Launching Ceremony NFP PoA and CIP Monitoring Report 2014

The National Food Policy Plan of Action (NFP PoA) and Country Investment Plan (CIP) Monitoring Report 2014 (MR 2014) was launched during a ceremony at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, in Dhaka, 25 June 2014. The event was organized by the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU), Ministry of Food, with the support of the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Program (NFPCSP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United-Nations.
 
The ceremony, chaired by Ms. Mushfeka Ikfat, Secretary, Ministry of Food, was graced by the presence of Advocate Md. Qamrul Islam, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Food as Chief Guest. Also present to the event were Guests of Honour Mr. Paul Sabatine, Deputy Mission Director USAID and Mr Frédéric Maduraud, Chargé d’Affairs, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh. Mr. Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh and Mr. S M Nazmul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-Chair, LCG, Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development attended as Special Guest.
 
Mr. Naser Farid, Director General FPMU and Mr. Ciro Fiorillo, Chief Technical Advisor NFPCSP, presented an overview of the Report. The MR 2014 highlights how Bangladesh continues to progress towards a more food secure, better nourished and healthier country. However, challenges still remain for many people in terms of diversification of food production, access to food in adequate quantity and quality, and nutrition outcomes, especially for mother and children. The budget to invest in food and nutrition is now at 12 billion USD, of which about 8 billion USD was already financed by June 2013 – as a result of the mobilization of additional 4.5 billion USD since the CIP launch in 2010. Approximately one billion USD was mobilized in 2012/13. The Government of Bangladesh financed about 5 billion USD (63%) and development partners financed about 3 billion USD (37%).
 
In his concluding speech, the Minister praised Bangladesh's continuing progress in poverty reduction and socioeconomic development. He recognized how greater efforts must now be focused on the nutritional front that must be addressed through comprehensive strategies using a multi sectoral approach. He thanked FAO for making all out efforts by providing technical assistance through the NFPCSP, and the European Union and USAID for providing financial support for implementing the Programme. He stressed the importance of continued cooperation and support for wider scaling up of policy.
 
Finally, the Minister expressed the Government’s commitment to make best use of the recommendations of the Report in designing food policy options for achieving better food and nutrition security in the country.
 
The Monitoring Report 2014, was jointly produced by 17 partner ministries and divisions, coordinated by the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management with technical support from FAO under the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Program (NFPCSP) and financial support from EU and USAID.