C 2003/INF/14 |
|
C 2003/INF/14 |
Thirty-second Session |
Rome, 29 November – 10 December 2003 |
IMPLEMENTATION OF 2002 REGIONAL CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS |
TWENTY-SECOND FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA
TWENTY-SIXTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE NEAR EAST
TWENTY-SEVENTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
TWENTY-SIXTH FAO REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Cairo, Egypt 4 – 8 February 2002
The following is a brief summary of action taken, by the Organization, on the recommendations made by the 22nd session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa:
Further expand the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS); and elaborate and disseminate to member countries a synthesis of simple techniques that have given positive results within the framework of the SPFS. In view of increasing returns to agricultural produce especially for small farmers, FAO is urged to join forces with member countries to reduce trade barriers and enhance intra-regional trade opportunities.
FAO has continued to provide technical assistance to 42 member countries in the region towards the pilot and expansion phases of their existing SPFS. Three additional countries have been assisted in formulating new SPFS programmes and projects. The process of extending the SPFS at the national level is progressing well in over 20 countries. Moreover, 23 countries have entered into South-South Cooperation (SCC) agreements, benefiting from expertise of other developing countries.
Within the framework of the SPFS, numerous simple techniques have been introduced and have contributed to increased yields of crops in many countries. They include: the treadle pumps for small-scale irrigation and water harvesting techniques; utilization of composts, lime application on acidic soils and cereal-legume rotation for water conservation; and popularization of simple and efficient silage-making technologies for livestock production. In addition, the introduction of warehouse receipt (“warrants”) techniques to support inventory loans has enhanced trade in agricultural produce in Niger which should be expanded in the subregion.
The SSC has introduced appropriate and cost effective technologies in a number of countries. For example: an Indian team introduced improved irrigation structures and cereal and vegetable seed production techniques in Eritrea; a Vietnamese team introduced inexpensive metallic fishing boats and fish paste production techniques in Senegal; a Bolivian team introduced metallic storage silos and rice cultivation techniques in Madagascar; and a Moroccan team introduced improved animal breeding and beekeeping techniques in Burkina Faso.
The SPFS is improving the livelihoods and nutrition of poor families in urban/peri-urban sites by using simple techniques, abundant labour and locally available low-cost materials. Micro-garden techniques (hydroponics) were introduced in Senegal from Colombia with assistance from Vietnamese SSC experts. Conversely, Senegalese experts assisted Venezuela in developing micro-gardens. Farmer Field Schools’ community-based extension training programmes have successfully introduced integrated production and pest management techniques in over 18 countries in the region.
The reduction of trade barrier and enhancement of intra-regional trade was addressed, among others, through the implementation of the New Revised International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC 1997) which promoted consultations among member countries on draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISMP). In addition, FAO assisted regional economic groupings in the harmonization of agricultural policies embedded within Regional Programmes for Food Security (RPFS).
Assist member countries in the efforts to develop fisheries sectors and provide increased assistance to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance to combat illegal fishing in the coastal waters of member countries.
FAO has provided assistance to 31 member countries in fisheries and aquaculture technology, planning and programme evaluation/development. Fisheries and aquaculture development projects were formulated and implemented in ten countries (Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia). Support for fisheries development projects is foreseen in the East African Community (Chad, Djibouti, Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe).
FAO provides technical support to the Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) based in Dakar, Senegal for the monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of fishing operations through an aerial surveillance unit in Banjul, The Gambia. The project collects information on fishing operations; train vessel and aerial observers; and strengthens MCS cooperation between the countries of the subregion. FAO introduced the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to the six SRFC countries. Regional VMS workshops are being planned.
Furthermore, FAO continues to offer its assistance to member countries on the implementation of MCS in support of the International Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IPOA-IUU). Through direct guidance and official regional bodies, FAO assists member countries to implement the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries in addition to providing technical and financial assistance to 25 member countries.
Mobilize the expertise in Regional and Subregional Offices to provide technical support to the NEPAD Secretariat; provide support and advice to NEPAD with the view to maximize the use of African experts and expertise, with financial support of donor countries in the preparation and execution of NEPAD projects and programmes.
Following the approval of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Rome on 9 June 2002, FAO experts at subregional, regional and headquarters levels were mobilized to assist the NEPAD Secretariat, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the AU in the preparation of the technical documents: This included: the revised CAADP (to add a research component), the Action Plan for its implementation along with its flagship projects, and the organization of technical consultations in Accra, November 2002; high-level meetings in Abuja, December 2002; preparation of Action Plan in Johannesburg in March/April 2003; and Maputo AU Summit, June/July 2003. RAF took the technical leadership of both the Abuja meeting and the Ministers of Agriculture meeting in Maputo. FAO offices in Pretoria and Addis Ababa have also been instrumental in the process.
FAO further provided assistance to incorporate the Forestry Sector into the CAADP, in response to a request from the NEPAD Steering Committee.
FAO provided technical support and advice through full time African experts based in Johannesburg, as well as technical staff visits to assist the NEPAD Secretariat and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). It assisted national governments to organize One-day workshops on NEPAD. It provided advisory services to the AU Commission and the NEPAD Secretariat in the preparation of the NEPAD Agricultural component of the Second Session of the AU Heads of States and Governments Assembly in Maputo, July 2003.
A regional pilot project for the socio-economic development of the Onchocerciasis-freed zones of West Africa supported by the Belgian Cooperation, is implemented by Ghana and Burkina Faso under NEPAD/ECOWAS with FAO technical support.
FAO provided input into the preparation of the Special Session of the African Ministers Conference on Environment (AMCEN) on NEPAD Environment Action Plan in Maputo, Mozambique, June 2003. Through the recommendation of the 2nd Intercessional Meeting of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission, held in Accra, July 2003, FAO accepted to strengthen its collaboration with UNEP, ECA, AU and GEF in the formulation and implementation of forestry projects in the NEPAD Environment Action Plan..
Alongside Ministries of Agriculture and private employers, adopt the AIDS workplace policies developed by WHO and UNAIDS. FAO should recognize HIV/AIDS as one of the core causes of food insecurity and to make it prominent in all its statutory and technical meetings. As such, FAO should continue to support member countries in the fight against the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in order to mitigate the impact on food security and rural development.
FAO recruitment and staffing policies are fully in line with the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS. All FAO staff and dependants are covered by the FAO medical insurance for treatment and care. An information symposium is held each World AIDS Day and the UNAIDS handbook for UN employees and their families has been distributed, while information on testing and counselling is available through FAO’s Intranet.
FAO recognizes that food insecurity and poverty fuel the HIV epidemic. Consequently, FAO is taking the lead to promote food security and agriculture sector interventions to help prevent the further spread of the epidemic at the international level. The Declaration of the World Food Summit:five years later (June 2002) noted with concern the acute threat of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its devastating impact on all sectors and levels of society, including on food security.
Furthermore, following the recommendations of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, FAO, IFAD, WFP and UNAIDS have made a commitment to increase their collaboration to develop responses to the epidemic. FAO is identifying and mainstreaming appropriate strategies to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security and rural poverty in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Activities include developing appropriate tools and technologies to offset labour shortages, preserving agricultural knowledge and its transfer, enhancing crop diversification and improving nutrition and access to food for people living with AIDS. FAO activities also include mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, with twelve of its technical divisions now having specific HIV/AIDS related initiatives.
Reinforce support to Ministries of Agriculture’s efforts to mainstream gender concerns into agricultural programme, ensure regular reporting on the implementation of Gender and Development Plan of Action, and report back to the next Africa Regional Conference.
FAO continued to support Ministries of Agriculture to strengthen their capacity to integrate gender concerns into the planning and implementation of their programmes. Several countries were assisted in policy formulation on “gender and agricultural development” and many development planners were trained in the use of socio-economic and gender analysis tools.
Together with FAO’s Statistics Division (ESS), the Gender and Population Division (SDW) continued to promote the production and analysis of gender related data in several member countries, leading to the availability of a greater volume of gender-disaggregated data.
SDW provided technical support to RAF for the implementation of the corporate Plan of Action on Gender and Development in the region. Progress made so far will be reported through a technical paper presented at the 23rd ARC.
Assist member countries with mountain areas to develop appropriate and workable technologies to arrest soil erosion and environmental degradation on mountain slopes. Furthermore, intensify and focus efforts on research and information exchange pertaining to sustainable development and management of watershed area.
FAO assisted 22 member countries in the formation of National Committees and the organization of Mountain Celebration Days, sponsored climbs, tree planting and the development of National Action Plans for Mountain Conservation. Strategies for sustainable mountain development in African member countries, that emphasize the importance of water catchment and soil conservation, were identified as reinforcing a positive policy environment for food security and sustainable agricultural practices.
FAO collaborated with the Swiss Government in the organization of the “International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions” held in June 2002, in Adelboden (Switzerland). As a follow-up, the Swiss Government funded a one-year preparatory phase in order to allow FAO and all other stakeholders to formulate a four-year project (2002-2005) proposal for SARD-M, to be submitted for funding under multi-donor trust fund arrangements. The project is to facilitate the improved formulation, implementation and evaluation of national mountain-specific SARD policies at central and decentralized levels in order to enhance livelihoods in mountain regions.
FAO’s alliance in the tsetse and trypanosomiasis eradication campaign should involve the scientific community and other stakeholders at national, regional and international levels.
FAO has played a pro-active role in supporting the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) through scientific/technical fora convened to design policy framework and strategies for pest management. In addition to research and training, FAO organizes annual meetings of the Panel of PAAT Advisory Group Co-ordinators (PAG) and FAO Liaison Officers on African Trypanosomiasis and the Programme against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) Committee meetings. FAO has been actively involved in the development of effective and efficient modalities for harmonization and delineating mutually supportive roles and concerted actions for PAAT and PATTEC.
Tehran, Iran 9 – 13 March 2002
The following is a brief summary of action taken, by the Organization, on the recommendations made by the 26th session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East:
Provide, within available resources, technical and financial support for the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector in Palestine, and assist in approaching the donor community to finance the reconstruction of that sector.
FAO supported the rehabilitation of the agriculture sector in the West Bank and Gaza Strip acting on several fronts, including: appointment of FAO Programme Coordinator; acting as focal point in the Food and Nutrition sector Emergency Group; undertaking with WFP, a comprehensive food security and nutrition assessment study; and participating in drafting the Food Security Strategy for the Humanitarian Plan of Action for 2003.
Provide every possible assistance to the most vulnerable countries to food insecurity in the Region, particularly Afghanistan and Somalia.
FAO has intensified its assistance to Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan through TCP projects. Activities undertaken included: Support to the Improvement of Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods in Afghanistan; Support to Food Security Assessment Unit in Somalia; and contribution to the UN Contingency Planning for Peace in the Sudan.
Assist Member States in formulating relevant subregional agricultural development strategies that would maximize benefits based on complementarities and comparative advantage of each country.
RNE conducted comparative advantage studies in a number of member countries and prepared draft documents for Regional Strategies for Food Security for the main Regional Economic Groups in the Region.
FAO organized in October, 2003, a joint workshop with the Islamic Development Bank on Regional Programmes for Food Security in the Near East.
Encourage and assist Member States to conduct animal disease surveys and to develop appropriate quarantine and control measures to safeguard their communities against BSE, FMD and other zoonotic contagious diseases, in cooperation with OIE. Also assist in establishing regional/subregional reference laboratories independently, or in affiliation with, other international reference laboratories.
A Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Network (Radiscon Phase II), is in FAO hard pipeline of projects. A regional TCP project on BSE monitoring and prevention was prepared. A number of TCP projects were implemented: Rinder pest surveillance - Yemen; Bracella vaccines- Syria; and Emergency animal health assistance to pastoralists - Jordan.
Relevant information was given to member countries on provisions of diagnostic and reference Laboratories World Wide.
On the Follow-up to the World Food Summit.
FAO prepared a SPFS document to assist Yemen in alleviating the critical water shortages. In addition, a SSC agreement among FAO, Egypt and Djibouti, was approved, and the SPFS and SSC with China continued as an ongoing pilot project in Mauritania.
Trade Liberalization Policies - Intra-regional Trade
Continue assisting countries in preparing for multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
FAO continued to support member countries on the current issues of the WTO negotiations on agriculture and analysis of related policy issues including an in-depth assessment for Egypt and Morocco. Establishment of an FAO Internet site on trade and related issues.
Assist member countries to analyse recent changes in the global economic and trade environments and to assess the implications of globalization on the agricultural sectors in the Region.
FAO provided technical assistance on multilateral trade negotiations and capacity building to Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates as well as Secretariats of Regional Economic Groups.
Assist in the strengthening of national capacities to meet Codex requirements and WTO’s Agreements on the Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) and Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), including food quality and safety.
RNE in collaboration with the Council for Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) organized a regional training workshop on CODEX Alimentarius during September 2003.
Continue providing assistance in developing agricultural sector strategies based on comparative advantage and efficient resource allocation, taking into consideration environmental and gender aspects.
RNE supported member countries (Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Yemen) and the West Bank and Gaza Strip in analysing comparative advantages and competitiveness. RNE also prepared database and technical guidelines on gender mainstreaming approaches in agricultural development in the region.
Support efforts for enhancing the country food supply capacity by reducing small farmer risk in rain-fed areas and re-orienting land use in irrigated lands.
FAO conducted comparative advantage studies in a number of member countries, which covered risk analysis in rain-fed areas and expanded the application of Land Resources Info System (LRIS) in many countries of the region.
Participate in, and encourage, regional/subregional group actions to confront environmental threats (such as desertification, pollution and transboundary plant and animal diseases) and other similar threats that cut across national borders.
RNE promoted regional activities on the subject through cooperation with ICARDA, LAS, WANANET, and CIHEAM.
Assist in organizing a Regional Expert Consultation on capacity building in the area of post-harvest technology, food processing, agro-industries, food safety and standards, in the context of export markets’ requirements, in collaboration with UNIDO and other relevant international and regional agencies and institutions.
In addition to three regional workshops on post-harvest capacity building, an advanced regional meeting on post-harvest technology and capacity building is under preparation to be held in Tunisia early 2004, in collaboration with UNIDO and other interested organizations.
Continue supporting the Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP) and the Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North Africa (AFMANENA).
FAO continued to give technical support to AFMANENA. Two regional meetings on contract farming and on strategies and programmes for elimination of major marketing constraints were held jointly with AFMANENA.
Support was also given to NENARNAP, which had been officially launched following the approval of its by-laws and workplan.
Re-establish the post of Statistician in the Regional Office.
This matter is under review.
International Year of Mountains (IYM), 2002
Convene, as early as feasible, an Expert Consultation on the Long-term and Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions.
The matter is under consideration.
Plans for Drought Mitigation and Management
Provide technical assistance and advisory support to member countries in formulating and developing their long-term Action Programmes for Drought Mitigation.
Activities undertaken included: Regional Workshop on Capacity Building in Drought Mitigation in the Near East; updated regional Database on Drought Mitigation; and formulation of TCP projects for Iran and Turkey.
Examine the feasibility of establishing a regional drought monitoring and early warning system for assisting Member States to cope with drought, with FAO as the lead agency and in collaboration with relevant international and regional organizations, and explore possibilities of funding with potential donor agencies.
The feasibility of the system is being examined in consultation with ICARDA, CIHEAM and other interested organizations.
Assist Member States in the formulation of a Regional Project on Drought Mitigation for submission to interested donors.
A regional TCP project on Drought Preparedness and Management was prepared for submission to donors.
Support the operation and sustainability of the recently launched Regional Network on Drought Management for the Near East and North Africa.
FAO gave the necessary support to the recently established network.
Continue supporting BSE diagnostic, prevention and risk assessment capacity in Member States through national or regional TCP projects.
A TCP project entitled “Evidence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and evaluation of BSE monitoring and prevention in the Region” had been prepared.
Assist Member States in preparing and implementing an FMD control programme and to examine the possibility of initiating a regional project for that purpose, in collaboration with the Animal Health Commission for the Near East and North Africa (AHCNENA) and Member States.
A Global framework for the Progressive Control of Food and Mouth Disease and other Transboundary Animal Diseases has been finalized by FAO/WHO/OIE. In addition, a draft proposal for a 5-year project aiming at regional control of FMD and Transboundary Animal Diseases centering on Turkey and surrounding countries was prepared.
The Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries
Support the Tehran Process through a regional TCP project to initiate National Forest Programmes.
A regional TCP project in support of the “National Forest Programme” was formulated. Two regional workshops on Urban/Peri-Urban Forests in Sustainable Forestry and Livelihoods in Low Forest Cover Countries ’’ were organized.
Havana, Cuba 22 – 26 April 2002
The following is a brief summary of action taken, by the Organization, on the recommendations made by the 27th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean:
Preparations for the World Food Summit: five years later - Regional dimensions
The need for a more in-depth analysis of the causes of the unfavourable trend of undernutrition in certain subregions of Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to address existing problems more efficiently.
Efforts have been coordinated under the FIVIMS initiative. Specific projects have been developed in Nicaragua and the Caribbean. This experience has been promoted in other countries of the region.
With a view to advancing food security in the region, projects geared towards income generation should also be considered, including areas such as agrotourism or rural tourism, as these tended to enhance access to food.
FAO has focused on food security projects involving community development and has fostered new approaches such as marketing and crafting aimed at adding value to agricultural products and improving family incomes.
Commended efforts made to quantify the gross investment volumes needed to meet the targets set at the World Food Summit, and suggested that the analysis should be extended to provide a more detailed breakdown of these amounts, including information on potential sources and their possible distribution between different allocations or ends.
RLC conducted a study of public expenditure for agricultural and rural development, covering 12 countries. To address the principal recommendations of the studies, two TCP projects have been executed.
General debate on trends and challenges in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food security in the region
Focusing projects on the family economic unit rather than the productive nucleus alone. This would make it possible to consider survival strategies within the household economic system and identify appropriate instruments for agents with distinct roles in the development of the family economy, such as rural women. It would also help to identify specific problems, such as women’s access to assets and incomes, or the implications of out-migration by specific groups.
Project UTF/VEN/008/VEN is considering urban food security through self-consumption and income generation, while projects TCP/ARG/2905 and TCP/ECU/066 are specially oriented to strengthening urban and peri-urban agriculture and hydroponics for horticulture, respectively.
Child labour and rural education should be made priority issues for FAO’s work in the region.
Several initiatives are being made to support the Dominican Republic and El Salvador in updating their curricula at all education levels and implementing a regional project (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Peru) on non-formal education. Also the new FAO/UNESCO initiative on Education for Rural People will focus its efforts on encouraging countries to adopt specific plans of action and supporting exchange of good practices.
Support the development of programmes targeted on women and rural youth.
Projects have been developed in Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. A distance learning course is being developed in the context of FODEPAL project.
Stated that risk management was an important issue in the analysis of agricultural development in the region, and called upon FAO to support the exchange of experiences with innovative policy instruments that have been developed in this area by several of the region’s countries.
Activities have covered, among others, emergency support to restore the production of urban and peri-urban vegetable growers affected by hurricanes and enhancing coordination of all the actors involved in agricultural interventions following the occurrence of a natural disaster.
Support in the development of agricultural information systems. These should give broader support to information flows both horizontally between countries and vertically towards users.
Project TCP/RLA/2901 allowed for the setting up of a Latin American information system hosted in REDBIO webpage, linked to databases of projects, normative activities, institutions and professionals related to biotechnology.
Technical support to develop national capacities for building, analysing and using statistical systems. It was suggested that cooperation activities should be held on this issue.
Assistance was provided to strengthening the agricultural census capabilities in several countries across the region. Under project TCP/NIC/0165 there has been training in the use of key indicator database software developed by WAICENT. Several FIVIMS workshops have been held.
Projects’ evaluation to focus on overcoming problems in programme execution as well as measuring their impact in achieving their objectives. Although programme targeting normally meant higher intermediate costs, one of the elements to quantify was the proportion of funds actually reaching the final beneficiaries.
RLC has reviewed current methodologies and formed a working group in coordination with HQ technical officers to develop impact evaluation methodologies applicable to rural development programmes.
Support to improve instruments and methodologies for evaluating agricultural development policies and programmes.
FAO assisted the Government of Mexico in carrying out the evaluation of the Programme “Alianza para el Campo”. RLC is designing and implementing evaluation of selected programmes in response to the Brazilian Government’s request in the context of the Zero Hunger programme.
Provide technical assistance and training in areas of regional interest, such as biosecurity, intellectual property rights and the management of autochthonous plant genetic resources.
Project TCP/PAR/0166 focused on activities aimed at tackling the problem of controlling transboundary movement and commercialization of illegal GMO seeds. With regard to IPR, RLC has supported the organization of two distance learning courses.
Consideration should be given to problems arising in development projects as a result of cooperation failures; and for support to be given to better organization of public policies, drawing on lessons learned from experiences in projects implemented in the various countries. Technical cooperation from international organizations should be guided by demand from individual countries, and be flexible enough to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Efforts being made by FAO to send programming missions to work with governments on defining multi-year cooperation programmes with a medium- and long-term outlook, were acknowledged.
RLC has convened workshops for high-level experts and officials on the definition of countries’ priorities for FAO activities when new government teams take office. RLC will present at the next LARC a report addressing the problems facing multi-year cooperation programmes.
Compiling a database of technical cooperation projects affording accessible and efficient consultation, with a view to enhancing the design of new projects. A project monitoring system be set up, making sure that projects were firmly anchored in national institutional structures and adequately coordinated with agriculture ministries. Stressed the importance of projects having a clear exit strategy, in order to ensure permanent effects and prevent the benefits from disappearing when the project ended.
FAO has assisted member countries in designing databases and result-based oriented indicators systems for monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Several improvements have been made in M&E of SPFS projects and in multidisciplinary projects such as agroforestry community driven projects.
Where appropriate, preference should be given to regional projects which exploit cooperation between countries, and promote and stimulate the creativity of national capacities.
FAO has promoted horizontal assistance in more than 13 regional projects, covering: institutional strengthening for the Codex Alimentarius implementation; land planning and evaluation systems; support to develop Productive Alliances; and food security in 16 CARIFORUM countries.
Greater cooperation between international organizations to avoid duplications in their work. South-south cooperation also needed to be intensified, particularly through the SFSP, and existing commitments needed to be implemented. Efforts should also be made to reduce intermediation costs so that a larger proportion of funds could be used in direct actions with beneficiaries.
Chile has written to the Director-General indicating its decision to participate in the South-south Cooperation with respect to SPFS projects in Guatemala and Honduras. Venezuela and Cuba are already implementing a South-south cooperation agreement. As for the intermediation costs, FAO follows the instructions given by the Governing Bodies.
Balance between food security and the sustainable management of natural resources in Latin America and the Caribbean
Support a comprehensive long-term strategy for natural resource sustainability, involving government policies with broad social participation.
FAO co-organized the III Latin American Congress on Watershed Management. In the framework of the SPFS, technical assistance in sustainable natural resource management was provided in Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Strategies for sustainable management of natural resources were developed through seven projects in five countries. In the Caribbean, participatory water management was the focus of two projects in Antigua and Grenada.
Assist governments in the region to establish legal and regulatory structures supporting natural resource sustainability and to develop genuine regulatory capacity.
Methodologies and strategies validated by the above-mentioned projects provided important inputs to the development of normative and legal frameworks. A subregional project analysed the legal and political framework with regard to land-use planning in OECS countries and made policy recommendations.
Support the development of information systems on natural resource use and establish sustainability indicators and environmental deterioration monitoring mechanisms, to enable timely actions to be taken with a long-term outlook.
In the framework of two regional projects on land and water information systems for sustainable agricultural development FAO developed a methodology to collect and manage information on natural resources with a view to formulating plans for a sustainable silviagripastoral development. The methodology has been applied and validated in six countries of South America. In the Caribbean, a regional project assisted to develop Land Resources Information Systems in six countries.
Support the development of trustworthy information systems for measuring the availability and deterioration of natural resources.
The methodologies developed by the regional projects mentioned above allow the identification of sub-utilized and abandoned lands for the rational and sustainable utilization of these resources. Other projects with components to evaluate the state of natural resources include activities in Brazil and Peru.
Continue exploring mechanisms of payment for environmental services, since these gave local populations greater incentive to conserve natural resources, while enabling them to share in the benefits.
A set of case studies on valuation and payment of hydrological services in rural watersheds has been published. The Regional Forum on Payment for Environmental Services in Watershed Management brought together relevant actors to identify experiences and lessons on the issue. In Mexico, a TCP project integrates the assessment of environmental services in land-use planning.
Production partnerships for food security and rural development
Assist countries in the region to develop productive chains, through workshops, meetings and events with stakeholders from the governmental and business domains, and with participation from small-scale producers.
FAO assisted in the preparation and implementation of a regional technical project in support and development of production chains in Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru, through workshops and training seminars on agribusiness opportunities.
Promote business and investment opportunities among organized small-scale producers, to enhance competitiveness through business forums and trade fairs, and to encourage the establishment of business management centres among associations of small-scale producers and/or agribusinesses, focusing particularly on technical training and the strengthening of negotiating capacity among productive agents themselves.
RLC is organizing 16 workshops and seminars to identify obstacles and limitations on selected production chains in several rural areas in the region and promoting business opportunities in four Latin American countries.
Effects of subsidies and market restrictions on agriculture and fisheries production and market access
Encourage the development of national, subregional and regional capacities, both technical and in terms of laboratory services and other health tools, in order to more effectively address requirements of food safety, equivalences and other health aspects affecting trade.
FAO developed national projects in Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay and regional projects (one for seven Central American countries and one for five South American countries) focused on capacity building through training in food safety and quality, and the strengthening of the systems of food control and standardization. Training courses on improvement of the quality and safety of fresh fruit and vegetables were developed for the countries of South and Central America.
Support cooperation between the countries to combat transboundary diseases.
Some of the activities in the region through TCP projects are the following: prevent, control and eradicate the Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in Cuba; evaluation and reinforcement of the prevention system for the BSE; and animal feed control system in nine countries.
Provide information and assistance to the region’s countries in preparing their negotiating positions in WTO and other trade frameworks.
Through project TCP/RLA/0174, the identification and development of trade facilitation approaches and methods have been developed for all CARIFORUM countries. These are being implemented through project GTFS/RLA/141/ITA where trade specialists are being made available on a long-term basis to the regional negotiating machinery. Through FODEPAL, a Spanish-funded distance learning project and courses on trade and negotiations have been offered.
Support the countries of the region in conducting prospective studies of different scenarios arising from the new round of WTO negotiations. This would help offset the disadvantage resulting from the preparatory studies made by developed countries and reduce the level of information asymmetry in the negotiations.
Fora have been sponsored focusing mainly on the area of the role of agriculture in development. FAO collaborated in the improvement of the Agriculture Trade Policy Simulation Model (ATPSM) aimed to undertake prospective studies on effects arising from the proposals generated in the WTO negotiations.
Conduct studies on market opening and the impact of liberalization on trading possibilities, and also on the price of food, purchasing power and food security in net food-importing developing countries, and the least developed countries.
FAO undertook: 1) an exhaustive advice of the experience of the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture for five countries of the region; and 2) a study on effects of trade liberalization on Food Security for six countries in the region. Project TCP/RLA/2910 analysed the effect of protectionism on food, while projects TCP/GUY/2801 and TCP/SUR/2802 paid particular attention to the area of Food Control, in the context of both imports and exports.
Analyse the emergence of hidden trade barriers which, in the name of safety, set consumers against producers.
The main effort here has been through the strengthening of institutions responsible for the development and implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and product standards and quality.
Undertake studies to evaluate the impact of indiscriminate subsidies that led to overexploitation of the region’s fishery resources, with serious consequences for vulnerable groups in Latin America such as small-scale fishing communities.
FAO Fisheries Department developed a “Guide for Identifying, Assessing and Reporting on Subsidies in the Fisheries Sector”.
Kathmandu, Nepal 13 – 17 May 2002
The following is a brief summary of action taken, by the Organization, on the recommendations made by the 26th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific:
Sustainable Mountain Development in Asia and the Pacific
Assist member countries and other partners to initiate specific studies to determine optimal and efficient systems for marketing mountain products and services in competitive markets.
FAO supported the testing and application of a Market Assessment and Development approach to identifying and developing promising mountain products in Bhutan, China, Nepal and Viet Nam. It also provided support for the development of a marketing system for non-wood forest products (NWFP).
Work with member countries and partner organizations to identify products and niches that command competitive and comparative advantages and strengthen the production capacities for those which appear most promising.
FAO conducted sector reviews and provided policy and technical assistance to member countries in examining the concerned country’s product-specific comparative advantages and recommended actions to address constraints. FAO assisted small-scale textile and handicrafts enterprise development for hill tribes.
FAO supported product quality improvement and marketing of mountain products through the Regional Model Forest Project (RMFP).
Work with member countries to assess the likely positive and negative impacts of exposing mountain communities to more open economies.
FAO supported the assessment of ecotourism impacts on mountain communities and disseminated RMFP participating countries’ experience in ecotourism development through workshops. It also supported the assessment of the impacts of NWFP marketing on NWFP-dependent communities.
Strengthen community nutrition programmes in mountain areas.
FAO carried out community-based nutrition programmes in Bhutan, Cambodia and Nepal for improving household food security, nutrition and health through diversification of food production and year-round access to a balanced diet.
FAO, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Regional Community Forestry Training Centre (RECOFTC) and other international organizations increase their support for research, development, promotion and capacity building aimed at developing ecotourism, consistent with sound environmental, social and livelihood objectives.
FAO promoted ecotourism development and supported ecotourism-based environmental education. It also worked with RECOFTC to develop a training workshop on community-based ecotourism development, which is now conducted annually.
Support improved networking and effective dissemination of development-related information to mountain areas, via modern and traditional mechanisms.
FAO supported the Mountain Forum and the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions for enhanced networking and effective dissemination of information to mountain stakeholders.
In cooperation with ICIMOD, the Ecoregional Fund and FAO-IYM unit, FAO supported the development of the Mountain Agricultural Systems Information File (MASIF) for Himalayan Ecoregional Project covering over 800 mountain districts.
Identify and support effective approaches for decentralization and devolution of natural resources management, assist governments and local communities in strengthening capacities for local resources management and help clarify associated rights and obligations.
FAO promoted numerous decentralized management approaches through the model forest approach. In collaboration with the National Forest Programme Facility, FAO assisted national forest programmes and strengthened capacities of local governments and community-based organizations in forest management. FAO also conducted case studies on community-based fire management in forested mountain areas.
FAO carried out research and widely disseminated publications on the role of women in agro-biodiversity conservation.
Livestock and Fisheries Development for Household Food and Nutrition Security and Poverty Alleviation in Asia and the Pacific
Assist countries in developing appropriate policies to reduce the financial, technical and cultural barriers that limit small-scale producers’ ability to benefit from the expansion of livestock and fisheries sectors.
FAO formulated and promoted policy and institutional reforms through studies, workshops and strategic options papers to increase competitiveness and reduce risks and vulnerability of small-scale livestock producers.
FAO assisted the Pacific Island countries in improving data collection and fishery statistics for effective management of subsistence fisheries and aquaculture.
FAO implemented activities to promote the development of agricultural cooperatives, including dairy and fisheries cooperatives as viable rural small-scale enterprises.
Assist member countries in developing appropriate policy and legislation related to small-scale coastal fisheries.
FAO recently approved a TCP project for the Micronesia region that addresses legislation regarding small-scale coastal fisheries and aquaculture.
FAO participated in an ADB funded project in Southeast Asia dealing with the regulatory and management aspects of inland fisheries.
Support networks that encourage governments, national and international organizations, civil societies and the corporate sector to review livestock and fisheries policies and strategies vis-ŕ-vis the poor.
FAO recently approved a TCP project, which will enhance communication with policy makers on the needs of poor and small producers, as well as prepare a regional strategy targeting small-scale aquatic resource users.
Two subregional projects have been formulated to promote livestock policies that ensure equitable, safe and clean livestock farming.
Assist countries in developing the necessary capacity to ensure food safety throughout the production and processing chain.
TCP projects, training workshops, seminars and meetings were undertaken to strengthen national capacities in food safety and quality, including the recently established FAO/WHO Project and Trust Fund for Codex, aimed at strengthening household food and nutrition security. SAPA co-hosted the FAO/SPC/WHO Pacific Islands Consultation on food safety and quality.
Assist countries build capacity for addressing food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary regulations of importing countries.
Capacity building was reviewed at the 13th Session of the Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia which also noted the commitments by FAO, WHO, OIE and WB to provide assistance for capacity building in SPS related standard setting activities.
FAO is co-organizing the 6th Round Table meeting for Pacific Island countries on the implications of the WTO multilateral trading system on the agricultural sector.
Formulate a plan of action for the livestock sector for supporting a regional emergency response system to deal with transboundary animal diseases, a regional programme for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, a diagnostic information reference system and procedures for harmonizing laboratory standards.
The Global Framework for the progressive control of FMD and other major transboundary diseases addresses the above issues. Two subregional workshops were held and their recommendations form the basis of the Asia component in the Global Programme.
Empowering the Rural Poor in Asia and the Pacific
Provide technical support and organize resources to assist member countries in conducting agriculture and rural sector reviews, including assessment of policy issues and options for food security and poverty reduction.
Agriculture sector reviews focusing on options for policy and institutional reforms to enhance food security and to alleviate poverty were carried out in Nepal and the Philippines. Obstacles impeding the participation of poor livestock farmers in the dramatic growth of the livestock sector in Asia were reviewed.
FAO also prepared, in collaboration with national governments, Country Policy Profiles in 35 countries in Asia and the Pacific as a follow-up to WFS:fyl.
Provide technical assistance and advice to strengthen country capacities, in areas related to agri-business development and rural extension.
FAO assisted member countries in capacity building related to the development of agri-business and income generation at the village level through TCP projects, workshops (including “youth entrepreneurship”), extension support and training manuals.
Preparation for the WFS:fyl -Regional Dimensions
Strengthen national capacities to analyse trade issues, assist countries in formulating and updating national trade legislation; and facilitate sharing regional and sub-regional information related to trade negotiations.
FAO organized a workshop on multilateral trade negotiation in agriculture for member countries of Asia. It also carried out a detailed analysis of the implications of WTO membership for Pacific Island countries in the food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
Provide support to member countries in establishing and strengthening national FIVIMS.
FAO initiated a number of start-up activities, including the Regional Asia FIVIMS Project in selected countries and a TCP national FIVIMS project in India, to develop institutional frameworks at the local level and to train national professionals on the FIVIMS approach. A national strategic plan for FIVIMS was elaborated in Samoa and a similar plan is under way for Fiji.
Nicosia, Cyprus 29 – 31 May 2002
The following is a brief summary of action taken, by the Organization, on the recommendations made by the 23rd FAO Regional Conference for Europe:
World Food Summit Follow-up
The fight against undernutrition and poverty required a sustained effort from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, NGOs and civil society at large.
In the European Region, in which there are no FAO Representations except in Turkey, an increased FAO (mainly through REU and SEUR outposted officers) involvement and contribution in the CCA/UNDAF process has taken place in a number of countries (Albania, Armenia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and The FYR of Macedonia). Through a TCP project, FAO will be assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the preparation of the agriculture and rural development part of the national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).
The important role played by fisheries in supporting food security and the attention that should be given to the improvement of sustainable fishery management practices.
Activities implemented under the on-going Trust Fund regional/interregional projects (COPEMED, ADRIAMED, MEDSUDMED) allow the formulation of recommendations and the definition of scientific criteria for a better management of the exploited resources in the Mediterranean.
Upon requests from individual member countries, project formulation missions in the fisheries sector have taken place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Hungary with all project documents being in the approval stage while a project under TCP funding for Estonia was approved and activities initiated.
Need to strengthen FAO’s focus in the European Region, especially for countries in transition and non members of FAO, by addressing issues of common concern for the fundamental reform which should take place in the agricultural sector in Europe, such as food safety, land reform and market access.
FAO has been actively involved in the land tenure/land reform sector in the region and has carried out a study of land tenure data requirements in the context of EU accession and other relevant policy initiatives. In addition, three national case studies have been undertaken for Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland. Two workshops were held: one in October 2002, where an agreement was reached on the methodologies to be implemented in carrying out the national case studies; and one in March 2003, to review these studies and discuss further development of the land tenure database activities in the subregion. A regional workshop on “Participatory and negotiated territorial planning – management” was held in SEUR in April 2003, the objective of which was to agree on a methodological basis on which to build a network and guidelines for action in Central and Eastern European countries.
FAO has had a strong involvement in setting up the network “Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Initiative on Real Property Rights”, consisting of practitioners, experts and decision makers from both ECA countries and the donor community, including private sector and NGOs, which has led to the creation of a Regional Centre and Network of Excellence (RcoE) hosted in the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development (MoARD). Inputs to the Centre’s activities in the next two years, through the secondment of the Land Tenure and Rural Development Officer in SEUR, are ensured through the FAO/WB cooperative programme.
Under the FAO/WB cooperative programme, as part of the World Bank project on the “Economic and Social Impacts of Farm Restructuring” missions to Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova and Kazakhstan were undertaken in May/June 2003. The objective of the missions was to identify potential researchers in each country able to conduct quantitative and qualitative field work on land/social outcomes of restructuring and gender implications of land legislation.
A Land Consolidation and Land Tenure Assessment was carried out in early 2003 in Serbia and Montenegro. Formulation missions to support the preparation of a strategy for land consolidation and improved land management were planned for Armenia and Georgia. In June 2003, a formulation mission assisted the Government of Hungary in preparing a strategy for territorial organization and sustainable land management in areas with high natural disaster risk.
In the marketing/agri-business sector, FAO has been increasingly providing assistance to member countries in the region by implementing a number of national and regional projects (TF and TCP) in which capacity building in marketing skills is a substantial component.
Following a joint workshop (March 2002), FAO and EBRD are in the process of establishing and maintaining a network of professionals involved in agribusiness and agricultural investment in the countries of EBRD operation. The main objectives of the proposed network “Eastagri” are to:
Food Safety and Quality
Endorsed the conclusions of the Pan-European Conference and requested that its recommendations be forwarded to member countries, the European Union, international organizations and non-governmental/civil society organizations.
The Pan-European Conference report was distributed to member and observer countries, international agencies and NGOs in English, French, Spanish and Russian. The report was also published on the Internet site of the Conference in the four languages. The WHO Regional Committee for Europe (Copenhagen, September 2002) adopted the Pan European Conference recommendations related to public health.
The importance of food safety in the enlargement process of the European Union and the call for FAO and WHO to play an enhanced role in assisting countries that are not part of the enlargement process.
REU and SEUR carried out food safety assessments for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo Province and Serbia and Montenegro; organized with ESN the FAO/Slovak Workshop on food safety communications systems (March 2003); and undertook to hold an international workshop on the development of national food safety strategies in October/November 2003. Participants will be from the EU accession countries, the Balkan and Caucasian countries. Through extra-budgetary funding, the FAO training manual on HACCP and GMP was translated into Russian.
WHO organized a number of workshops in close cooperation with FAO (ESN/SEUR and Codex) in:
Follow-up to the Pan-European Conference recommendations covering the 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe targeted to methodologies for risk analysis, capacity building and rapid alert.
A TCP project to strengthen the Turkish national capacities in food safety and quality inspection and control systems, risk analysis and assessment was approved and is currently being implemented. Upon requests received from member countries (Croatia, Czech Republic, Moldova and Balkan and Caucasian countries), national and regional project proposals are being formulated.
Sustainable management of Land and Water Resources: Combating Desertification and Prevention of Land Degradation
Strengthen and promote inter-country cooperation in forest fire management and refinement of tools for forest fire control in order to protect and maintain diversity in forests in Europe.
FAO is encouraging more cooperation among Mediterranean countries, including in particular:
Member countries, FAO and all relevant international and regional agencies were urged to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the 32nd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture (ECA).
FAO is assisting member countries through the implementation of TCP projects in: i) irrigation techniques to minimize climatic risks (Moldova); ii) building national capacity in the conceptualization and drafting of groundwater resources management legislation (Malta); and iii) land conservation and biodiversity preservation (Czech Republic).
SEUR organized an International Seminar on transboundary integrated water management planning for the Carpathian Sub-Basin (October 2003).
Maintaining and strengthening the existing collaboration between FAO and the UNCCD Secretariat.
FAO participated and supported the European process on the review of the implementation of the Convention in the framework of the Regional Committee to Review the Implementation of the Convention, which enabled FAO to identify areas of cooperation with some European countries.
FAO had a meeting with the Secretariat of the Convention in December 2002 to identify countries for further cooperation and common initiatives and is strengthening the cooperation on Mediterranean forests and degradation processes with the Plan Bleu through a French-facilitated cooperation agreement.
Review of the State of Food and Agriculture in the Region
In future documents, fisheries and forestry sectors should be included in view of their importance to food security and rural development.
Both sectors will be included in the document being prepared for submission to the 24th Regional Conference for Europe.
Report on FAO Activities in the European Region: 2000-01
Further develop collaboration with the Central European Initiative (CEI) working group on agriculture.
FAO participated in the Fifth CEI Summit Economic Forum (Skopje, November 2002) and was designated to chair the seminar session on “Food Safety Enhancement for Trade and Public Health”. FAO’s involvement in the preparation of the 6th CEI Summit Economic Forum (November 2003 in Poland) has again been requested by the CEI Secretariat.
Maintaining FAO servicing of ESCORENA with its focus on transfer of research results to developing countries and countries in transition and welcoming France’s proposal to provide a visiting scientist for secretariat support to ESCORENA.
The visiting scientist took up duties in REU in November 2002, to carry out the evaluation/assessment of the ESCORENA networks as specified in Appendix 3 of document ECA 32/02/4-Rev.1. A progress report will be submitted to the 33rd Session of the European Commission on Agriculture.