What is the Global Network Against Food Crises

The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) is an alliance of humanitarian and development actors united by the commitment to tackle the root causes of food crises and promote sustainable solutions through shared analysis and knowledge, strengthened coordination in evidence-based responses and collective efforts across the Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) nexus.

The European Union, FAO and WFP launched the Global Network Against Food Crises at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to respond to the WHS’s call for new approaches to tackle protracted crises and recurrent disasters, reduce vulnerability, and manage risk, by bridging the divide between development and humanitarian partners. 

The implementation of GNAFC aims at strengthening partnership while prioritizing interventions according to evidence-based analysis and ultimately bringing at scale country resilience programmes.

In this framework, GNAFC is a key tool for formulating and delivering food security and nutrition outcomes in food crisis countries, thus supporting the efforts towards achieving the Zero Hunger goal of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

Check out the main achievements here

How GNAFC Works

GNAFC's partners operate at national, regional and global level along 3 interlinked dimensions:

Click on the three interlinked dimensions on the diagram below to learn more about them

Going beyond foodStrategic investments in food security and nutritionUnderstanding food crises

Since its launch, the ongoing efforts to operationalize GNAFC show a great commitment by the international community in establishing a coordinated mechanism to improve the current response instruments.

GNAFC is expanding and building stronger alliances with strategic partners in order to speed and scale up the network’s efforts to move beyond evidence, towards more coherent coordinated strategic investments along the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus.

 

Definition and Approach

Current Governance

The European Commission for International Partnerships  (DG INTPA) and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), together with the Food and Agricultura Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are co-founding members of the Global Network Against Food Crises, joined by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Bank.

The overall management and coordination of GNAFC's structure is entrusted to a Senior Steering Group (SSG). The function of the SSG is to define the vision; guide and endorse the Global Network’s overall strategic priorities; monitor progress; ensure adequate funding; and act as ‘Ambassadors’ to raise the profile and effectiveness of the GNAFC.

The Senior Advisory Group (SAG) supports and advises the SSG to enable its strategic decision-making function, facilitates the achievement of its priorities, fosters common advocacy messages, and steers country-level engagement. The SAG also identifies partnership opportunities and proposes membership to GNAFC.

Both the SSG and SAG are assisted by a Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Technical Support Unit (TSU), which are staffed by dedicated experts from GNAFC's member organizations. The TWG supports and monitors the implementation of priorities established by SSG and SAG in the annual workplan; across GNAFC's 3 x 3 dimensions of work; and helps GNAFC transform plans into action. The TSU staff provide secretariat functions such as logistics and documentation; enable the co-creation of content and deliverables; work towards the general workplan of the GNAFC; and represent their own institutions within GNAFC.

Relevant Links

Global Network's founding members: