1. The present Summary Programme of Work and Budget (SPWB) proposals have been developed following the usual process of detailed submissions by all Headquarters departments and offices, as well as Regional and Sub-regional Offices in response to senior management's guidance. These submissions were reviewed, and the important features were discussed at policy-level during a series of "budget hearings". Particular attention was paid to consultations with offices outside Headquarters through regional videoconferences, in addition to the day-to-day contacts between outposted teams and their counterpart departments and divisions.
2. As stressed in the Director-General's Introduction, the analytical process was facilitated this time by the thorough assessment of long-term trends which culminated in the adoption of the Strategic Framework 2000-2015 by the last session of the FAO Conference. This was followed by the development of the Medium Term Plan (MTP) which translates the Strategic Framework into a six-year programme which is specifically defined in terms of programme entities. These entities have a rationale, objectives, major outputs and indicators as well as an indication of the timeframe and of overall resources required. The Council had considered the latter document and had invited the Secretariat to prepare the SPWB taking as a starting point, the substantive content of the MTP. Thus, the major substantive thrusts and priorities largely determined by these two exercises, the formulation of proposals for the next biennium became more a matter of fine-tuning of planned outputs and staffing requirements - as was in fact intended in the revised programme budget process endorsed by the Conference. The links of the present Summary Programme of Work and Budget proposals to the Strategic Framework and Medium Term Plan are illustrated below.
3. The following tables describe the distribution of resources - firstly, at the level of the Programme of Work (i.e. the gross budget including resources from other income) prior to the addition of anticipated cost increases; and secondly, at the level of the Appropriation at the same exchange rate adopted for the Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) 2000-2001. Calculation of cost increases is covered under section III: Budgetary Framework.
Proposed Overall Resources Allocation for the Programme of Work
Major Programme and Chapter |
Description |
2000-01 |
2002-03 |
||
Programme of Work |
Programme Change |
Programme of Work |
|||
US$ 000 |
US$ 000 |
% |
US$ 000 |
||
11 |
Governing Bodies |
17,671 |
465 |
2.6% |
18,136 |
12 |
Policy, Direction and Planning |
22,479 |
1,657 |
7.4% |
24,136 |
13 |
External Coordination and Liaison |
13,140 |
(348) |
-2.6% |
12,792 |
19 |
Programme Management |
789 |
24 |
3.0% |
813 |
Chapter 1 |
General Policy and Direction |
54,079 |
1,798 |
3.3% |
55,877 |
21 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
89,372 |
5,587 |
6.3% |
94,959 |
22 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
87,047 |
4,365 |
5.0% |
91,412 |
23 |
Fisheries |
39,231 |
2,276 |
5.8% |
41,507 |
24 |
Forestry |
30,439 |
1,831 |
6.0% |
32,270 |
25 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
52,575 |
2,209 |
4.2% |
54,784 |
Chapter 2 |
Technical and Economic Programmes |
298,664 |
16,268 |
5.4% |
314,932 |
31 |
Policy Assistance |
27,042 |
1,231 |
4.6% |
28,273 |
32 |
Support to Investment |
46,546 |
(815) |
-1.8% |
45,731 |
33 |
Field Operations |
23,879 |
(2,900) |
-12.1% |
20,979 |
34 |
FAO Representatives |
72,403 |
5,250 |
7.3% |
77,653 |
35 |
Cooperation with External Partners |
8,786 |
792 |
9.0% |
9,578 |
39 |
Programme Management |
882 |
1,146 |
129.9% |
2,028 |
Chapter 3 |
Cooperation and Partnerships |
179,538 |
4,704 |
2.6% |
184,242 |
41 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
89,118 |
9,788 |
11.0% |
98,906 |
42 |
TCP Unit |
2,337 |
476 |
20.4% |
2,813 |
Chapter 4 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
91,455 |
10,264 |
11.2% |
101,719 |
51 |
Information and Publications Support |
16,560 |
680 |
4.1% |
17,240 |
52 |
Administration |
48,767 |
776 |
1.6% |
49,543 |
Chapter 5 |
Support Services |
65,327 |
1,456 |
2.2% |
66,783 |
60 |
Common Services |
44,790 |
899 |
2.0% |
45,689 |
Chapter 6 |
Common Services |
44,790 |
899 |
2.0% |
45,689 |
70 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0.0% |
600 |
Chapter 7 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0.0% |
600 |
TOTAL | 734,453 | 35,389 | 4.8% | 769,842 |
4. In line with the decisions of the Joint Meeting of the Programme and Finance Committees to integrate "other" income into the PWB (adopted since the PWB 1998-99), tables throughout the document, especially in section IV: Programme Budget, deal with the Programme of Work. Therefore, the following summary covers the main programme changes at the level of the overall Programme of Work (prior to the addition of anticipated cost increases). More detailed explanations on programme changes are provided throughout section IV.
5. The major change under Major Programme 1.2, Policy, Direction and Planning, is attributable to the cost of rebuilding the Organization's Computerized Programme Planning and Budgeting System (PLANSYS). Amongst several offsetting changes, there is deliberate action to strengthen conference operations and to re-engineer language services to benefit from advanced technology, coupled with some limited required increases for the Offices of Director-General and of the Inspector-General.
6. In line with the substantive thrusts and priorities outlined in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 (and summarised at the beginning of each major programme narrative in section IV of this document), this chapter would benefit from a significant boost of resources, albeit at a lower level than that indicated for the biennium 2002-2003 in the MTP. Particular attention has been paid, at the major programme level, to the priorities of Member Nations with regard to the programmes on Fisheries and Forestry which show increases of 5.8% and 6.0% respectively. While Major Programme 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, shows an increase of 6.3%, this includes the effect of decisions taken at the last FAO Conference concerning the Rotterdam Convention and the Near East Desert Locust Commission (see details under programme entities 212P2 and 212A4 respectively) as well as the fact that this programme plays host to the amount of US$ 1.0 million set aside as central support to Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) under 210S5. If these exceptional entries are discounted, the underlying increase to Major Programme 2.1 is closer to 4.5%. At the same time, attention was paid to more balanced use of FAO languages in planned substantive outputs.
7. There are quite complex movements within this chapter, including net reduction in field operations services, especially in the Regional Offices, as well as some further savings from the restructuring of the Technical Cooperation Department (TC), while additional resources are provided:
8. The increase aims to maintain the share of this chapter at 14.9% of the Appropriation, i.e. at the same proportional level as indicated in the MTP for the 2002-2003 biennium.
9. The main change under Major Programme 5.1, Information and Publications Support, is attributable to the reinforcement of public information activities in the Liaison Office in Washington and at Headquarters, in accord with the strategy for communicating FAO's messages. The increase under Major Programme 5.2, Administration, reflects additional resources for the restructured Finance Division (AFF) and further funding to meet development costs of FAO's administrative and financial systems. This is partially offset by staff reductions in the newly-established Management Support Service (MSS) and in the Personnel Division (AFP), and a transfer of the Administrative Services Division (AFS) direction's cost and Regional Offices' Management Support Unit (MSU) costs to other chapters.
10. Changes are principally on account of transfers from Chapter 5.
11. The following table examines the net impact on the Appropriation before cost increases, which is arrived at by deducting "Other Income" from the Programme of Work. While the movements under "Programme Change" are substantively the same in programme terms, the influence of changes in "Other Income" becomes apparent. The main variances between this and the previous table are explained below.
Proposed Allocation for the Appropriation (Excluding Cost Increases)
Major Programme and Chapter |
Description |
2000-01 Appropriation |
Programme Change |
2002-03 Appropriation |
11 |
Governing Bodies |
17,671 |
465 |
18,136 |
12 |
Policy, Direction and Planning |
19,728 |
1,840 |
21,568 |
13 |
External Coordination and Liaison |
12,703 |
(348) |
12,355 |
19 |
Programme Management |
789 |
24 |
813 |
Chapter 1 |
General Policy and Direction |
50,891 |
1,981 |
52,872 |
21 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
88,093 |
5,596 |
93,689 |
22 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
85,560 |
4,353 |
89,913 |
23 |
Fisheries |
38,556 |
2,334 |
40,890 |
24 |
Forestry |
29,699 |
2,126 |
31,825 |
25 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
47,261 |
3,126 |
50,387 |
Chapter 2 |
Technical and Economic Programmes |
289,169 |
17,535 |
306,704 |
31 |
Policy Assistance |
26,201 |
1,356 |
27,557 |
32 |
Support to Investment |
18,839 |
(815) |
18,024 |
33 |
Field Operations |
4,955 |
(2,312) |
2,643 |
34 |
FAO Representatives |
63,666 |
1,530 |
65,196 |
35 |
Cooperation with External Partners |
6,328 |
835 |
7,163 |
39 |
Programme Management |
655 |
1,189 |
1,844 |
Chapter 3 |
Cooperation and Partnerships |
120,644 |
1,783 |
122,427 |
41 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
89,118 |
9,788 |
98,906 |
42 |
TCP Unit |
2,337 |
476 |
2,813 |
Chapter 4 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
91,455 |
10,264 |
101,719 |
51 |
Information and Publications Support |
16,560 |
680 |
17,240 |
52 |
Administration |
40,759 |
1,376 |
42,135 |
Chapter 5 |
Support Services |
57,319 |
2,056 |
59,375 |
60 |
Common Services |
39,922 |
1,454 |
41,376 |
Chapter 6 |
Common Services |
39,922 |
1,454 |
41,376 |
70 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
600 |
Chapter 7 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
600 |
TOTAL |
650,000 |
35,073 |
685,073 |
12. Reductions in income have occurred as follows:
13. The Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 included information on the distribution of resources for substantive programmes (i.e. those under Chapter 2, Technical and Economic Programmes, and Major Programme 3.1, Policy Assistance) across the 12 objectives of the Strategic Framework (labelled A1 to E3 and listed on the back cover of this document).
14. The following table supplements the information provided in the MTP (adjusted to the first biennium 2002-2003 for comparative purposes) with similar breakdowns for the present Summary Programme of Work and Budget proposals.
Substantive Programmes - Distribution of Resources by Strategic Objectives
Major Programme |
A1 |
A2 |
A3 |
B1 |
B2 |
C1 |
C2 |
D1 |
D2 |
E1 |
E2 |
E3 |
||||
Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 |
||||||||||||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
|||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
|||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
|||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
|||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
|||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
|||||||||||||||
Summary Programme of Work and Budget Proposals |
||||||||||||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
|||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
|||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
|||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
|||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
|||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
|||||||||||||||
Legend |
||||||||||||||||
Greater than zero, less than US$ 2 million |
US$ 2 million to 4 million |
US$ 4 million to 8 million |
More than US$ 8 million |
15. The resource breakdowns across strategic objectives are - not unexpectedly - broadly similar, although minor differences can be explained by the fact that lower resource levels characterise SPWB proposals compared to the tentative resource distribution pattern in the MTP.
16. The articulation of the SPWB proposals under substantive programmes in terms of constituent entities is virtually identical to that indicated in the MTP, with rare exceptions to take account of developments since the latter document was formulated.
17. The principles of the programme model which underlay the Medium Term Plan are briefly recalled below. In short, the "building blocks" of FAO's substantive work should fall under three categories:
18. As several important aspects in the design of the above entities, such as rationale, indicators and partnerships, were specified in the Medium Term Plan and associated database available on FAO's website, for the sake of brevity, the narratives in section IV for individual entities are limited to statements of objective(s) and summaries of outputs planned for the next biennium. While the objectives are in most cases "lifted" from the MTP, it may be noted that some rephrasing by the concerned units, has taken place to make them more concrete or understandable by non-specialist audiences, while obviously not altering the original meaning. Account was also taken of eventual observations made during the review of the MTP by the Programme and Finance Committees and by the Council; further adjustments are possible following review of their respective sections by the Technical Committees of the Council, and will be reflected in the full PWB. It is also worth recalling that more detailed and precise lists of biennial outputs will be developed in connection with the full PWB.
19. It is noted that when the MTP was prepared, there were some instances where programme entity numbers had been changed from the PWB 2000-01, generally because a programme entity in the form of technical project or technical service agreement was converted to a continuing programme activity or vice versa. As a result, some programme entities have been re-numbered in the base for PWB 2002-03, as follows:
Table of Renumbered Programme Entities
PWB 2000-01 |
PWB 2002-03 |
||
Entity Number |
Title |
Entity Number |
Title |
221A1 |
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius) |
221P2 |
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius) |
221P1 |
Food and Nutrition Assessment |
221A1 |
Human Nutrition Requirements |
221P2 |
Nutrition Policy at Country Level |
221A2 |
Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development |
221P3 |
Nutrition Programmes |
221A4 |
Strengthening Community Action to Improve Household Food Security and Reduce Malnutrition |
222P7 |
Virtual Library Support and Information Management |
222P9 |
Virtual Library Information Services |
244P2 |
Support to Initiatives in the Follow-up to UNCED |
244A1 |
Follow up to UNCED and International Forestry Processes |
251P2 |
Cross-sectoral Mechanisms for Implementation of Agenda 21, International Environmental Conventions, Agreements and Obligations |
251A6 |
Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated Environmental Planning and Management |
256A1 |
SPFS Formulation |
256P2 |
SPFS Formulation |
256A2 |
SPFS Implementation |
256P3 |
SPFS Implementation |
311S1 |
Direct Support to Agricultural Policy Work in the Regions |
311P4 |
Coordination of Country Focus |
311S3 |
Support to Building In-house Capacity in Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis |
311A1 |
Development of On-line Training Capacity in Food, Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Planning |
312S2 |
Support and Training in Sector/Sub-sector and Specific Agricultural Policies |
312P3 |
Advice, Support and Training in Agricultural Policies |
31900 |
Programme Management |
319S2 |
Divisional Direction |
20. For information purposes, the indicative resource levels for the 2002-2003 biennium included in the Medium Term Plan for FAO's substantive programmes are provided in the following table, together with those in the present SPWB proposals.
Resources Programmed for Substantive Work for 2002-2003 (All amounts in US$ 000)
Major Programme |
MTP |
SPWB |
|||
Amount |
% |
Amount |
% |
||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
96,887 |
27.3 |
94,959 |
27.7 |
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
94,013 |
26.5 |
91,412 |
26.6 |
2.3 |
Fisheries |
43,055 |
12.2 |
41,507 |
12.1 |
2.4 |
Forestry |
33,471 |
9.4 |
32,270 |
9.4 |
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
58,109 |
16.4 |
54,784 |
16.0 |
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
28,729 |
8.1 |
28,273 |
8.2 |
Total |
354,264 |
100.0 |
343,205 |
100.0 |
21. While it was not possible to include the full amounts indicated in the MTP in order to limit the overall increase of resources under the Regular Budget Appropriation, it may be noted that the respective shares of individual major programmes to the total have remained broadly consistent.
22. The Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 gave due emphasis to needed cooperation across departments, in order to respond to the call in the FAO Strategic Framework 2000-2015 for enhanced multi-disciplinary approaches. Sixteen Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) over the medium-term were singled out, and are recalled below under the corporate strategies on which they are largely focused, bearing in mind that several also contribute to other strategies.
23. The other two PAIAs are more of a thematic nature, covering Gender Mainstreaming, and Ethics in Food and Agriculture (ETHI). As Gender Mainstreaming will translate into a detailed Plan of Action on Gender and Development 2002-2007, to be submitted to the FAO Conference (at its request) at the November 2001 session, after preliminary review by the Programme Committee, this PAIA is not addressed below.
24. The substance under each PAIA was fully articulated in the Medium Term Plan, with description of the rationale and scope for enhanced inter-disciplinary work, the appropriate supervisory mechanism and the relevant programme entities or component activities. The following succinct narratives do not purport to repeat this extensive descriptive material, but aim at highlighting main expected achievements in the 2002-2003 biennium.
25. All concerned units have sought to identify the resources earmarked for the implementation of the above PAIAs under technical programmes in the 2002-2003 biennium. The resulting picture is given in the following table.
Distribution of Resources Allocated to PAIAs under Substantive Programmes (2002-2003)
Major Programme |
AWTO |
BIOD |
BIOS |
BTEC |
CLIM |
ECOM |
ETHI |
FCIT |
GLOP |
LHOO |
ORGA |
PROD |
QINF |
REHA |
SPAT |
||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
||||||||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Legend: |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Greater than zero, less than US$ 250 000 |
US$ 250 000 to 1 million |
US$ 1 million to 3 million |
More than US$ 3 million |
||||||||||||||||||
AWTO |
WTO Multi-lateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
||||||||||||||||||||
BIOD |
Integrated Management of Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture |
||||||||||||||||||||
BIOS |
Biosecurity for Agriculture and Food Production |
||||||||||||||||||||
BTEC |
Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
||||||||||||||||||||
CLIM |
Climate Change Issues in Agriculture |
||||||||||||||||||||
ECOM |
Strengthening Capacity for Integrated Ecosystem Management |
||||||||||||||||||||
ETHI |
Ethics in Food and Agriculture |
||||||||||||||||||||
FCIT |
Food for the Cities |
||||||||||||||||||||
GLOP |
Global Perspective Studies |
||||||||||||||||||||
LHOO |
Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods |
||||||||||||||||||||
ORGA |
Organic Agriculture |
||||||||||||||||||||
PROD |
Integrated Production Systems (SARD/SPFS) |
||||||||||||||||||||
QINF |
Definitions, Norms, Methodologies and Quality of Information |
||||||||||||||||||||
REHA |
Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness and Post-Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation |
||||||||||||||||||||
SPAT |
Spatial Information Management and Decision Support Tools |
26. It may be noted that provision has been made at central level (entity 210S5) for limited catalytic resources to be made available to the respective coordination mechanisms and Chairpersons depending on requirements, and on which some of the following planned achievements may depend. Some may also be subject to the availability of extra-budgetary support.
27. Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
28. During the biennium, the pertinent coordination mechanism will ensure that a sequential set of activities is carried out by all concerned technical units, so as to assist Member Nations in building local capacities related to sustainable rural livelihoods. National Thematic Groups affiliated to the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) Network on Rural Development and Food Security will also be instrumental in this regard. Expected achievements will include:
29. Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness and Post-Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation
30. The Emergency Coordination Group (ECG) will aim at consolidating inter-disciplinary responses to emergencies. The major achievements of a cross-sectoral nature regarding emergency preparedness and coherent reaction to demands for humanitarian assistance are foreseen to include:
31. Biosecurity for Agriculture and Food Production
32. Expected achievements include:
33. WTO Multi-lateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
34. This PAIA is expected to improve the capacity of technical divisions to assist Members, particularly developing and transition countries, in participating effectively in multilateral trade negotiations (MTN) on agriculture, as well as in global trade in food, agricultural, fishery and forestry products.
35. It is focused, therefore, on capacity-building for trade, and involves normative and operational field activities. The main planned achievements of a cross-sectoral nature include:
36. Climate Change Issues in Agriculture
37. By the end of 2003, FAO is expected to have expanded its expertise in this complex area and to play a substantial role in the international climate scene. Although it is unknown when and in which form the Kyoto Protocol will be ratified, the areas where FAO will be most active are:
38. Organic Agriculture
39. Expected achievements include:
40. Food for the Cities
41. Expected achievements include:
42. Integrated Production Systems (SARD/SPFS)
43. Expected achievements include:
44. Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
45. This PAIA links up to a vast number of sectoral outputs, involving the pertinent technical divisions, the Legal Office and the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT). However, the major achievement of a cross-sectoral nature are foreseen to include:
46. These activities should in particular facilitate the Secretariat's active engagement in the debates on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through science-based contributions, enable FAO to keep abreast of current scientific developments, and develop an inventory of new plant varieties, animal breeds, products and techniques derived through modern biotechnology.
47. Integrated Management of Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture
48. Through this PAIA, FAO will bring to bear its multi-disciplinary expertise to the implementation of several international agreements of relevance to food and agriculture, particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in the area of biological diversity for food and agriculture at ecosystem level in complement to, and integrating, genetic resources. This PAIA will more specifically contribute to the establishment of an international coordinated position on biological diversity for food and agriculture. Major achievements are expected to include:
49. Strengthening Capacity for Integrated Ecosystem Management
50. Bearing in mind the requirements for development of drylands and mountains, but also of other ecosystems, joint work is expected to focus on:
51. Definitions, Norms, Methodologies and Quality of Information
52. Expected achievements include:
53. Spatial Information Management and Decision Support Tools
54. Expected achievements include:
55. Global Perspective Studies
56. Joint work under this PAIA is to improve coherence in analytical methods and databases used in global perspective studies. Expected achievements include:
57. Ethics in Food and Agriculture
58. Besides sectoral outputs, such as meetings, publications and other activities that are directly related to ethical issues, expected achievements as the result of joint efforts include: