1. The full Programme Implementation Report 1998-1999 (PIR), is submitted for the information of the Committee. It is recalled that the PIR is a Conference document, designed to provide synthetic information to the Governing Bodies on achievements in the past biennium.

2. In line with its mandate, the sections of direct interest to COAG are those dealing with Major Programmes 2.1 and 2.2 (i.e. following paragraph 111 to paragraph 255) and Major Programme 2.5 (i.e. following paragraph 312 to paragraph 377). The text regarding the following Major Programme 3.1 Policy Assistance may also be of interest (paragraphs 378 to 386). The reported achievements for each Major Programme are preceded by a recapitulative table on implementation results in financial terms, including related field activities, and in terms of effective implementation of the planned outputs in the Programme of Work and Budget.

3. As mentioned in the Executive Summary, it may be noted that the entire text of the PIR is available for consultation from FAO's Internet Web-site, at the following address: http://www.fao.org/unfao/bodies/pir/. At the same address, a more detailed data-base can also be consulted on the planned outputs for the 1998-99 biennium, and their implementation status.