Multistakeholder Partnerships (MSP) could contribute to addressing some of the complex and multi-dimensional issues related to food security and nutrition. Addressing food insecurity and undernutrition requires cross-sectoral and holistic approaches and collaborations of various state and non-state actors. In recognising this as a key issue related to Sustainable Development Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development, the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) requested the High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) to produce a report on “Multistakeholder Partnerships to Finance and Improve Food Security and Nutrition in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda”. The team comprised of 15 internationally recognized experts in a variety of food security and nutrition related fields. The report aims to help states and non-state actors to improve Multi-stakeholder Partnerships (MSP) in realizing the right to adequate food by strengthening inclusiveness, accountability, transparency, reflexivity and efficiency.

While data and evidence is limited on the suitability, benefits and limitations of MSPs’ as a mechanism for financing and improving FSN, the report tries to provide clarity on the definitions and also offers some observations on the main challenges facing MSPs, noting that MSPs do not replace the need for public investment. It provides suggestions on how governments and non-state actors can improve the performance of existing MSPs.

The report will be launched on the 27^th of June 2018 and presented by the team leader, Dr Moraka Nakedi Makhura, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development. Dr Makhura is also the co-leader of the Collaborative Centre on the Economics of Agricultural Research and Development and a team member of the the USAID Feed the Future Food Security Policy Innovation Lab.