Introduction: In 2019, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) published an Overview of Food Security (ECO, 2019a; ECO-RCC and FAO, 2019), providing broad recommendations to enhance food security in the ECO region.a In December of the same year, the 6th ECO Agricultural Ministerial Meeting issued an official declaration affirming the need to develop the ECO Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS) and nominating the ECO Regional Coordination Centre (ECO-RCC) to oversee implementation (ECO. 2019b). In order to ensure synergetic effects between food security and nutrition, the ECO-RPFS is considering the implementation of other complementary initiatives in the ECO region. One such initiative is the ECO Vision and Implementation Framework (ECO, 2017). Some of the objectives and outcomes expected from implementation of the ECO Vision relate directly to regional food security, with a particular focus on nutrition and a general focus on the sustainable development agenda.b Of equal relevance are FAO’s Country Programme Frameworks implemented in each ECO member state in collaboration with national governments.c These distinct initiatives are complementary and together benefit the ECO-RPFS. ECO-RPFS takes the recommendations of the Overview study as its point of departure and considers the achievements of the complementary initiatives carried out in the ECO region. Regarding its operational framework, the ECO-RPFS would be instrumental in approaching potential donors for implementation funds; hence, the food security priority areas of the ECO region have been coupled with those of donors. However, it is important to note that the food security priorities of the donors and the ECO-RPFS all seek to contribute to the accomplishment of SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture).

Keyword: Food security, OECD countries, Economic Cooperation organization (ECO)