How is a Thematic Group formed?
There is no single way to establish a Thematic Group. Thematic Groups emerge and evolve to respond to national circumstances and a variety of ways are used for their establishment. When the ACC Network was newly established, new Thematic Groups were set up in Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Guinea, Pakistan and Chile. But in some countries, Thematic Groups have replaced the national committees and groups that emerged in 1996-97 before and after the World Food Summit. In Peru and China, for example, the terms of reference of these existing food security groups have been widened to reflect expanded focus. In some cases, Thematic Groups are established within the Network in countries with several already existing groups involved in issues related to rural development and food security. In some countries, like Bangladesh, existing groups have been expanded. In others, like Madagascar, they are forming local networks to bring together all the relevant groups.
