Chapter 5


1. Introduction:
 Embodying a Food Security Dimension in Macro and Sector Policies

A few important conclusions can be drawn from the analysis in Chapter 4:

* In many countries, macro-economic, structural and sectoral adjustment has become
 necessary in order to eliminate severe macro-economic imbalances and to provide the
 basis for sustainable economic growth.

* If successful in re-establishing economic balance and economic growth (though this is by
 no means guaranteed and partly depends on factors and conditions which are beyond the
 scope of individual countries' policies), adjustment policies are likely to contribute to a
 general improvement of aggregate and household food security in the long-run.

* In spite of such potential positive long-term effects, there is a high risk of detrimental
 short-run effects on factors determining food production, supply, and access to food at
 household level. Such effects are specifically critical if they affect the vulnerable groups.

There is no inherent reason why macroeconomic reform should be incompatible with
maintaining, if not enhancing the food security of the most vulnerable. Much depends on the
detailed way in which the broad objectives of reform are achieved. Variations in the way
policies are implemented may make a substantial difference to certain groups of the population.
If it is impossible to protect a particular vulnerable group from the negative effects of one
policy, then it may be possible to intervene with a specific programme to increase their access
to food in another way.

When analysing any proposed policy change, it is important to identify what the policy is
supposed to achieve, its objectives. Then the analyst should identify precisely how the policy
will be implemented and who will benefit and who will lose as a result.

Almost all policy changes create gainers and losers, very few policy changes benefit everyone
in practice. It is important to examine whether the losers from a policy change are amongst the
poor and food insecure. The time horizon of the poor is very short. Even if they will benefit in
the medium term, some immediate intervention may be necessary.

Policy makers on the national and international scene have become increasingly aware of the
need to modify and expand the formerly applied "economistic" approaches to adjustment, and
to give due attention to the social implications of economic reform programs, including aspects
of food security. "The social dimensions of adjustment", "adjustment with a human face", and
"making adjustment work for the poor" have become common slogans in designing and
implementing policy reform programs. The inter-dependence between food security and overall
economic, social and political stability and the relevance of economic and social development
policies in the efforts towards achieving universal food security became a major issue of
concern at the World Food Summit, held in November 1996 (see Chapter 6, section 5).


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