The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (NSC) signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve the analysis and dissemination of food security statistics in the Kyrgyz Republic.
WFP and NSC will collaborate on the analysis and presentation of data for the production of an annual atlas that includes data from fields that affect food security, such as agricultural production; demographics; poverty rates; education; health; nutrition; and food consumption. This Food Security Atlas, a key instrument to support informed policy-making, will reflect national trends, regional disparities and underlying problems.
NSC and WFP will also collaborate with other partners on the dissemination of food security statistics using geographical information systems (GIS) and mobile technologies, including the development of a stat.kg mobile application. This will strengthen the quality and relevancy of food security statistics and facilitate access to the data.
“The NSC fully recognizes the necessity and importance of enhancing the quality, timeliness, accessibility and effective use of statistical data to improve food security and nutritional decision-making in the Kyrgyz Republic,” NSC Chairman Akylbek Sultanov said at the signing ceremony.
The MoU highlights joint efforts to monitor markets, analyse the prices of food and non-food items, and assess the impact of price volatility on households. It will provide technical support for quick action by the Kyrgyz Government to address any food security changes.
“We look forward to benefitting from WFP’s experience and expertise,” Sultanov added.
WFP and NSC are longstanding partners. This latest initiative consolidates WFP’s support to capacity development in the area of food and nutrition security data.
“The partnership with the NSC will further empower national institutions to undertake food security analysis in the Kyrgyz Republic, and provide actionable knowledge to improve food security and nutrition across the country,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic Ram Saravanamuttu.
