ILO to promote food security and sustainable livelihoods in Kupang

Food insecurity is one of the most significant development constraints in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province of Indonesia. Food availability is significantly impacted by severe agro-climatic conditions and seasonality. Although the Government of NTT has been promoting agricultural production and has adopted protection measures for its farmers, the growth rate of the agriculture sector has still remained the lowest compared with trade and services.

Press release | Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia | 06 September 2013
KUPANG (ILO News): Food insecurity is one of the most significant development constraints in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Province of Indonesia. Food availability is significantly impacted by severe agro-climatic conditions and seasonality. Although the Government of NTT has been promoting agricultural production and has adopted protection measures for its farmers, the growth rate of the agriculture sector has still remained the lowest compared with trade and services.

To further assist the Government of NTT in promoting food security and sustainable livelihoods of agricultural small-scale producers and workers, the International Labour Organization (ILO) will conduct a three-day workshop on Decent Work for Food Security from 9 – 11 September, in Kupang, NTT. The workshop will be officially opened by Governor of NTT, Frans Lebu Raya.
In partnership with relevant UN agencies, the ILO’s SECTOR has developed a holistic, multi-sectoral Decent Work for Food Security (DWFS) programme, aimed to support the ILO’s tripartite constituents in developing their food security strategies and to achieve food security for all. 


The workshop provides a forum for dialogue and knowledge sharing among relevant stakeholders on the concept of value chain development on decent work as well as existing employment gaps on maize, cocoa and seaweed development, as main local products of NTT. The Forum is also aimed to strengthen cooperation and collaborations among relevant stakeholders through the formulation of a Decent Work for Food Security model and a food security participatory action plans.

The workshop is conducted by the ILO’s Sectoral Activities Department (SECTOR) of Geneva. In partnership with relevant UN agencies, the ILO’s SECTOR has developed a holistic, multi-sectoral Decent Work for Food Security (DWFS) programme, aimed to support the ILO’s tripartite constituents (government, employers and workers) in developing their food security strategies and to achieve food security for all.

The DWFS programme focuses on five selected districts: Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS), Malaka, Belu, Sumba Barat and Sumba Barat Daya. In the first three districts, the programme focuses on the production of cacao and maize, while in Sumba Barat and Sumba Barat Daya on the cultivation of seaweed. In addition to Indonesia, the programme is also implemented in three other countries: Kenya, Malawi and Myanmar.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Ardanti Y.C Sutarto
National Project Officer of the ILO’s DWFS Programme
Mobile: +62812 2942 707
Email

Tendy Gunawan
National Programme Coordinator for Youth Employment
Tel.:+6221 3913112 ext. 142
Email