Conference on food security and rural development in Haiti

The governments of Argentina and France, co-chairs of the conference, and 53 delegations representing international organisations and donor countries involved in the process of reconstruction and development of Haiti have contributed to drawing up an aid programme aimed at urgently reinforcing food security and rural development in Haiti, and have committed themselves to holding a top-level meeting as soon as possible in order to set in motion the joint aid programme, aimed at the most vulnerable population, which has been agreed during today’s conference.

The conclusions document, adopted by the meeting participants, highlights the commitment of both donor countries and international organisations towards development in Haiti, particularly considering the problems generated by the soaring food prices and food insecurity affecting the most vulnerable populations.

In view of this situation, the participants have resolved to respond in the short, medium and long run to the needs of the population by implementing programmes and measures which will allow to ensure food assistance for the population, reaffirm food security, reinforce nutrition and reactivate agricultural and rural production rapidly by means of investments to promote structural and sustainable changes.

In order to ensure that these actions are set in motion, all the participants have agreed to carry on working to improve coordination and monitoring mechanisms in order to improve aid efficiency.

The meeting held in Casa de América in Madrid started today at 09h with the welcoming address by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, followed by the interventions of the Haitian delegation, chaired by the Presidency Secretary of State of the Republic of Haiti, Fritz Longchamp, the Argentinean co-chair represented by Ambassador Julia Levi, General Director for International Cooperation in the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship of the Republic of Argentina and the French co-chair, represented by the Deputy General Director for International Cooperation and Development of France, Jérôme Pasquier, as well as by the intervention of representatives of the international bodies making up the joint inter-agency mission (FAO, IFAD, WFP, WB). The meeting closed with the statement by Pablo de Laiglesia, Director of AECID.