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Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI) 2020 launched                    111,75 Think Tanks across the world ranked in different categories.                SDPI is ranked 90th among “Top Think Tanks Worldwide (non-US)”.           SDPI stands 11th among Top Think Tanks in South & South East Asia & the Pacific (excluding India).            SDPI notches 33rd position in “Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by A Think Tank” category.                SDPI remains 42nd in “Best Quality Assurance and Integrity Policies and Procedure” category.              SDPI stands 49th in “Think Tank to Watch in 2020”.            SDPI gets 52nd position among “Best Independent Think Tanks”.                           SDPI becomes 63rd in “Best Advocacy Campaign” category.                   SDPI secures 60th position in “Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks” category.                       SDPI obtains 64th position in “Best Use of Media (Print & Electronic)” category.               SDPI gains 66th position in “Top Environment Policy Tink Tanks” category.                SDPI achieves 76th position in “Think Tanks With Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program” category.                    SDPI notches 99th position in “Top Social Policy Think Tanks”.            SDPI wins 140th position among “Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks”.               SDPI is placed among special non-ranked category of Think Tanks – “Best Policy and Institutional Response to COVID-19”.                                            Owing to COVID-19 outbreak, SDPI staff is working from home from 9am to 5pm five days a week. All our staff members are available on phone, email and/or any other digital/electronic modes of communication during our usual official hours. You can also find all our work related to COVID-19 in orange entries in our publications section below.    The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is pleased to announce its Twenty-third Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) from 14 – 17 December 2020 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The overarching theme of this year’s Conference is Sustainable Development in the Times of COVID-19. Read more…       FOOD SECIRITY DASHBOARD: On 4th Nov, SDPI has shared the first prototype of Food Security Dashboard with Dr Moeed Yousaf, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on  National Security and Economic Outreach in the presence of stakeholders, including Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Provincial and district authorities attended the event in person or through zoom. The dashboard will help the government monitor and regulate the supply chain of essential food commodities.

Regional.


Food Crises in Developing Countries: The Role of National Governance

Partner: Boston University (The Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future), USA.

Year: 2008-09

Locale: Pakistan

Team Members:  Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri

Status: Closed

A policy brief  “Food Crises in Developing Countries: The Role of National Governance” was prepared by SDPI using the food security-governance nexus in Pakistan as a case study, this report argues that various factors leading to increases in global food prices in the developed world have very little relevance for developing countries. The paper concludes that the major reason for food inflation in developing countries, which are often food producing countries too, is bad governance and flawed food distribution policies. The paper concludes, “global efforts to solve food crises at the national level would prove useless in the absence of national efforts to improve governance”.

Food Security in Afghanistan

Partner: Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relation (ICRIER)

Year: 2008-09

Objective:

Part of the regional project, Food Security in SAARC, funded by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), SDPI undertook the case study of Afghanistan in regards to food security. As with the case study on Pakistan, the study aimed to identify major issues relating to food security, to identify major initiatives and policies in combating food insecurity and to formulate a policy road map at the regional and national level.

Recommendation:

The study issues a number of recommendations in combating food insecurity in the case of Afghanistan. The study recognizes that ethnic conflicts relating to natural resources must, as a first priority, be solved in order to begin to confront food insecurity in the country. Furthermore, increases in well-targeted investments should be made in the agricultural sector and especially in research and development of agro-food systems, while regulation of food market systems should be increased to control artificial scarcities and rent-seeking behavior. Further recommendations include the strengthening of social security and equity-based distribution systems for income, opportunities, employment and food. The study recommends that the distribution of food aid must be well targeted to avoid socially wasteful accumulation by powerful segments of Afghan society. Finally, the report recommends that Afghanistan should strengthen trade ties with regional countries and should lobby with regional countries for prompt establishment of a food bank sys-tem.

Food Related Legislation in South Asia

Partners: Oxfam-GB & SAWTEE

Duration: 2012 to 2013

Team Members:  Shujaat Ali Khan

Introduction:

South Asia is home to the largest number of food insecure people in the world. Food inflation, climate change, rapid population growth and improper legislation are some of the main reasons,  due to which people in  the region are faced with food insecurity and a low level of living standard.

The review of overall ambit of food insecurity situation in Pakistan has been undertaken in the study.  According to the report, laws were reviewed keeping in view different dimension of food security such as food availability, food accessibility, food stability, and food utilization, besides the livelihood aspects of food security. The report highlighted the main features of legislation including strength, and weaknesses.

Objectives:

  • To Identify, review and analyse Food Related Legislation in Pakistan.
  • To find out its strengths and weaknesses of legislation.
  • To recommend an integrated food security policy for country as well as the region of South Asia.

Activities:

  • After a review of these laws, a report was prepared  and presented at  a regional consultation on ‘Food Related Legislation in South Asia’ organized by SAWTEE and OXFAM-GB in Kathamandu, Nepal, in July 2013. Participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka presented their countries’ respective reports in the consultation.

Findings:

  • There is not any specific legislation in Pakistan, however, some relevant laws in the scattered form are available.
  • These laws need to be consolidated to frame a national food security policy.

Recommendations:

  • There is a need to devise a legal framework in the form of food security policy to address the food insecurity issue at national level. The national level legislation can then be used to frame an integrated food security policy for south Asia.
  • Proper implementation mechanism for food related legislation should also be prepared.
  • Need to launch more sustainable food security program and schemes for vulnerable groups at national and provincial level such as long-term food utilization, and nutrition-related programmes, livelihood, opportunities and options both on farm and off farm through skills development.
  • Land reforms and enhancement in productivity area is a must.
  • Water conservation/ harvesting
  • There is also a need for strengthening and expansion of social safety nets’ is a must.
  • Targeted input subsidies especially for small farmers.
  • Self-employment and small and medium enterprise development through gender mainstreaming.

Food Security in Pakistan

Partner: Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relation (ICRIER)

Year: 2008-09

Team Members:  Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Shakeel Ahmed

Objectives:

This study was part of the regional project, Food Security in SAARC. Principal objectives of the study were to identify central issues of food security, to identify major initiatives and policies for combating food insecurity and to formulate a policy road map at both the regional and national levels. The study primarily analyzed the state of food security indicators, the policy framework, the role of regional trade and the role of food banks in South Asia.

Recommendation:

The study puts forward a set of recommendations to address identified issues related to food insecurity in Pakistan. Recommendations include intensive investment in research, technology and extension services to enhance productivity. Further recommendations propose that safety nets for the poor should be developed, including major increases in funding for the health sector, especially for illnesses that are often ignored such as gastronomic diseases. It is recommended that a National Food Security Policy be developed covering all aspects of food security that regional trade in food should be facilitated through better infrastructure and concessions and that regional food banks should be given a prime focus. The report also recognizes the importance of improving relations between nations in pursuing a food secure future, especially in regards to Pakistan and India, and recommends improvements in this regard.