251A6: Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated
Environmental Planning and Management
Development problem to be addressed:
527. The
conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment are
essential in reducing rural poverty and food insecurity. This requires better
coordination of national, regional and global efforts toward integrated
approaches to issues such as biodiversity, climate change, and
desertification.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
528. International environmental
agreements provide a common forum for countries to harmonize and integrate their
policies and programmes related to the sustainable management of their natural
resources.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
529.
Rural communities and national analysts and policymakers will benefit from the
conservation of their biodiversity, mitigation and adaptation to climate change
and reduction of dryland degradation.
Objective(s)
530. Thanks to the integration of cross sectoral
issues (e.g., biodiversity, climate change, desertification, organic farming,
energy, ecosystem management), decision makers at national and sub-national
levels will formulate or improve policies for management of natural
resources.
Major Output(s)
- Secretariat of FAO's inter-departmental activities on the three
international conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), on Biological
Diversity (UNCBD) and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Coordination of cross-sectoral activities linked to organic agriculture,
energy, integrated ecosystem management and follow-up of Agenda 21
- Policy guidelines on priority environmental issues
- Capacity building and advisory services to countries on high-priority
environmental issues
- Multi-lateral environmental agreements
- Global terrestrial observing system (GTOS)
- Integrated natural resources management
Indicator(s)
- Countries implementing national policies that integrate environmental
issues in agriculture, due to FAO's support and capacity building efforts.
- Countries implementing national programmes that integrate environmental
issues in agriculture due to FAO support and capacity-building.
251A7: Education for Rural People
Development problem to be addressed:
531.
Illiteracy is strongly correlated to poverty and hunger and is mainly a rural
phenomenon which hinders rural development, threatens productivity and health
and limits the opportunities to improve livelihoods. The weaknesses of basic
education services in rural areas are related to the fact that many countries
still lack capacities to formulate policies and the experience needed to plan
and deliver effective services for rural people. Increased demand for policy
advice and technical assistance in such areas is likely to stem from the lead
role assigned to FAO by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD,
Johannesburg 2002) regarding the Education for Rural People (ERP)
initiative.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
532. Policies and programmes to increase
access to relevant and adequate basic educational services in rural areas will
directly and positively contribute to improve productivity, food security and
livelihoods of rural people. To ensure managerial efficiency, flexibility and
visibility to the ERP initiative, the new entity will: mainstream Education for
Rural People (ERP) within national rural development and education plans;
mobilize the political will and build the capacity of policy makers and managers
within ministries of agriculture and of education and youth to increase access
to quality basic education services for rural people; and network with civil
society, UN agencies and other multi- and bilateral organizations in fostering
ERP.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
533.
Rural people with special emphasis on women and girls living in developing
countries and countries in transition. Ministries of Agriculture and Education
will also benefit in their capacity to plan and manage basic education
services.
Objective(s)
534. Appropriate national policies and strategies
aimed at strengthening basic education services for rural people.
Major Output(s)
- Capacity building, policies and advocacy of Education for Rural People
(ERP)
- Consolidation of ERP Partnerships as follow-up to WSSD
- Support to national youth development for food security
Indicator(s)
- Number of countries taking specific measures to foster ERP as part of
their rural development and education plans and strategies
- Number of members of the ERP partnership initiative
251A8: Environmental Information and Decision Support Systems
Development problem to be addressed:
535.
Limited access to reliable environmental and natural resource data and tools to
analyze and manage this information constrains the ability of national planners,
decision makers and scientists to assess environmental conditions and anticipate
significant emerging trends at local, national and regional levels. Many
developing countries lack capacity to use environmental information management
systems and related decision support tools. This has a negative impact on their
national development policies and on agriculture sector
development.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
536. Environmental decision support
information and tools are necessary for improved land use planning and
sustainable agricultural production. Improved quality of, and access to
information (e.g. on gender, demography, ecosystem change, land quality issues,
water availability, biodiversity, climate change) facilitates assessment,
analysis, and decision making in rural development, and consequently supports a
dynamic agricultural development process. The entity is geared to provide these
tools.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
537.
Decision makers in ministries of agriculture, environment, offices of land use
planning and rural development, early warning and disaster preparedness
organizations.
Objective(s)
538. Improved access to reliable environmental and
natural resource data and tools to assess environmental conditions and
anticipate significant emerging trends; increased capacity to use environmental
information management systems and related decision support tools.
Major Output(s)
- Geo-spatial information management systems and analytical tools
- Agrometeorology, remote sensing, GIS and land cover databases
Indicator(s)
- National and regional institutions that use environmental and natural
resource information in agriculture and land use planning, due to FAO's
support and capacity building efforts
251A9: Strengthening research systems and biotechnology applications
Development problem to be addressed:
539.
Agricultural research systems need to become more efficient and more responsive
to the changing external environment to support effectively national
agricultural development policies. Capacity to access, assess, adapt and
disseminate technologies needs to be strengthened.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
540. The entity will provide technical
assistance to strengthen capacities of developing countries in: generating,
accessing, adapting, disseminating and promoting the use of technologies;
developing adequate biosafety frameworks; taking advantage of advances in
biotechnology in agriculture. Capacities in biosafety of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) and the harmonization of regulatory frameworks will also be
supported. A wider knowledge base on policy issues related to biotechnology and
tools for public awareness and communication in biotechnology will be
developed.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
541.
Producers and consumers of food and agricultural products, due to improved
nutrition and food safety and reduced environmental impact.
Objective(s)
542. Strengthened national capacities for
formulation and implementation of research and technology development policies;
priority setting in the agricultural research agendas of developing
countries.
Major Output(s)
- Development of national and regional capacities for biosafety of GMOs
- Collection, analysis and dissemination of information relevant for policy
formulation and decision-making in biotechnology
- Public awareness and communication in biotechnology
- Mechanisms and tools in support of research and technology development
- Support to international agricultural research systems, fora and networks
Indicator(s)
- Countries with enhanced capacity for formulating and implementing policies
for research, technology development, assessment and dissemination.
- Countries with heightened capacity in biosafety and harmonization of
regulatory frameworks
251P1: Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services
Development problem to be addressed:
543. There
is a rapidly growing demand for accurate, up-to-date, and geo-referenced
information for environmental assessment and monitoring, and for management and
conservation of renewable natural resources. Weakness in national geo-spatial
data and information infrastructure prevents most developing countries from
using the information that is available to them, thus constraining rural
development.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
544. The ability of FAO member countries
to make scientifically-based decisions on environmental protection and
integrated natural resources management and to undertake timely interventions is
highly dependent on access to relevant geo-spatial information. Decisions and
policies based on accurate information lead to improved results and
impacts.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
545.
End beneficiaries are disadvantaged farmers and rural populations living in
environmentally threatened areas. They will benefit from better policies and
planning for sustainable development as a result of better environmental
information.
Objective(s)
546. To assist governments as well as international
organizations and donor agencies in making timely and effective
scientifically-based decisions and formulating policies in relation to the
development of food production, natural resources management and the migratory
pests situation, through accurate and timely geo-referenced
information.
Major Output(s)
- Support to environmental data acquisition and management
- Tools and methodological frameworks for integrated analysis of
geo-information
- Monitoring of, and periodic reporting on natural resources conditions and
trends
Indicator(s)
- National or international policies and programmes for sustainable food
production, poverty alleviation, early warning and environmental management
that make explicit reference to FAO's data and models.
251P3: Information and Communication Technologies in Support of Agricultural
Research, Extension and Education Systems
Development problem to be addressed:
547.
Farmers and other producers, as well as consumers, require access to timely and
appropriate knowledge and information to make informed decisions. Existing
information delivery systems for agricultural research, extension and education
are often weak, unresponsive to users' needs, not gender-sensitive, and lacking
effective mechanisms for interaction.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
548. Capacity building of agricultural
research, extension and education staff in the use of appropriate and adapted
information and communication technologies (ICTs) and in participatory
communication will enhance their ability to meet the priority information and
knowledge needs of male and female farmers. This effort should be also
gender-sensitive.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
549.
The end beneficiaries will be male and female farmers, producers and consumers,
i.e. from increased and more equitable access to diversified sources of timely
information and knowledge that reflects their needs and priorities. In addition,
they should gain access to new channels of communication that may enable them to
influence development decisions.
Objective(s)
550. To harness the potential of new information
and communication technologies to assist countries in addressing major obstacles
in agricultural and rural development.
Major Output(s)
- Application of ICTs to the establishment of innovative linkage mechanisms
and networks for national agricultural research, extension and education
systems
- Conceptual frameworks, methodologies and training materials for ICT
applications and content development, distance-learning and information
dissemination, and impact assessment
- Support to ICTs for accelerated advancement of rural women and rural girls
- Developing Communication Policies, Strategies and Guidelines for
Sustainable Rural Development
- Development and Capacity Building in Communication Methods, Media and
Approaches
Indicator(s)
- Examples of countries demonstrating improvements in national research,
extension and education systems and information exchange due to their adoption
of ICTs.
251P4: Secretariat of the CGIAR Science Council
Development problem to be addressed:
551.
Research is essential for generating the kinds of new policies, technologies and
institutions that raise agricultural productivity and help ensure increased,
sustainable food and agricultural production in all regions. There are many
actors in the global agricultural research system. A key player in this global
effort is the CGIAR - a major network of internationally-funded scientific
research institutes whose Science Council - jointly funded - is hosted by
FAO.
Proposed contribution to problem
resolution:
552. The Science Council, with technical
and logistic support from the Science Council Secretariat, contributes to
ensuring the relevance and quality of science in the CGIAR, advises the latter
on strategic scientific issues relevant to the Group's goal and mission and
helps mobilize the best global scientific expertise for addressing the goals of
the international agricultural research community.
Intended end beneficiaries and benefits:
553.
The poor, the malnourished and the hungry--whether rural or urban. All of these
can and do benefit from the results of high-quality agricultural research and
appropriate scientific solutions to many rural development
problems.
Objective(s)
554. Enhanced relevance and improved quality of the
CGIAR research organizations and their partners; testing and evaluation of
technologies, policies and institutions being researched by the CGIAR &
partners; and ultimately, integration of the most promising technologies,
policies and institutional innovations into government and non-government
agricultural extension efforts.
Major Output(s)
- Advice on CGIAR science policy, priorities and strategy, and resource
allocation
- Assessments of relevance and quality of science in the CGIAR through
external and peer reviews
- Ex-post impact assessment of CGIAR activities
- Organization and implementation of SC meetings
- Dissemination of information and documentation to SC and CGIAR members and
stakeholders of SC decisions, reports, strategic studies and reviews
Indicator(s)
- Examples of joint CGIAR + partner researched and developed technologies,
policies and institutional innovations that are widely adopted and that raise
productivity to the benefit of large numbers of rural and urban poor.
251S1: Technical Support Services to Member Nations, the Field Programme,
and Other Related Activities
555. As this entity largely
represents on-demand services to Members which by their nature are difficult to
plan in advance, no formulation of rationale and objective is
provided.
Major Output(s)
- Assistance in strengthening agricultural research and technology
development capabilities leading to improved sustainable production systems
and promoting regional and international cooperation
- Programme development, advice and collaboration in extension, education,
communication and rural youth
- Technical assistance to member countries for environmentally-sound
agricultural development
- Co-ordinated support to the international bodies and undertakings on
follow up of Agenda 21, WSSD and relevant cross cutting issues
Indicator(s)
- Number of countries implementing technical assistance, projects and advice
- Number of collaborations with international bodies