We the Peoples of the United

Nations...

FAO’s Mandate1. raise level of nutrition and standards of

living of the peoples

2. secure improvements in the efficiency of production and distribution of food and all agricultural products

3. better the condition of rural populations

4. and thus contribute towards an expanding world economy and ensure humanity’s freedom from hunger

FAO Today

3450 staff (1450 professionals, 2000 support) 5 regional offices, 5 subregional offices, 5

liaison offices and over 78 country offices FAO Headquarters: 8 Departments, 6

“Technical” Annual budget approximately $375 million

Founded in 1945, with 44 member countries Today, there are 190 member countries

Reforming FAOTHE CHALLENGE OF WORLD

FOOD SECURITY

1997

© FAO 2000

Reform Proposalsthe calendar

Preparation during summer 2005Submission at FAO Conference in

November 2005Revised Proposal in January 2006Partial implementation in 2006 (next

biennial budgetary period 2006-2007)Further review FAO Council late 2006

Business as Usual?why further reform

• Overall UN Reform• Millennium Development Goals• Evaluation of FAO decentralization• General Evaluation of FAO in 2006But also:• Agriculture: trends in debt, aid & investment• Globalization: commerce, trade & industry• New politics, institutions & economies• Technological changes, including

communications & agricultural biotechnology• New challenges, in nutrition, disease,

emergencies

Basics of the Reform

• World Food Summit & follow up• The Focus – “Food Security”

– “Operational Activities”: Special Programme for Food Security, South-South Cooperation…

– “Normative Activities”: Codex alimentarius, Commission on Genetic Resources....

• Decentralization• New partnerships with key stakeholders: UN

system, civil society, development banks, agricultural research

• “Innovative approaches”- including cooperation with civil society

What should change?

• Interdisciplinarity: among or within departments?

• Eliminating distinctions between normative and operational activities

• “Flattening hierarchies”

• Exchange & enhancing knowledge, not “communication” or “information”

• Greater decentralisation

“Interdisciplinary thrusts”Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems brings

together Agriculture, Biosecurity, Nutrition, and Consumer Protection, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Natural Resources, Technology and Sustainable Development

Knowledge Exchange, Policy and Advocacy brings together Economic and Social Development, Alliances and Rural Livelihoods and Knowledge Exchange, Communication and Capacity-Building

Decentralization, UN Cooperation and Programme Delivery brings together Coordination and Decentralization, Outreach Programmes and the Technical Cooperation Programme

Opportunities: Next 60 Years

• Harnessing knowledge for agriculture• Sharing the benefits of urbanization and

globalization• Emergence of new institutions: growing

capacities in developing countries• Renewed commitment to rural investment• Reducing the impact of disaster and

improving emergency preparedness

Current Status of the Reform

• Partial implementation of the total proposal for reorganization of technical units

• Decentralisation: One Region and One Additional Subregion

• For Civil Society: Office of WFS and Alliances, capacity building for farmers

• Context: decreasing budget, less staff, balance core & voluntary resources, ongoing evaluation

Civil Society and Reform

• Influencing FAO’s Members: Working with Your Governments

• Public Awareness & Mobilization• Promoting perspectives & Strategic

Choices: Agrarian Reform, Genetic Resources, Food Sovereignty

• Working with FAO: Deepening Alliances & Partnerships – rules, precedents, practice

We the Peoples of the United

Nations...