Public Policy and Expenditure Mailing List Archive

["Andy Bullock" <<address removed>>]

In haste, having made a number of suggestions early on in the consultation, let 
me try to pull some DFID follow-up suggestions together. Acknowledging that 
DFID has some excellent people, and that most of these may well have possibly 
already been considered at some stage previously. I know that others on this 
consultation have put together similar 'lists', and I am absolutely sure there 
are many other actions that can be added.

1. Clarification of seemingly anomalous (PSA/DSA) position in relation to trade
2. Political restatement of the contribtution of agriculture/food to DFID's 
Hunger Eradication strategy
3. Firmer linkage between agricultural policy and hunger eradication strategy 
(Having read the hunger eradication strategy, it seems the neglect of the 
hunger issue is more a feature of the way this consultation was scoped)
4. Linkages (eg as per the Water Action Plan) between agriculture, food and 
hunger (on one hand) and multiple MDG benefits (economic growth, child & infant 
mortality, maternal mortality, education, poverty reduction, environmental 
sustainability etc). Backed by evidence-base, and field examples.
5. Internal discussion (if needed) with health, social exclusion, MDG (etc) 
policy groups within DFID on relative significance of agriculture/food/hunger 
outcomes viz-a-viz other interventions, informing country programme officers, & 
regional policy units
6. Internal organisational response to renewed political commitment - (in line 
with 2-5 above) - especially securing effective representation of A/F/H issues 
into social exclusion/conflict/governance policies at regional levels
7. Enabling an effective contribution (especially by Africans) on agriculture, 
hunger and food into the Commission for Africa
8.Engagement with DFID's water expertise to explore water as a constraint, or 
not as a constraint, to agricultural production/productivity
9. Ongoing, effective engagement with the CAADP, ideally leading to this as a 
significant partnership/investment instrument
10. Evaluation of agriculture/food/hunger in PRS processes (noting point 4 
above, that they could be represented through calls for assistance in health 
etc). Thought to national advocacy processes where such issues have low 
prominence in PRSs, but known hunger problems
11. Working with partner Governments to enable improved expression of national 
aspirations for agricultural outcomes (hunger, economic growth, import bill 
reduction, etc)
12. Work with CHAD and multilateral programmes on balance of twin-track food 
safety nets and longer-term strategic development. Should G8 be spending more 
on food aid than on strategic investment?
13. Given S-o-S statement in beginning of 'Eradicating Hunger Strategy' just 
what is the process by which judgement is to be made; process of external 
monitoring/accountability?
14. Twin-track approach to DBS in countries with difficult governance - given 
high levels of malnutritition in post-conflict countries
15. Presuming the particular reform objectives of the various ISPs are being 
pursued with the UN system, how will DFID put its support into the non-UN 
advocacy networks (international and country-level)?
16. Exert influence on EU and G8 A/F/H policies, particularly in those areas 
where these are seen to be deficient. 

Andy Bullock