International Commodity Agreements

MAC/WFY

Page-76

0230_553559_11_cha07

194570. Early Attempts: FAO's Pioneering Work

advantages of using WFP. This raised expectations of a large increase in WFP
resources, which proved to be unfounded. While the Scandinavian countries,
Finland, Norway and Sweden, channelled all their relatively small FAC contribu-
tions through WFP, the major donors provided either small amounts or none at all.
And the EEC preferred to set up its own food aid administration and programme
rather than rely on the services of WFP (Cathie, 1997). The result was that only
about 5 or 6 per cent of the aggregate shipments of FAC grains were channelled
annually through WFP during the three years of the 1967 FAC, which mirrored
the proportion of food aid handled globally by WFP.

Further FACs were signed in 1971, 1980, 1986, 1995, 1999 and 2001, with

changes in membership, commodity coverage, eligible recipient countries and
principles. Minimum annual commitments also changed, reaching a peak in the
1980 FAC of 7.6 million tons and declining to 4.9 million tons in the 1999
FAC, although many of the signatories surpassed their minimum obligations in
most years. The conventions gradually became more flexible in terms of the
commodities covered and the way in which they could be acquired. Rice was
included in the 1980 FAC, and pulses in the 1995 FAC. Substantive changes were
made in the 1999 FAC, which was signed by 23 members. The list of eligible
products was widened to include limited quantities of edible oil, root crops,
skimmed milk powder, sugar, seeds for eligible products and products that were
part of the traditional diet of vulnerable groups in developing countries.

How efficient has the FAC been in providing an effective safety net for food

security in developing countries? One analysis has concluded that the quantities
of food aid provided have been too small, and reduced at crucial periods, with the
result that the FAC has `contributed little to international food security' (Benson,
2000). A shift in emphasis away from a minimum quantitative commitment
towards some form of obligation linked to need was suggested and a mechanism
needed to be introduced to ensure continual assessment of the impact of FAC
assistance in terms of international food security and other factors.

Home

eBook	World Food Security: A History since 1945


Useful links	International Commodity Agreements MAC/WFY Page-76 0230_553559_11_cha07 76 194570. Early Attempts: FAO's Pioneering Work advantages of using WFP. This raised expectations of a large increase in WFP resources, which proved to be unfounded. While the Scandinavian countries, Finland, Norway and Sweden, channelled all their relatively small FAC contribu- tions through WFP, the major donors provided either small amounts or none at all. And the EEC preferred to set up its own food aid administration and programme rather than rely on the services of WFP (Cathie, 1997). The result was that only about 5 or 6 per cent of the aggregate shipments of FAC grains were channelled annually through WFP during the three years of the 1967 FAC, which mirrored the proportion of food aid handled globally by WFP. Further FACs were signed in 1971, 1980, 1986, 1995, 1999 and 2001, with changes in membership, commodity coverage, eligible recipient countries and principles. Minimum annual commitments also changed, reaching a peak in the 1980 FAC of 7.6 million tons and declining to 4.9 million tons in the 1999 FAC, although many of the signatories surpassed their minimum obligations in most years. The conventions gradually became more flexible in terms of the commodities covered and the way in which they could be acquired. Rice was included in the 1980 FAC, and pulses in the 1995 FAC. Substantive changes were made in the 1999 FAC, which was signed by 23 members. The list of eligible products was widened to include limited quantities of edible oil, root crops, skimmed milk powder, sugar, seeds for eligible products and products that were part of the traditional diet of vulnerable groups in developing countries. How efficient has the FAC been in providing an effective safety net for food security in developing countries? One analysis has concluded that the quantities of food aid provided have been too small, and reduced at crucial periods, with the result that the FAC has `contributed little to international food security' (Benson, 2000). A shift in emphasis away from a minimum quantitative commitment towards some form of obligation linked to need was suggested and a mechanism needed to be introduced to ensure continual assessment of the impact of FAC assistance in terms of international food security and other factors. back to top Next page
© 2009