FAO INTER DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT

This Committee was established by FAO's Director-General in May 1996 to ensure continued and effective development and coordination of FAO's normative and operational activities in the context of the revised FAO Plan of Action for Women in Development, with the following terms of reference:

the Committee will provide policy guidance and facilitate coordination and decision making on normative and operational matters relating to Women in Development. To this effect, it will:

· monitor overall progress in implementing the FAO Plan of Action on Women in Development at Headquarters and in the field, periodically assessing its overall results and impacts;

· report and provide advice to the Director General, as necessary, on Organization-wide WlD/Gender issues;

· provide a forum to review and clarify inter departmental issues that arise relating to the implementation of the Plan of Action; and,

· ensure agreement and operational coherence between all concerned regarding Organization-wide actions for monitoring and implementing the Plan of Action.

The Inter Departmental Committee on Women in Development is chaired by the Director of the Women and Population Division (SDW), Sustainable Development Department, with the representation of each Department and Division. The Committee's Secretariat is provided by the Women in Development Service.