforts to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and poverty, and to achieve sustainable development. |
| Resilience efforts focus on sustaining the livelihoods of those most vulnerable to disaster. Projects range from digging canals to rehabilitating flood-damaged waterways and planting climate-resilient crops. Besides providing safety nets, resilience policies include developing capacities, diversifying activities, promoting rural employment, and investing in social protection, food assistance, cash transfers and school feeding. | Resilience efforts focus on sustaining the livelihoods of those most vulnerable to disaster. Projects range from digging canals to rehabilitating flood-damaged waterways and planting climate-resilient crops. Besides providing safety nets, resilience policies include developing capacities, diversifying activities, promoting rural employment, and investing in social protection, food assistance, cash transfers and school feeding. |
| Policy-makers | Policy-makers |
| Participation in decision-making processes is key to the sustained success of initiatives in all sectors, especially in agriculture. Inefficient, unfair and unstable food systems can have disastrous effects on livelihoods. | Participation in decision-making processes is key to the sustained success of initiatives in all sectors, especially in agriculture. Inefficient, unfair and unstable food systems can have disastrous effects on livelihoods. |
| Key policies include engaging small producers, including family farmers, in local and national strategies for agriculture; securing land tenure; improving access to technology and innovation; promoting affordable financial services; and spreading the benefits of public goods. As markets and systems work best with effective monitoring and incentives for compliance at all levels, multi-stakeholder platforms can be crucial for providing feedback on policies, ensuring accountability and sharing information. | Key policies include engaging small producers, including family farmers, in local and national strategies for agriculture; securing land tenure; improving access to technology and innovation; promoting affordable financial services; and spreading the benefits of public goods. As markets and systems work best with effective monitoring and incentives for compliance at all levels, multi-stakeholder platforms can be crucial for providing feedback on policies, ensuring accountability and sharing information. |
| Content on this page is paid for and provided by FAO sponsor of the Guardian Global Development Professionals Network. | Content on this page is paid for and provided by FAO sponsor of the Guardian Global Development Professionals Network. |
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