CENTRAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES COMMIT
TO FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER

The Central American Higher University Council
(CSUCA) declares Nutritional Food Security
as a priority action line

Versión Español

On the basis of the proposal made by the Plenary of the VI Central American University Congress, held in Guatemala City on November 10 th and 11 th 2004, the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) has agreed that “the Promotion of National Food Security” will become one of its priority action lines.

This represents the culmination of several meetings between the Universities, with the support of FAO and Spanish Cooperation, within the framework of the Special Programme of Food Security –SPFS-, which resulted in the signing of the “Managua Consensus”. The “Managua Consensus” was signed by the representatives of six University Vice- Chancellors from El Salvador , Honduras , Guatemala and Nicaragua in a meeting held in the National Agricultural University (UNA) in Managua on November 5 th , 2004.

The severe nutritional food insecurity situation in the region, the commitments undertaken by the Central American countries in the latest world and regional summits, and the key role the universities can play in the fight against hunger in view of their social commitment, were among the issues discussed in the Congress.

In the coming years, the “Promotion of Nutritional Food Security” will be an integral part of the priority action area “ Public University – Society – State relationship”, and it will be formally included among the activities of the higher educational centres in the Central American region.

The commitment undertaken foresees the development of a broad regional agenda to define a university training, research and extension activity programme with the aim to efficiently respond to this commitment and contribute to the fight against hunger in the region.