Strengthening and harmonizing food policy systems to achieve food security
This discussion paper (PDF) by IFPRI studies the factors contributing to the effectiveness of policy systems. In this paper, a conceptual framework is developed to understand the policy and institutional architecture of food and agriculture policy systems, aiming to improve the coordination and harmonization of the roles of policy actors and players. Poor coordination and harmonization of assistance among various actors within the country often results in undermining the very policy systems they try to strengthen. This is typical in the African agricultural development process. In the paper Ghana is used as a case study where the developed framework is applied and the organizational contributions of various actors and their characteristics are mapped and analyzed. The case study provides several lessons for the strengthening of the food policy system. There is a need for strengthening the knowledge management systems to share the evidence. Besides this, there is an urgent need to enable a culture of mutual accountability and nurturing to improve the efficiency of the food policy system. Finally, strategic efforts are needed to strengthen the institutional and organizational capacity of the actors and players in the policy system and increase their effectiveness within the policy system. Also private sector, NGOs, and farmer based organizations should be included in the policy process. Addressing these challenges require country specific interventions as part of the broader policy processes.