In response to the 2001-03 food crisis in Southern Africa, ODI has been coordinating a Forum for Food Security in Southern Africa to provide a platform for 500 stakeholders from government, civil society, international agencies, the private sector and research organisations in the region to discuss how more effective policies can be put in place for addressing chronic food security in Southern Africa. One of the conclusions from The Forum is that policy processes in Southern Africa have suffered to date from lack of effective participation by potential sponsors of change, and in particular by organisations that represent the voices of vulnerable rural and urban people.