by Linda Straker
- In September 2023, Government requested US$10 million loan from World Bank under Crisis Response Window Early Response Financing Facility
- Plan will define what constitutes major food and nutrition security crisis in Grenada
- Ministry of Agriculture is focal point for FSCPP technical group
Grenada has begun the process of developing a Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FSCPP) that will define what constitutes a major food and nutrition security crisis for the country in the event of a national/domestic hazard, or external shocks such as a global health pandemic.
The Ministry of Agriculture as the focal point for the Technical Working in Grenada for the plan held a workshop for several stakeholders on 3 April at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort Conference Centre and the participants were urged to see the plan as something that will work in the best interest of the country.
“It will help define the role of various organisations and agencies, it will also look at the timeline for the implementation of early warning and look at the institutional framework. In other words, this food security crisis preparedness plan needs to be driven by data,” said Isaac Bhagwan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.
Addressing the opening ceremony for the 2-day workshop, he told the participants that the data must be collected and analysed. “The data must be able to speak to the issue that is affecting us and this is the information that will be given to our policymakers such as the Cabinet and other senior government officials who need to make decisions,” he said.
He explains that the Government in September 2023, requested a loan of US$10 million from the World Bank under the Crisis Response Window Early Response Financing Facility as part of its strategic plan to respond to the worsening acute food security conditions.
He said that as part of the condition of this fund, Grenada is expected to develop an operational food security crisis preparedness plan. The plan will allow stakeholders, on a timely basis, to look and see what is happening and be able to identify the necessary triggers and the action that has to be taken.
Bhagwan said that there is a tendency to think about food crises around hurricane time but there are other factors such as the outbreak of pests and disease, the issue of climate change, civil and political unrest, etc. “All these can influence food availability and the quality of food, we need to define these triggers and what will constitute a crisis,” he added.
Though the Ministry of Agriculture is the focal point for this FSCPP technical group, other players in this field include key ministries such as the ministries of health, education, social development, finance, the Food and Nutrition Council, the police, NaDMA, customs, airport and seaports, our importers and distributors and other key institutions like the FAO, IICA and CARDI.
According to the World Bank concept notes for FSCPP, the plan should also explain how crisis risks are actively monitored and identified and detail step-by-step protocols, roles, and timelines for mobilising additional funding and early action.
“The FSCPP brings together these preparedness elements into a cohesive operational framework to support the systematic recognition of an emerging crisis and prompt timely joined-up action across government, humanitarian, and development partners to prevent and mitigate the impacts of future food and nutrition security crises,” said the notes which are available on the World Bank’s website.
While the FSCPP is a World Bank requirement associated with receiving support from the ERF, the FSCPP extends beyond the World Bank’s engagement and represents the country’s national plan. The other countries in the Latin America Caribbean region developing similar plans are St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Haiti, St Lucia and Honduras.
Right! Big plans but the MNIB remains dysfuctional to say the least. Should anyone have confidence in the intention of this plan?
Well I believe the consumers of Grenada is getting along very well without the money losing entity called the MNIB. However, the Government did say that they will be bringing back the MNIB (or some form of it) please let us wait and see.