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Electronic Conference on Non Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations (NGOs/CSOs) |
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The purpose of this Electronic Conference is to act as a forum on new trends and relationships among agriculture, rural development and trade at global, national and local levels and on their impact upon the action of NGOs and CSOs. In this context, discussions will focus on three basic topics:
These same topics will be discussed
at the 26th Regional Conference for Latin
America and the Caribbean to be held in Mérida, México
on 10-14 April 2000,and as part of the agenda at a Regional Consultation
of NGOs and CSOs summoned by FAO which will be held simultaneously to
the Regional Conference on 9-14 April 2000, also in Mérida.
Conclusions stemming from the Consultation on these subjects will support FAO and NGOs/CSOs in jointly formulating specific strategies of co-operation in the context of these and other subject matters. |
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Due to the complexities
of analysing the effects of the various structural reforms undergone
by the countries of the Region with varying degrees of intensity,
this Conference will deal with this subject centering on three
specific thematic axes: The concept of "economic globalisation" is generally related to the actors, mechanisms and norms regulating international trade. This becomes evident in multi-lateral negotiations, regional trade agreements, the proliferation and impact of multi-national concerns, etc. All of these elements have direct or indirect impact upon markets and actors at national or local levels. One of the greatest concerns of small rural producers is how to deal with these trends and the changes they bring about. The Conference will focus particularly on the subject of technical and non-tariff barriers to trade: How and in what manner do these affect NGOs/CSOs and small rural producers' activities? What have been their response in facing them? What kind of actions do you recommend to help the small rural producer adapt to the new dynamics of international trade? 2. Reforms of Rural Development Institutions The liberalisation of international trade gave birth to the emergence or re-emergence of adaptation practices by the countries and to new approaches and practices in facing rural development. This set of reactions conforms new rules and norms; that is to say, it creates a new rural institutionality. In this context, "institutions" are to be understood as the formal and informal mechanisms and norms framing relationships amont the various actors, in this case, in the rural environment. In this segment of the Conference we will attempt to discuss the relevance of some of the characteristics of this new institutionality, such as decentralisation and local development, as factors in rural development. 3. Food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean (Follow-up of the World Food Summit) All of the above has a bearing on the forms and ways of tackling the problem of food insecurity in the Latin American Region. The World Food Summit, held in 1996, focused the World's attention on food insecurity and on the need to formulate policies to improve access to food. On this phase of the Electronic Conference and as a follow up to the World Food Summit, we will analyse which are the key subjects to promote the transition to a situation of food security. In spite of the fact that the conceptual framework in fostering food security is based on the individual and the family, it is recognised that actions on this subject are undertaken at various levels (national, regional, local, community, etc.). As a consequence, questions will be raised for debate dealing with mechanisms of action, from the individual to the national level, and on the possibly most effective manner and level of action for the NGO/CSO to contribute in achieving food security. |
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The Electronic Conference
will be held over a period of three weeks. |
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This electronic conference will work with a closed list of participants, however, the documentation and the week summaries will be published in this Web site. This electronic conference
will be held in Spanish and in English: the discussion paper,
the related documentation and the communications of the list-moderador
will be available in both languages. If your are interested in getting more information on the procedures of electronic conferences, please turn to the following adress: frequently asked questions We invite the participants to fill in one of the following forms to complete our data base |
| The Conference will be held from the 6th of March to the 26th of March, 2000, according to the following agenda: |
| Dates | Subjects |
| 28/02-05/03/2000 | Registration of Participants |
| 6/03 - 12 /03 | Beginning of the Conference: Opening Statement by the Moderator |
| Item 1: Impact of technical and non-tariff barriers on agricultural trade in Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| Summary of the first week debate | |
| 13/03 - 19/03 | Item 2: Reforms of Rural Development Institutions |
| Summary of the second week debate | |
| 20/03 - 26/03 | Item 3: Food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Summary of the third week debate | |
| Closing Session of the Conference: Closing Message by the Moderator | |
| 27/03 - 02/04 | Preparation of the final document of the Electronic Conference. |
| Nombre de la conferencia | Fecha de inicio | Breve descripción |
| Conferencia Electrónica sobre Manejo colaborativo de Conflictos Medio Ambientales, Moderada por FTPP America Latina | 04/01/2000 | Conflictos Socioambientales: Desafíos y Propuestas para América Latina |
| Asociaciones de Grupos de Pequeños Campesinos | 29/01/2000 | Asociaciones de Grupos Pequeños de Campesinos: Una fórmula de organización alternativa en un mundo globalizado y un Estado retirándose? |
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