The general and specific objectives of the seminar are to:

• draw renewed attention and commitment to food and nutrition security in ACP-countries;
• address the role of ICM tools in food and nutrition security:
  • to enhance understanding of the information needs for particular stakeholders to inform decisions about actions for achieving food and nutrition security;
  • to examine information tools, the conventional media such as radios and the potential of ICT for collecting and analyzing data, and for the dissemination of information to key stakeholders in food and nutrition security;
• contribute to real implementing action for ending hunger and achieving nutrition security, particularly in the rural areas:
  • to formulate recommendations regarding concrete actions and tools which can lead towards improved food and nutrition security, particularly as they concern the information needs and the communication of the information to stakeholders;
  • to contribute towards capacity building in the design and implementation of information and communication tools for improved food and nutrition security;
  • to derive the implications for the future program of activities of CTA.

Organizers

The Seminar is being organized by CTA (an ACP-EU institution) and the Government of Mozambique, with scientific collaboration from the Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.

Expected results

Outputs

A direct output of the Seminar will be a summary report, with the suggestions and recommendations, a synthesis report and highlights and possibly a CD-Rom. A website will be dedicated to the seminar at CTA.

The seminar will contribute towards capacity building in ICM focused on food and nutrition security.

Outcomes

More generally, in line with the objectives mentioned above, the expected results of the seminar include improved information and communication to inform decision making regarding food and nutrition security, taking into account the four dimensions outlined, and geared towards the different stakeholders at local, regional, national and international level. Thus, the overall expected result is better decision making and more effective implementing actions for achieving food and nutrition security. The Seminar will help in identifying priority information needs for specific purposes and actors, approaches for collecting data that allows such information to be produced, identification of underresearched topics on ICM related to food and nutrition security and the use of the most appropriate communication tools tailored to each type of information and each target audience.

It is expected that the Seminar will enhance insights, point to new or improved methodologies, help with conventional and ICT tools, and produce a consistent set of policy recommendations that facilitate implementing actions towards improved food and nutrition security, including capacity building and networking among the Seminar participants on topics of mutual interest.