responding - food and agriculture organization · natural and human-induced disasters. fao has the...

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The beginning of the

twenty-first century has

been marked by

increasing urbanization

and corresponding

pressure on land and

water resources; greater

demand for food quality

and safety; climate

change and the erosion of

biodiversity; forest loss

and overfishing;

transboundary pests, plant

and animal diseases and

natural and human-

induced disasters.

FAO has the capacity to

respond to these

challenges. From working

with farmers in their fields

to policy-makers in their

ministries, FAO has a

strong comparative

advantage and a wealth of

accumulated knowledge

and experience.

Over 800 million people around the world struggle with hunger and extreme

poverty. About 70 percent of these people live in rural areas and depend in

some way on agriculture. Achieving food for all is at the heart of the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ efforts since its founding in

1945. For more than sixty years FAO has been focusing on combating hunger

and raising levels of nutrition, improving agricultural productivity, ensuring the

sustainable use of natural resources, bettering the lives of rural populations and

contributing to the growth of the world economy.

Its outreach is global, bringing together developing countries with donor

governments and aid agencies in joint efforts to achieve the United Nations

Millennium Development Goals, specifically the goal of eradicating extreme

poverty and hunger.

Respondingto the challenges of the 21st century

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A neutral international forumAs a politically neutral forum, FAO provides the setting where all nations meet asequals to negotiate agreements and debate policy on major food and agriculturalissues. It has the ability to act as an honest broker to whom sensitive tasks can beentrusted and who can interact with and bring together various constituencies –governmental and non-governmental.

Building partnershipsFAO builds partnerships with donor and receiving partner countries to implementprogrammes and projects. It collaborates with other UN organizations, civil societyorganizations (CSOs), international financing institutions, local authorities and theprivate sector.

Producing public goodsFAO’s convening powers allow for consultation and building consent. It setsstandards and is the repository for numerous international treaties and agreementsin the areas of food, agriculture, fisheries, natural resource management andforestry. Examples include the Codex Alimentarius which sets rules on food safetyfor producers and consumers alike, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheriesand the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.

Ensuring the link between the global and the local International norms and standards as well as codes of conduct are negotiated at theglobal level, but require national settings for their application and validation.Working at country level, FAO can provide the policy assistance and capacitybuilding expertise to enable national governments to implement and monitor thosenorms and standards.

Whypartner with FAO?

tFAO compiles and supports hundreds of databases thatprovide up-to-date information and are available online andin print. Its Web site allows access to material such as theGlobal Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) -regular bulletins on food crop production and markets andearly warnings of imminent food crises - and FAOSTAT, theworld’s largest and most comprehensive database on foodand agriculture. FAOSTAT alone covers 800 agriculturalcommodities and 250 fishery and forestry products.

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A global network FAO maintains five regional offices, eleven sub-regional offices, five liaison officesand 78 country representations. This extensive network works in partnership withministries, governmental and non-governmental institutions, local authorities, civilsociety, regional economic organizations and research institutions to find solutions tonational and global development challenges.

Sharing knowledge and informationFAO is an authoritative source of information on food, agriculture, land, water,fisheries and forestry resources. It is at the forefront of gathering, analysing anddisseminating information through its member countries and field projects. FAO’sstatistics, long-term perspective studies, reports on the state of food and agriculture,forestries and fisheries and food insecurity also provide the underpinning for policyadvice and assistance.

Alerting countries to transboundary issues and facilitatingappropriate actionFAO is a leader in preventing and managing the spread of plant pests and animaldiseases such as Rinderpest, Avian Influenza and Desert Locust. The Organizationalso plays an important role in other transboundary activities such as controllingdesertification and the joint management by several countries of common fisheriesand inland water resources.

Accountability In addition to being accountable to all member countries on the use of its RegularProgramme resources, FAO is accountable for the use of project funds vis-à-vis therecipients and the donors and for providing the project services under itsresponsibility. FAO shares responsibility with the government for the achievement ofthe agreed project outcome within a defined timeframe. FAO provides evaluations ofprojects, both mid-term and final. Although this booklet focuses on Trust Fundactivities, it should be recalled that FAO strives to link its overall objectives andresource requirements to all sources of funding, thus enhancing the tie between theRegular Programme of Work (funded from assessed contributions from MemberNations) and Trust Funds (funded from voluntary contributions).

Civil Society Organizations

are often FAO's main

implementing partners in

emergencies, contributing

to monitoring and

assessment of needs and

the management of relief

operations. CSOs also play

a fundamental role in the

design, negotiation,

development and

implementation of major

global initiatives. FAO

worked in partnership with

CSOs on the Rotterdam

Convention regulating

hazardous chemicals and

pesticides in agriculture, the

Code of Conduct for

Responsible Fisheries, and

the recently ratified

International Treaty on Plant

Genetic Resources for Food

and Agriculture.

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Funding FAO’s field programme

FAO has over 2500 field projects in operation, with a total value of close to

USD 800 million. About six percent of these are funded by the Regular Programme

through the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) and the Special Programme

for Food Security (SPFS). The remaining 94 percent of field projects are funded by

extrabudgetary resources through different types of Trust Funds. Extrabudgetary funding

is the main driving force behind FAO’s field programme. This includes both development

and emergency projects, as well as normative activities.

During the biennium 2006-07 the top voluntary contributions to FAO's field

programme came from: the EC, Spain, Italy followed by Sweden, the United States

of America, Norway, Japan, Belgium, Canada and the United Kingdom.

TCP grants fund projects

that are specifically

designed to support,

small-scale actions that are

of modest cost and limited

duration and have a catalytic

or multiplier effect. TCP

projects meet

unforeseeable needs, fill

critical gaps by providing

inputs that are not available

locally, complement and

facilitate other forms of

assistance. They also seek

to mobilize additional

multilateral and bilateral

resources for technical

cooperation and

investment. Through their

catalytic effect, TCP

projects have helped

significantly to stimulate the

flow of bilateral and

multilateral investments.

FAO grants: The Technical Cooperation Programme

Extrabudgetary resources mobilizedfor FAO field programme

Over USD 1 billion were mobilized in 2006-07 for development and emergency operations.Emergencies have absorbed almost 50% of extrabudgetary resources in recent biennia

The concentration of funds in Africa is clear,followed by Asia with 17 percent and LatinAmerica with 16 percent. Approximately 30 percent of the expenditure is for interregionaland global projects

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Delivery of extrabudgetary resources to FAOfield programme by regions includingheadquarters based initiatives (2003-2007) aspercentages of total

Development projects

50.7%

24.1%

17.3%

3.5%

30.2%

8.8%

16.1%

49.3%

Emergency projectsAfricaAsia

EuropeLatin America

Near EastInterregional


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The bulk of FAO’s Trust Funds fall under the Government Cooperative Programmeand the Unilateral Trust Funds categories. However, there is a broader range ofdifferent funding modalities and the flexibility of developing new ones in accordancewith donors' and developing countries’ needs and priorities.

Government Cooperative Programme (GCP) Fund: From single donor to multidonor trust.A GCP is an agreement between several parties:

• FAO• one or several donors• one or several beneficiary countries• financing institutions

The GCP represents a financing modality under which a donor government or afinancing institution entrusts funds to FAO for the provision of technical assistanceservices - including policy advice, normative activities and training - to a specificdeveloping country, a group of countries within the same region (a regional project)or a group of countries in different regions (an interregional project). It is among thelargest of the FAO Trust Fund programmes.

Unilateral Trust Funds (UTF): Beneficiary country fundedA Unilateral Trust Fund is an agreement between two or three parties:

• FAO• the beneficiary country• financing institutions

This funding modality allows developing countries to benefit from the Organization’stechnical expertise through UTFs which are fully funded by the beneficiary countriesthemselves, either from national resources or from the proceeds of loans, credits andgrants made available by international finance institutions or bilateral donors.

Countries as diverse as Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, SaudiArabia and Venezuela have all used this type of FAO Trust Fund.

Whatare the FAO trust funds?

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Since the European Community became an FAO Member in1991, collaboration among the two institutions has graduallyincreased. Today, taxpayers of the 27 member countries ofthe European Union contribute around USD 100 million ayear to field programmes that alleviate world hunger. Thislevel of contributions has made the EC the largest singlefunding source of FAO’s field activities, representing about18 percent of its total expenditures. In 2004 FAO and the EC signed a Strategic Partnershipagreement with the overall objective to work together towardsthe achievement of the Millennium Development Goals throughhunger and poverty alleviation. The FAO-EC partnership coversfive main areas of cooperation: i) food security, ii) sustainablerural development and agricultural policy, iii) food safety andquality, iv) natural resources management and v) statisticalcooperation and information exchange.

Enhanced donor harmonization and reduced transaction costsGCP programmes are increasingly multidonor funded. The shift from individualprojects financed by a single donor to large programmes funded by several donorsrepresents a major development in the way FAO collaborates with the internationaldonor community and recipient countries. This growing trend reflects the emphasisplaced on the need for long-term planning for the delivery of developmentassistance in order to achieve positive results and sustainable impact. For example,the National Forest Programme Facility, which provides grants to national forestprogramme stakeholders in developing countries with a focus on capacity buildingand information sharing, is financed through a multidonor trust fund currentlysupported by 13 funding partners. FishCode, an umbrella programme whose mainobjective is to raise the economic, social and nutritional benefits obtained fromfisheries and aquaculture, is a multidonor trust currently funded by over 20 donorpartners, including individual countries, as well as the EC, the World Bank andseveral other international agencies.

The programme approach Increasingly, FAO is adopting a programme rather than a project approach. This is arelatively flexible strategic partnership agreement in which donor support is not tiedto a particular project or pre-planned activities but instead provides a clear anddefined framework within which activities can be funded. This allows and promotesa flexible and interdisciplinary way of working. Examples include the ProgrammeCooperation Agreements (PCA) and Strategic Partnership Programmes that FAO haswith the Netherlands and Norway.

Joint ProgrammingIncreasingly FAO participates in Joint UN Programming, a programming and fundingmechanism used by the UN at the country level with the objective to ensure acoordinated and strategic UN response and "Deliver as One". UN agencies togetherwith governments, civil society and other partners set priorities in accordance withcountries' needs in order to better coordinate the UN response and thecorresponding resource mobilization. For example, in Zambia the UN Country teamcreated a Joint UN Team on AIDS involving 13 UN organizations. The team has gonethrough a thorough consultation process with government, cooperating partners andcivil society to create the Joint UN Programme of Support on AIDS. As one team theJoint UN Team on AIDS has one work plan and one budget thereby drasticallyreducing transaction costs.

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~Pakistani labourer carryingecological cotton at one ofthe cotton processing mills.The project is funded by the EC.


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The Special Fund for

Emergency and

Rehabilitation Activities

(SFERA) is a non-earmarked

multidonor funding

mechanism. The SFERA

provides FAO with the

flexibility and financial

means to react promptly to

humanitarian crises before

donor funding is secured.

The fund allows for early

participation in inter-agency

assessments, the initiation

of coordination activities in

support of all actors

involved in agricultural

relief, and the timely

preparation of context-

specific emergency

programmes. It also

enables the Organization to

acquire logistical equipment

and inputs for the quick

launch of field activities.

Since its creation in 2003,

SFERA received nearly

USD 60 million of which

45 million was allocated to

the special programmes for

the tsunami and avian

influenza and a further

USD 1.2 million was used

for the setup of Emergency

Coordination Units,

supporting the rapid launch

of needs assessment

missions and programme

formulation exercises.

Unearmarked funding: SFERA

Responding to the challenges of MDG 1 Reducing Hunger and Poverty: The Trust Fund for Food Security

FAO’s Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS)

initially targeted limited numbers of small-scale farmers,

showing them how to produce and trade using low-cost

technologies. Today the Programme helps governments

replicate successful experiences on a national scale,

reaching out to the entire food-insecure population.

Efforts to directly reach millions of farmers are

complemented by policies and investments to open up

markets and provide direct access to food for those who

are too poor to produce or acquire it themselves. FAO

also works closely with regional economic organizations

to develop Regional Programmes for Food Security.

These help formulate regional food and agricultural trade

strategies and support national efforts so that small

farmers can become more efficient and find new markets

for their produce. FAO also assists countries mobilize

resources for the national and regional food security

programmes. To address these programmes FAO has

created the Trust Fund for Food Security.

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FAO’s broad technical expertise and experience allow it to provide a whole range ofservices to ensure that projects and programmes respond effectively to issues thatimpact on the lives of rural people.

Assisting governments to mobilize resources for national priorities in the food and agriculture sectorFAO's field offices are increasingly involved in resource mobilization and often engagewith donors directly at the country level. The Organization helps countries securefinancing for priority areas in agricultural and rural development that may not benecessarily implemented by FAO.

Preparing Investment ProgrammesFAO's Investment Centre promotes greater investment in agriculture and ruraldevelopment by assisting developing countries to identify and plan effective andsustainable agricultural policies, programmes and projects and monitoring theirimplementation. It does this with funding from multilateral institutions such as theWorld Bank, IFAD, regional development banks and international funds as well as FAO resources.

Policy assistanceFAO provides analysis of global changes, their implication at the national and regionallevel and helps governments formulate and review their national policies and strategiesin agriculture and rural development. Examples include supporting developing countriesin understanding the implications of positions in trade negotiations and in implementingWorld Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, and providing advice with prioritizingagriculture and rural development within existing development frameworks such as thePoverty Reduction Strategies.

A wide range of services

tIn October 2006, FAO established a Crisis ManagementCentre (CMC) to fight Avian Influenza outbreaks and othermajor animal health or food health-related emergencies. Set up in collaboration with the Paris-based WorldOrganisation for Animal Health and located at FAO’s Romeheadquarters, the Centre brings rapid-response capacity totransboundary animal and plant diseases, and can also reactquickly to emergencies involving plant pests or food safety.Supported by advanced communications technology, theCentre operates around the clock, seven days a week with astaff of up to 15 specialists and veterinarians. Diseaseinformation is monitored and updated from around theglobe continuously. When a suspected outbreak is reported,CMC can dispatch its experts to any hot-spot in the world inunder 48 hours.©

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Capacity buildingCapacity building in countries is a feature of nearly all FAO interventions, both throughnational and regional initiatives. The thematic focus of capacity building activities canvary, from strengthening capacity in complying with food safety standards to training inpesticide management to establishing food information and early warning systems.

Responding to emergencies and ensuring the link to rehabilitationFrom prevention, monitoring and early warning to rapid response and building backbetter, FAO’s assistance in emergencies covers a whole range of services. FAO providesearly warning of adverse conditions in the food and agricultural sectors and ofimpending food emergencies. It also monitors and warns of transboundary epidemics inlivestock diseases and plant pests and ensures a global response. It participates in interagency assessment missions, coordinates the different players involved in complexemergencies and helps create the conditions for a quick and lasting recovery.

Project implementationFAO has the expertise and experience needed to provide the technical andadministrative support required to implement projects successfully. Nationalinstitutions and NGOs are often closely involved in project implementation, indevelopment as well as emergency projects.Depending on the project agreement signed between the recipient country, FAO andthe donor, implementation services can vary. They range from recruitment andsupervision of experts to procurement of goods and services to supply of up-to-date information on project progress and regular financial and budgetaryreports. FAO technical officers in headquarters and in regional and subregional officesprovide technical support services to projects and help turn FAO’s knowledge intopractical action on the ground. These services, combined with capacity developmentactivities (fellowships, training of trainers, workshops, etc.), project monitoringthrough a network coordinated by FAO’s Field Programme Monitoring andCoordination Service, and financial accountability ensure that the project inputs,outputs and outcomes are of the highest technical standards.

pIntegrated pest management training at a farmer field school:collecting pest specimens in the field. The specimens are thentaken to the school and drawn by farmer groups. As illiteracy is high in Laos, drawing from life specimensenhances farmers' ability to identify and memorize insects.Most schools are attended by about 25 participants, bothmale and female, from the same village and groups areformed to facilitate field study. This village was chosenbecause farmers were keen to learn about crop managementand production of new high-yielding rice varieties.

Farmer Field Schools (FFS),

initially developed by FAO

in Southeast Asia, are an

alternative way of

empowering small-scale

farmers, to improve their

production systems, food

security and livelihoods.

The FFS approach

capitalizes on farmer

knowledge and

organization and applies

"learning by doing"

methods. Many field

schools start with a broad

curriculum and, later on,

focus on more specialized

subjects e.g. improved

dairy production and

marketing, fruit production

and transformation, farm

business management,

enterprise development

and marketing.

"Graduated" FFS groups

often continue working

together, marketing their

produce in groups.

This localized approach to

capacity building and

institution building is now

being promoted by many

governments and NGOs in

rural areas of developing

countries throughout Africa,

Asia and Latin America.

Capacity building

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FAO TRUST FUNDS AT WORK

The Decentralized Cooperation Programme: Promoting city-to-city and region-to-region partnerships

Codex Alimentarius: International foodstandards for safer food and fairer trade

Africa Stockpiles Programme: EliminatingAfrica's 50 000 tonnes pesticide stockpile

FishCode: Global partnerships for responsible fisheries

The National Forest Programme Facility

The FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme: A programme approach

with budgetary flexibility

Tsunami reconstruction: Building back better

The Global Programme for the Prevention andControl of Avian Influenza

Food security information for action

Produzir: Small collective enterprises helpmarginalized people generate income

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case studies


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http://www.fao.org/tc/DCP/ Increasingly cities, regions and otherlocal institutions in developed countriesare reaching out to their counterparts inpoorer countries to help tackle povertyand food insecurity.

The FAO Decentralized CooperationProgramme (DCP) was launched in 2002to promote participation of non-stateactors in the development process andto strengthen local governmentinstitutions with the aim of addressinghunger and malnutrition. Direct city-to-city or region-to-region partnerships arepromoted with FAO acting both as acatalyst and provider of technical andoperational support.

In the framework of the “Fome Zero”Programme, the Brazilian governmentgave priority to the provision of freshwater to Brazil’s driest areas, in theNorth East of the country. The region ofDois Irmaos (“two brothers”), lyingacross the states of Bahia and Piaui isthreatened with food insecurity,particularly during the dry months of theyear. Rural households generally lacksufficient access to water resources,rainfall is erratic and food production inthe region is based on subsistencefarming. At the request of theGovernment, FAO and the Region ofTuscany established a partnership to

develop a water control project with theoverall objective of improving access towater resources both for domestic useand small scale farming.

The project focused on rainwaterharvesting - through the provision of 1 850 water tanks for household andvillage consumption - as well as ontraining. However, its most significantresult was to develop a sense ofcommunity across the states of Piauiand Bahia which led to an integratedrural development scheme in the DoisIrmaos area.

The project supported income-generating activities such as backyardanimal rearing, food processing,medicinal plants and apiculture. Allactivities were conducted at communitylevel so that lessons learned could bereproduced by other families in the area.The project also aimed at addressingwomen’s empowerment by relievingthem of time-consuming watercollection and promoting women’sassociations.

From its original budget of USD 600 000,contributions from private and publicsources resulted in a total budget closeto USD 1.4 million. The projectdeveloped a sense of community andfacilitated entrepreneurship in the area.

Funding modalityCo-financed by the Italy–FAO DecentralizedCooperation Programme (GDCP).

PartnersThe Government of Italy, the region ofTuscany, nine municipalities of Bahia andPiui, Italian Civil Society organizations(Cooperazione per lo sviluppo dei paesiemergenti [COSPE], Unitá e cooperazioneper lo sviluppo dei popoli [UCODEP], Legadelle Cooperative Toscane, the AssociazioneArte Continua), Brazilian trade unions.

Geographical areaSerra de Dois Irmaos, between the states ofBahia and Piaui, Brazil.

Services providedCapacity building, technical assistance andpartnership building.

THE DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION PROGRAMME: Promoting city-to-city and region-to-region partnershipsThe Dois Irmaos Water Control Project in North-East Brazil

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www.codexalimentarius.net Globalization has increased trade infood and agricultural commodities but ithas also complicated the task ofkeeping them safe. The safety of foodthroughout the food chain is of seriousconcern to consumers, farmers,processors, retailers and governmentsalike. Recent outbreaks of AvianInfluenza and concerns aboutgenetically modified foods haveexposed the growing need for clear food standards based on scientific research.

The Codex Alimentarius is aninternational food code that serves asthe basis for many national foodstandards to protect the health ofconsumers and to ensure fair practicesin the food trade. It covers aspects suchas food labelling, food additives,residues of pesticides and veterinarydrugs, food contaminants, food hygiene,nutrition and foods for special dietaryuses, food import and export inspectionand certification systems and methodsof analysis and sampling, in addition tomore specific commodity related issues.The Codex is an important internationalreference point for consumers, foodproducers and processors, nationalfood control agencies and theinternational food trade.

Administered jointly by FAO and theWorld Health Organization (WHO), theCodex Alimentarius Commission and its170 members meet every two years toset standards and guidelines. Byproviding an international focal point forinformed dialogue on issues relevant tofood, the Codex AlimentariusCommission fulfils a crucial role insensitizing the global community to thedanger of food hazards as well as to theimportance of food quality and to theneed for food standards. FAO, often incollaboration with WHO, convenes withhealth professionals and scientists,including academics, researchers,nutritionists and other experts to alertand give advice to the Codex system onspecific issues such as animal feedingand food safety, biotechnology, organicfoods, probiotics and compliance withfood trade agreements. Healthprofessionals can also alert nationalauthorities on emerging issues in foodproduction, processing, packaging and transport.

The agreements reached during theUruguay Round of Multilateral Tradenegotiations (1986-94) and theestablishment of the World TradeOrganization (WTO) brought trade inagricultural and food products under

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS: International food standards for safer food and fairer trade

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Funding modalities

The FAO/WHOCodex Multi-lateralTrust Fund for thenormative work.7GCPs, TCP grantsand UTFs forcapacity buildingprojects.

Donors

Australia, Canada,EuropeanCommunity,Finland, Germany,Ireland, Japan,Netherlands, NewZealand, Norway,Sweden,Switzerland,United States ofAmerica.

Geographical area

Worldwide.

Services provided

Standard setting,scientificknowledge,technicalexpertise, capacitybuilding, policyassistance.

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global rules for the first time. SinceCodex standards and texts have beenrecognized as the internationallyrelevant and scientifically justifiednorms, they are accepted as thebenchmarks against which nationalmeasures and regulations areevaluated. A WTO member countrywhose food-safety measures are inharmony with Codex standards isconsidered in compliance with WTOrules and can have easier access tointernational markets.

Through funding from its core budgetand extrabudgetary resources, FAOprovides technical and policy assistanceto member countries for theimplementation of Codex-relatedactivities and the application of Codexstandards, guidelines andrecommendations. Project activities arebased on a prior assessment of acountry’s needs and tailored to the localinstitutional and developmentalconditions of that country, its foodindustry and of the other operators inthe food chain.

FAO also supports governments andfood enterprises to become morecompetitive in international markets byproviding capacity building assistanceto improve the quality and safety of food

and agricultural products and promotingtheir export. Activities include nationaland regional training workshops andseminars on food safety related mattersand the development and disseminationof manuals, guidelines, trainingmaterials and other tools needed tosupport food control and food safetydevelopment programmes.

~As a result of food crises such as mad-cowdisease, Codex has developed a Code ofPractice for Good Animal Feeding. It coversamong many things how animal feed is handledon the farm. Farmers’ organizations have beencontributing to the development of this Code.

case study

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www.fao.org/ag/obstocks.htm At least 50 000 tonnes of obsoletepesticide waste are stockpiled acrossthe 53-country African continent. Manyof these chemicals and their containersare in poor condition, threatening localand regional environments and humanhealth through contamination of soil,water, air, and food. The AfricanStockpiles Programme (ASP) aims toremove all obsolete pesticides, includingPersistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),from the continent of Africa over aperiod of 12-15 years, while also helpingcountries prevent future build-ups.

The ASP initiative grew out ofdiscussions between WWF andPesticide Action Network that built onthe longstanding FAO obsoletepesticides programme at the time of thenegotiations that led to the 2001Stockholm Convention on POPs. As themain technical agency working onpesticides management and theprevention and elimination of obsoletepesticides, FAO has been involved rightfrom the beginning of the project. ASP isnow a strategic partnership betweenFAO, African countries, donorgovernments, international and AfricanNGOs, multilateral organizations andprivate sector industry.

In collaboration with bilateral donoragencies and the pesticide industry, FAOprovides technical support to countrieswhere clean-up activities are takingplace. This is coordinated through aTechnical Support Unit hosted by FAO.The unit serves as a focal point amongagencies for developing strategies,tools, guidance and informationresources related to the management ofobsolete pesticides. The unit also hasthe responsibility for ensuring thattechnical inputs meet the agreedstandards of the programme through amonitoring and evaluation system.

Country operations include four maincomponents: i) country clean-up and disposal

activities;ii) prevention activities; iii) capacity building; iv) country project management,

monitoring and evaluation.

Effective management of pesticidesfrom the point at which they areproduced or imported into the country,through to their distribution, sale,storage, use and to the management ofempty containers and waste products isthe basis of a country’s ability to controlpesticides. Equally important is the

AFRICA STOCKPILES PROGRAMMEEliminating Africa’s 50 000 tonnes obsolete pesticide stockpile

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ability to enforce legislation as well assustainably implement the institutionalmechanisms that support pesticide lifecycle management. Training, expertadvice, information and educationprogrammes are all measures to ensurethat each country participating in theASP will be better equipped to managepesticides, so as to avoid accumulationof obsolete stocks in the future.

The first clean-up phase of the ASPfocuses on nine African countries.Approximately eight other countries arecandidates for preparatory andprevention activities as the ASP movestoward a second operational phase inover the next three to four years. FAO

and the World Bank are currentlyworking to secure the funds required todevelop the second phase. Experiencefrom the first phase of the ASP dictatesthat a broad and long-term fund raisingstrategy needs to be followed. This willinclude work with ASP participatingcountries to raise funds bilaterally in-country, discussions with donorcountries at their headquarters to makefunds available at programme level,exploitation of multilateral funds such asthe GEF to complement other funds, aswell as creative use of private sectorfunding opportunities.

Funding modality

Bilateral-MultidonorTrust (GCP),Unilateral Trust Fund,direct funding tocountries.

Donors

Global EnvironmentFacility (GEF) throughthe World Bank andFAO, The World BankDevelopment GrantFacility, Belgium(through FAO),Canada, Denmark,EuropeanCommission, Finland(through FAO),France, Japan(through FAO),Netherlands (throughFAO), Sweden,Switzerland, FAO(TCP grants).

Partners

African Union (AU),Basel ConventionSecretariat, CropLife(CLI), NewPartnership forAfrica (NEPAD),PAN-Africa, PAN-UK,United NationsEconomicCommission forAfrica (UNECA),United NationsEnvironmentProgramme (UNEP),United NationsIndustrialDevelopmentOrganisation(UNIDO), United

Nations Institute forTraining andResearch (UNITAR),World Bank, WorldHealth Organization(WHO), WorldWildlife Fund (WWF).

Participatingcountries

Eritrea, Ethiopia,Mali, Morocco,Mozambique,Nigeria,Tanzania, Tunisia andSouth Africa.

Services

Technicalassistance,knowledgeexchange, capacitybuilding andpromotingpartnerships.

~DDT is one of the chemicals slated forelimination by the Stockholm Convention onPOPS. The POPs Convention calls for outrightbanning and destruction of some of the world'smost dangerous chemicals. Since 21 May 2002,the Stockholm Convention had been ratified by154 countries and regional economic integrationorganizations.The Global Environmental Facility

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an independent financial

organization that provides grants to developing countries and projects that

benefit the global environment. There is a strong match between FAO and

GEF strategic and programme priorities, in particular in areas relating to

biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters and

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). FAO has worked closely with GEF

since its establishment in 1999, and in 2000, the GEF Council approved

FAO as a GEF Executing Agency. Although FAO’s access to GEF resources

is mainly concentrated in the area of POPS, it collaborates closely with the

GEF implementing and executing agencies in other focal areas both at

policy and project level.

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www.fao.org/fi/fishcode.htm

As the world’s fishery resources and theaquatic ecosystem become increasinglythreatened by pollution, habitatdestruction, climate change and over-fishing, there is a need to address thelong-term sustainability of fisheries andaquaculture. The 1995 FAO Code ofConduct for Responsible Fisheries(CCRF) provides a policy framework formeeting this challenge. A voluntary(legally non-binding) instrument, theCode is now widely-recognized bygovernments and NGOs as the worldstandard for conducting fishing andaquaculture in a sustainable way.

FAO has a global responsibility tofacilitate and monitor implementation ofthe Code, technically support nationaland regional initiatives and monitor theCode’s effects on fisheries. This hasresulted in the development of TechnicalGuidelines for CCRF implementation, theadoption of four International Plans ofAction - reducing incidental catch ofseabirds in longline fisheries;conservation and management of sharks;management of fishing capacity; andprevention, deterrence and elimination ofunreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing– as well as strategies for improvinginformation on status and trends ofcapture fisheries and aquaculture.

When member countries adopted theCode in 1995, they asked FAO to respondto the special needs of developingcountries for its implementation.FishCode was thus established by theFAO Fisheries and AquacultureDepartment as a multidonor umbrellaprogramme to promote responsiblefisheries. Currently supported by anetwork of over 20 partner agencies, itserves to coordinate donor support andfoster synergies between variousresponsible fisheries initiatives.FishCode’s mission is to raise theeconomic, social and nutritional benefitsof fisheries and aquaculture, especiallyin developing countries, through theadoption of responsible development,management and conservationpractices, including improvedinstitutional and legal arrangements.

The Programme addresses allaspects of responsible fisheries andaquaculture through activities andprojects organized under a number ofthematic components.

These cover policy, planning,management, operational and researchissues and problems in both the harvestand post-harvest sectors.

All activities involve considerablecapacity building and focus on

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sensitizing fisheries and fish tradepolicy-makers and training andawareness-raising for planners,managers, fish food controllers, industryand trade personnel, NGOs and fishersin order to strengthen institutionalcapabilities and facilitate the Code’simplementation. Major FishCodecapacity-building initiatives include:improved digital information access forscientists and resource managers indeveloping countries; application of portState measures to combat IUU fishing;

youth awareness for responsiblefisheries; and fair and equitableparticipation in ecolabelling and certification schemes for small-scale fishers.

Interested donors are invited tobecome FishCode Programme partnersthrough general contributions to theFishCode Trust, or through support tospecific projects operating under theProgramme umbrella. Partnerships areencouraged with both public- andprivate-sector donors and entities.

Funding modality

Multidonor trust fund(the FishCode Trust)and individualproject trust funds.

Major Donors

EuropeanCommission, Finland,Iceland, Japan,Norway, Sweden,United Kingdom,United States ofAmerica, WorldBank.

Geographical area

Worldwide.

Services

Capacity building,technical andadvisory assistanceat global, regionaland national levels.

~FishCode is helping to build capacity forresponsible harvest and post-harvest practices.The significant changes taking place in theglobal marketplace require knowledge ofinternational fish trade requirements, fishingpractices and their environmental impacts, andthe role of fisheries in sustaining communitylivelihoods and food security.

Regional training workshops on port State measures Port State measures combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

(IUU) and promote compliance with fishery conservation and management

standards. The International Plan of Action on IUU calls on all port States to

develop and apply control measures to prevent, deter and ultimately

eliminate IUU fishing.

Since 2006 FishCode has facilitated a series of regional training workshops

on port State measures to develop capacity and promote regional

coordination so that countries will be better placed to strengthen and

harmonize port State measures. Training is aimed at middle- to senior- level

fisheries managers and other relevant government, industry and non-

government stakeholders. The workshops are oriented towards practical

application of international instruments in the relevant region. Working

groups are formed where participants focus on case studies and identify the

constraints for implementation and how to solve them. Institutional linkages

are forged, reflecting the international and regional nature of the activity.

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www.nfp-facility.org

The world’s natural forests areshrinking, and global climate changesare expected to have serious impactson forests and agricultural systems. Atthe same time, demands on forests andtrees are increasing, with about 1.6 billion people relying heavily onforest resources for food, wood energyand timber. According to a study by theWorld Bank, 60 million indigenouspeople living in the rain forests of LatinAmerica, Southeast Asia and WestAfrica depend heavily on forests; 350 million people living in, or next to,dense forests rely on them forsubsistence or income; and 1.2 billionpeople in developing countries usetrees on farms to generate food andcash. Sustainable forest managementaims to ensure that the goods andservices derived from the forest meetpresent-day needs while at the sametime securing their continuedavailability and contribution to long-term development.

The National Forest ProgrammeFacility (The Facility) was created in2002 in response to the recognition bymany governments of the essential rolethat national forest programmes (nfps)can play in addressing forest-sectorissues. Nfps are processes for policy

formulation and implementation with aview to sustainable forest management.They should also be expected to fitwithin the objectives of national povertyreduction strategies and to clearlyaddress poverty issues. The Facilityhelps countries overcome bottlenecksin the implementation of their nfps byproviding catalytic funding to tacklevery specific problems and situations.Priority is given to engaging civil societyin the implementation of nfps.

The Facility’s trademark is to stimulateparticipation in the nfp process byproviding grants directly to stakeholdersin partner countries. Grants areawarded through an open andcompetitive process: country-wide callsfor proposals are released, and theproposals submitted are selected by anational multistakeholder steeringcommittee. Facility grants can beprovided for up to USD 300 000 over aninitial period of three years. Grantamounts are based on the proposedactivities and adjusted to the needs andcircumstances of the country.Beneficiaries are national and localgovernment agencies, other forestrelated institutions, representatives fromthe private sector, non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) and community-

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based organisations, as well asstakeholders with an interest in theforestry sector.

The majority of the Facility funds arededicated to helping governments focuson encouraging and strengtheningparticipation in formulating and adoptingpolicies, capacity building andknowledge management. Catalyticfunding is used to support workshops,fora and training; policy analysis andrelevant studies; information sharingand networking.

A second important function of theFacility is to strengthen the foundationsfor the effective implementation of nfpsby sharing experiences and knowledge.In its effort to provide comprehensiveinformation on nfps throughout theworld, the Facility offers a number ofinformation services:• an online forest information platform

(www.nfp-facility.org). The platformfacilitates the exchange of informationand knowledge relevant to nfpprocesses worldwide as well asspecific country information. Two keycomponents of the platform are “nfps updates” and “nfps digests”.These are also available in print formas “readers’’.

• regional workshops, consultations,networks and communities of practice

• CDs and printed documents on nfpsprocesses.

The Facility is a multi-donor trust fundcurrently supported by thirteen fundingpartners and hosted by FAO. It isgoverned by a steering committee thatincludes representatives frombeneficiary countries, funding partners,FAO, the World Bank, the private sector,research institutions, foundations andnon-governmental organizations (NGOs).As of early 2008 the Facility has fundedabout 300 grants to stakeholders atcountry level, of which 20 percent arestate organizations and 80 percent arenon-state stakeholders such as CivilSociety Organizations.

Funding modalityGCP multi-donortrust fund.

DonorsAustria, CzechRepublic, EuropeanCommission, Finland,France, Germany,Ireland, Netherlands,Norway, Sweden,Switzerland, UnitedKingdom, UnitedStates of America.In-kind supportprovided by FAO and Japan.

Geographical areaCurrent activities inAfrica, Latin Americaand the Caribbean,Asia-Pacific andWestern CentralAsia.

ServicesPolicy assistance,knowledge sharingand capacitybuilding.

~In Senegal, the Facility supported twoSenegalese NGOs, La Lumière and DGL Afrique,to conduct capacity building activities onforestry planning. The workshops took place infour regions and involved more than 250 participants. Sessions included practicalexercises such as assessing the environmentalstatus of natural resources, developing plans toaddress issues that emerged as well employingtraditional knowledge and highlighting goodpractices to ensure sustainable management offorest resources. The feedback was positive,with the participants eager to learn more andrequesting follow-up training.

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The FAO-Netherlands PartnershipProgramme (FNPP) was established in2001 as a new type of partnershipagreement, in which donor support isnot tied to particular projects, but to abroader range of activities sharingcommon objectives and principles. Asopposed to earmarked trust funds, theFNPP seeks to work in a programmaticway, and is characterized by an openset up which FAO can shape accordingto countries’ needs. Because of greaterbudgetary flexibility of the partnership,FAO can implement activities in a rapid,responsive and focused way.

The programme is result-oriented,seeking to achieve policy outcomes andenhance FAO’s capacity in supportingcountries achieve the MillenniumDevelopment Goal 1 for reducing hungerand poverty and the MillenniumDevelopment Goal 7 for ensuringenvironmental sustainability.

The programme covers three mainthematic areas: food security,agrobiodiversity and forestry. Activitiesinclude improving methods forassessing food security and nutritionneeds during or immediately afteremergencies, in order to better targetthe food insecure and at the same timeimprove their resilience to future shocks

and lay the ground for reconstructionand development; promoting theinclusion of food security concerns innational poverty reduction anddevelopment strategies;reducingpoverty through more effective use andsustainable management of forestresources; encouraging bettermanagement of agricultural biodiversityat the local level, as well as theincorporation of agrobiodiversityconcerns into national policies.

An important aspect of theprogramme is the relation between thedevelopment of norms and standardsand the provision of policy assistanceand how they are mutually reinforcing.The quality of FAO's activities in the fieldis ensured by the constant utilization ofthe Organization's normative knowledge,methods and tools. Likewise, FAO'snormative work is being constantlyreinforced by lessons learned in thefield. For example a study in South EastAsia showed that rice fields and otheraquatic resources often constitute thepopulation’s main source of animalprotein and essential fatty acid intake.Accurate understanding of theimportance of aquatic resources and theway they are integrated in thepopulation's livelihood is essential for

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adequate policy making and effectiveinterventions such as increasing yieldsof rice crops without negative side-effects for aquatic resources.

The FNPP actively adopts aninterdisciplinary approach within FAO.For example the Programme piloted animproved method to prepare IntegratedNatural Resources Assessments inZambia and Kenya that combinesknowledge from many differenttechnical disciplines in the forestry andagrobiodiversity sectors. The FNPP alsooperates in partnership with otherprogrammes or agencies. In the area offorestry, for example, the programmeworks jointly with the National ForestFacility Programme. The twoprogrammes collaborated to supportthe implementation of the ConvergencePlan of the Central African ForestsCommission (COMIFAC) by assisting theprocess of harmonization of forestpolicies and programmes in CentralAfrica. The FNPP focused on assistinggovernments’ participation in theprocess, while the Forest Facilityfunded the involvement of Civil Societyand NGOs.

In the spirit of UN Reform, the FNPPalso supports FAO’s participation inthree of the eight countries taking part

in the “One-UN” country pilot exercise:Vietnam, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Following a very positive independentevaluation of the programme,discussions are ongoing with theobjective of defining follow-upmodalities after June 2008 at the end ofthe current phase of FNPP.

Funding modality GCP Trust Fund with programme

approach.

DonorNetherlands.

Geographical areaAfrica, Asia and

Central America.

Services provided Policy advice,capacity building,normative work,knowledge exchange.

~In Bhutan FAO was requested to assist inintegrating food security concerns in theirNational Poverty Reduction Plan. In the process,FAO helped to increase the attention to foodsecurity at national level, but also assisted incapacity building at a local level, andcontributed to raising awareness on how otherareas such as forestry and agrobiodiversity havean important role to play in food security.

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www.fao.org/tsunami/fisheries/index.htm

On 26 December 2004, a massiveearthquake and a series of aftershockstriggered a series of tsunami across theIndian Ocean, causing extensivedamage to coastal communities andinfrastructure across the entire region,with most of the impact felt in India,Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka andThailand. The tsunami killedapproximately 300 000 people, making itthe deadliest natural disaster inrecorded history. The livelihoods ofsome two million people were affected.In all countries, the fisheries sector wasthe most severely hit, although theagricultural sector and coastal forestswere also affected by the disaster.

This emergency was met with anunprecedented response from donorsand private citizens across the world.Global commitments and contributionswere estimated at USD 15 billion in total.By end 2007, FAO had received someUSD 72 million in support of its tsunamiresponse. Donor support was generallymore rapid and flexible than in previousdisaster responses, especially thanks tothe programmatic funding granted viathe FAO SFERA mechanism.

As the UN agency specializing infisheries, agriculture and forestryissues, FAO’s overall objective was to

complement governments’ efforts inrehabilitating and protecting fisheries,aquaculture, agriculture, livestock andforestry based livelihoods of tsunamiaffected coastal areas in a sustainablemanner. In the context of the UN IndianOcean Earthquake and Tsunami FlashAppeal, FAO developed a strategicresponse programme for short tomedium and long term.

During the 24 months following thedisaster, the Organization provideddirect assistance to replace assets lostby the affected populations: boatbuilding and repairs, supply of fishinggear and fish processing equipment,rehabilitation of aquaculture and fishfarming inputs, land reclamation andsalinity monitoring, provision of seeds,fertilizers, small farm machinery,livestock and veterinary services andtree seedlings. At the same time, FAOensured technical and strategic advice,training and capacity building as well assupport to the authorities for thecoordination of the affected sectors. Forexample, in Sri Lanka and in Indonesia,FAO facilitated the overall coordinationof the fisheries sector rehabilitation and,in line with its sustainable fisheriesmanagement approach, it has warnedthe numerous stakeholders of the

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danger of building up excess fishingcapacity and the potentialenvironmental risks from inappropriateboats and gear.

Three years after the tsunami, FAO isstill working to assist the recovery andreconstruction process, especially in themost affected countries (Sri Lanka,Thailand, Indonesia and Maldives), andto ensure a sound transition into longerterm development. FAO’s capacity todevelop strong country teams relying onboth international and national expertsand its capacity to support the transitionfrom emergency relief to long-termdevelopment attracted funding from non-traditional donors such as the AmericanRed Cross who supported the recoveryof fishing communities in Indonesia'sNanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province.However, additional funding to ensure

the continuity between humanitarian anddevelopment phases, remains criticaland FAO continues to advocate furthercontributions for those agriculture,fisheries and forestry sectors which didnot receive sufficient attention.

Funding Modality FAO TCP grants,SFERA, UN Flash Appeal,GCP Trust Fund.

DonorsAmerican Red Cross,Belgium, Canada,China, ConadSupermarket,EuropeanCommission, FAO,Finland, Germany,Japan, Ireland, Italy,Lao PDR, Norway,Spain, StandardBank of South Africa,Sweden, The Churchof God in Christ, The United States of America, United Kingdom,

unearmarkeddonations via OCHA(Trinidad and Tobago,Palau, Greece),donations via UNDP,donations via WFP.

Services providedReplacement of lostassets, technicaladvice and policyassistance, sectoralstrategy development,coordination support,training and capacitybuilding, normativeguidance,communicationssupport.

Participatingcountries Indonesia, theMaldives, Myanmar,Seychelles, Somalia,Sri Lanka, Thailand.

PartnersGovernments of theaffected countries,ministries of planningand reconstructionspecialized bodies,affected rural andcoastal communities,international andnational NGOs, UN agencies andInternationalFinancingInstitutions.

~Youth from tsunami affected villages are beingtrained as “community motivators” to helppromote sound management of the coastalfisheries in Aceh province.

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SFERA: key to rapid response in emergenciesFAO’s Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation (SFERA) is a

non-earmarked multidonor funding mechanism which allows for swift

allocation of funds in emergency situations. Because SFERA funds are not

tied to determined programmes or countries/regions, it plays a pivotal role

in shaping a strategic programmatic response that is more flexible and

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www.fao.org/avianflu Following the outbreak and spread ofthe H5N1 virus strain of highlypathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) inSoutheast Asia in late 2003-early 2004,FAO and the World Organisation forAnimal Health (OIE), in closecollaboration with the World HealthOrganization (WHO), developed theFAO/OIE Global Strategy for thePrevention and Control of HighlyPathogenic Avian Influenza. Thestrategy focused resources on fightingand eradicating HPAI in animals inorder to protect the livelihoods ofsmallholders and avert an eventualhuman influenza pandemic.

Under the FAO/OIE Global Strategy,FAO developed a Global Programme forthe Prevention and Control of HighlyPathogenic Avian Influenza andestablished the Emergency Centre forTransboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD)to monitor the HPAI global diseasesituation and coordinate FAO’s response.ECTAD brings together staff andconsultants from FAO’s AnimalProduction and Health Division and theEmergency Operations and RehabilitationDivision under the overall supervision ofthe Chief Veterinary Officer.

ECTAD coordinates internationalefforts while facilitating improved

synergies at the regional level andaccommodating specific needs at thenational level. Regional and countryactivities are coordinated throughregional ECTAD units and animal healthcentres to ensure harmonization andconsistency of approach amongcountries, efficient use of resources,sharing of information, and developmentof regional networks to deal with thecross-border impact of the disease. Forthose countries where the disease hasbecome endemic such as Egypt,Indonesia and Nigeria, in-country FAOresident experts help manage HPAI andminimize the knock-on effects of thedisease throughout the animal health sector.

Technical advice to nationalgovernments and regional organizationsforms the core of ECTAD’s work, whichcovers a wide range of areas, includingdisease control strategy, preparednessplanning, surveillance (poultry andwildlife), laboratory diagnostics,veterinary response capacity, diseasecontrol management and biosecurity,vaccination and policy support for thedevelopment of national compensationschemes and sectoral restructuring, andadvocacy and awareness. Thisexpertise focuses on all aspects of the

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value chain, assessing socioeconomicimpact on the animal health sectors andthe people directly and indirectlyaffected. Communication of appropriatedisease prevention and controlstrategies is a cross-cutting componentof ECTAD’s work. Since the start of theGlobal Programme, more than 130 countries have benefited fromassistance either through specificinterventions at national level or throughregional support.

The Global Programme contains astrong training element with theemphasis on regional capacity building,largely through a "training of trainers"component, covering all aspects ofavian influenza and transboundaryanimal disease control, includingsocioeconomic analysis andcommunication. As of November 2007,more than 1 600 trainees had attendedregional training programmes, andtraining activities had been replicated atnational and local levels in more than 90 countries.

FAO has received a considerableamount of funding from donor countrieswhich has helped to contain and slowthe spread of avian influenza. As of endJanuary 2008, total contributions toFAO’s Global Programme amounted to

USD 187 million, of which FAO hadcontributed USD 9.7 million from its ownresources. This is about USD 121 millionshort of the original funding estimate forFAO’s Global Programme which was setat USD 308 million over a three-yearperiod (2006-2008)

Although the disease is still present insome countries in Africa and Asia, therate of infection has slowed down inmost countries and the disease hasbeen eliminated from a number ofnewly-infected countries thanks toenhanced surveillance, strengthening ofveterinary services and improvedlaboratory capacity, targeted publicinformation campaigns and, in somecases, implementation of vaccinationcampaigns.

Funding modality TechnicalCooperation Grants,SFERA (Special Fund for Emergencyand RehabilitationActivities), GCP Trust Funds.

DonorsAsian DevelopmentBank, Australia,Belgium, EuropeanCommission, Canada,China, France,Germany, Greece,Ireland, Italy, Japan,Jordan, Netherlands,New Zealand,Norway, OPEC Fundfor InternationalDevelopment, SaudiArabia, Spain,Sweden,Switzerland, UnitedKingdom, UNAP,UNDP, INDGO, USA,World Bank.

Geographical area Asia, Africa, EasternEurope and theCaucasus, LatinAmerica and theCaribbean, MiddleEast.

Services providedPolicy advice,strategy design,knowledgeexchange, technicalassistance, capacitybuilding,epidemiological andsocioeconomicanalysis,communicationplanning, laboratoryand veterinarysupplies andequipment.

~A lab technician at the Disease InvestigationCentre near Yogyakarta, Indonesia, checks forthe avian flu virus in samples taken from poultry. FAO’s programme focuses on assisting countriesto develop preparedness plans, improvesurveillance systems, acquire laboratoryresources and competence to diagnose disease,and to develop response capability. However,veterinary capacity and the structure of thepoultry sector in many countries still makesurveillance difficult. The quality management ofthe laboratories and surveillance servicesrequire strengthening to ensure early warningand rapid response to HPAI outbreaks.

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www.foodsec.org Governments in developing countriesoften request help in understanding andaddressing the causes of hunger in theirterritories. Better information and analysisis crucial for more effective policydecisions and anti-hunger programmes.

The EC-FAO Food Security Informationfor Action Programme is funded by theEuropean Commission and implementedby FAO with the aim of enhancingnational capacity to generate, manage,and use food security information for theformulation of more effective policiesand programmes. This multidisciplinarycountry-based initiative draws on FAO’sexpertise in • early warning and remote sensing• economic and policy analysis• statistics• nutrition• training and capacity building

Programme activities take place in threedifferent contexts:• Countries under protracted crisis

and conflictWhere states are fragile andinstitutions weakened by prolongedcrisis, the programme works withgovernment and external agencies tohelp local communities buildresilience to continuous shocks

through improved analysis andprogramming.

• Countries undergoing structuraleconomic transformationCountries making the transition to afree market economy often requestassistance in strengthening their foodsecurity information systems andanalytical capacity in order toformulate more effective policies andinterventions.

• Countries in a state of chronic foodinsecurity and povertyWhere food insecurity is chronic,adequate and relevant food securityinformation, from different sectors, iscrucial for understanding the long termstructural causes of hunger andpoverty. The programme helpsdecision makers improve their capacityto formulate policies and interventionsthat effectively address both short andlong-term causes of hunger.

The EC-FAO Information for ActionProgramme currently provides 17 countries with technical assistanceand tools for obtaining high quality andtimely food security information. In theSudan, for example, programme staffprovided the government with technicalassistance in formulating National

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Programmes for Food Security in boththe North and South. In the Lao PDR, ithas helped the government indevelop aNational Nutrition Policy (NNP) for 2008-20 and a strategy for itsimplementation.

In order to make it easier for countriesto pool information from different foodsecurity sectors together and thereforeforesee impending crises, it has helpedseveral countries set up GlobalInformation and Early Warning System(GIEWS) workstations. The programmehas also helped countries improve theirability to gather and analyse food securitystatistics. Examples of activities in thisfield include building national capacityand providing technical assistance inanalysing household budget surveys tounderstand the causes and extent of fooddeprivation in nine countries.

Programme activities in Armenia,Georgia, Moldova, and Tajikistan includeproviding training in the key concepts andanalysis of food security, improvingquarterly agriculture surveys (Georgia),installing the GIEWS workstation(Armenia), and helping Moldova harmonizeits veterinary quality control standards andlegislation to meet EU standards.

In five countries (Cambodia,Mozambique, Cape Verde, Haiti and

Burkina Faso), specific training has alsobeen given to improve the relevance,credibility and accessibility of foodsecurity information products such asWeb sites, food security bulletins, etc.,making sure they respond to actualinformation needs for decision-making .

Assistance has also been provided indeveloping and implementing crop yieldforecasting systems that alert decision-makers to forthcoming droughts andfloods (Cambodia, Laos, Malawi) andusing monitoring tools for assessinghousehold level food access and dietarydiversity (Burkina Faso, Malawi,Mozambique, Kenya).

At the global level, the programmeprovides a series of e-learning coursesand training materials aimed at improvingthe collection, management, analysis anddissemination of food securityinformation. These materials can becustomized by national institutions to suittheir own training needs. It also providesa wide range of tools that foster thebetter management of food securityinformation. Last but not least, it has beeninvolved in the further development androll-out of the Integrated Food SecurityPhase Classification (IPC) – a frameworkfor improving situation analysis andresponse in crisis situations.

Funding modality GCP Trust Fund.

DonorEuropeanCommission.

Geographical area Worldwide withcurrent activities inAfrica, the MiddleEast, the Caucasusand Central andSoutheast Asia.

Services providedKnowledgeexchange, policyadvice, training andcapacity building.

~Focus on Cambodia: Intensive Training inCrop Forecasting and Cambodia’s first Agro-meteorogical Bulletins

Two experts from Cambodia’s Ministry ofAgriculture and the Ministry of Water Resourcesand Meteorology, as well as two colleagues fromLaos, attended a 3 month course in Rome oncrop yield forecasting. Thanks to expertise gained in using crop yieldforecasting software and tools, Cambodia’s firstagro-meteorological bulletins have beenpublished. The bulletins aim at informingdecision-makers, analysts and technicians aboutthe crop situation during the agricultural season.In addition, a rice yield forecasting system hasbeen set up. Furthermore, one of the Cambodianparticipants is now training other experts in Laosand Cambodia.

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Unemployment and the prevalence ofinformal jobs continue to plague thelabour market in Brazil. In 1994, aprogramme was set up to accelerate thesocial and economic development forurban and rural areas with high povertyconcentration. New small enterpriseswere created as a way to generateemployment and income and allow thebeneficiaries to participate in Brazil’seconomic and social modernizationprocess. The programme, now namedPRODUZIR targets all of Brazil’s regionsbut specially those characterised by so-called poverty sacks, such as theperipheral areas of large cities and ruralareas affected by drought.

PRODUZIR’s main activities arefocused on short-term trainingworkshops with a high motivationalcontent, aimed at instilling self-esteemand identifying vocations and businesspotentials among the beneficiaries. Italso promotes the formation ofcollective enterprises for the productionof various goods and services.

The programme is financed by theMinistry of Integration and executedlocally by NGOs, and State andMunicipal government. FAO’s role hasbeen to provide technical expertise forthe implementation of the programmeon a national scale, as well asmonitoring and evaluating the differentcomponents of the programme.

Lessons learned are that non-agricultural activities are vitallyimportant in a food security strategy,particularly for the poorest,marginalized population that lacksaccess to land and for whomagricultural activities hold littlepromise. This also helps reducepressure on the demand for land. Thepromotion of non-agricultural activitiesrequires the participation of institutionsthat traditionally were not part of theagricultural and rural developmentsystem, particularly at the local level.

~In 2005 the programme organized aquacultureworkshops for small-scale fishermen andestablished 20 tank-nets. Some fishermen learnthow to farm tilapias while other groups of thecommunity specialized in fish processing.Further funding from the Bank of Brazil allowedthe building of 200 more tanks. Two years later,125 families were benefiting from the project,and a small scale fish plant has beenestablished which produces and sells 600 kg offish fillets a week to Brazil's National Companyof Supplies for school meals. The number offamilies living off state subsidies has decreasedto only 20, proving that the initial aim of creatingeconomically self-sufficient communities hasbeen reached.

Funding modalityUnilateral Trust Fund.

Donor Brazil.

Services Capacity building, technical assistance.

PRODUZIR: Small collective enterprises help marginalized people generate income

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