In response to the call of CSD 10 for partnership initiatives to be developed as a primary instrument for implementing Agenda 21, FAO and Major Group Focal Points for SARD decided to prepare a SARD Initiative. In order to build a lasting and productive dialogue on several key SARD issues, as well as develop a framework for the SARD Initiative, representatives from the Major Groups and the FAO Task Manager for Chapter 14 (i) held ongoing weekly/fortnightly conference calls, (ii) convened a virtual retreat consisting of three intensive conference calls to define terms of engagement and plan and implement side events, and (iii) conducted meetings concurrent with various FAO meetings and at the WSSD PrepComs. Significant events that provided further insights on civil society priorities and informed the design of the SARD Initiative are reported on this page. Useful links are given in the sidebar to the right.
5 – 23 March 2001: Electronic Conference on SARD
An E-Conference on Toward Rio+10 and Beyond:Progress in Land and Agriculture,was facilitated by FAO to assist with the drafting of the Chapter 14 Task Manager report for CSD 10, and prepare for the Forum on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development held in Rome later that month, concurrently with the 16th session of the Commission on Agriculture To view the report, go to: E-Conference Summary.
27 March 2001: Multistakeholder Forum on SARD at COAG 16
A one-day Multi-stakeholder Forum on SARD was held concurrently with the 16th Session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) in Rome, through funding from the Government of the Netherlands. The Forum brought together Major Group focal points for SARD, regional representatives of the NGO/CSO International Planning Committee (IPC) for the World Food Summit: five years later and other international NGOs/CSOs. This multi-stakeholder dialogue focused on enhancing partnerships and mobilizing resources needed for SARD.
26-30 March 2001: COAG 16.
The 16th Session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) discussed a report entitled “The Place of Agriculture in Sustainable Development: The Way Forward on SARD” in plenary. COAG supported the CSD-8 decisions regarding preparations for WSSD, as follows:
“49. The Committee agreed that, for this agenda item, representatives of major groups (NGOs, farmers, business, indigenous people, etc.) could speak along with Members, without this becoming a precedent. This agreement was in line with the request of the Eighth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-8), which invited FAO to involve diverse stakeholders in the review of SARD in preparation for the Earth Summit in 2002 (Rio+10). Similarly, the Committee also welcomed the Multi-stakeholder Forum on SARD in preparation for Rio+10, which was taking place concurrently with COAG.” To view the full COAG Report,go to: Report on the 16th Session of COAG, 26 – 30 March 2001, Rome. To view a summary of the SARD-related outcomes go to: Renewing SARD.
June 2001 – FAO Council, 120th Session
The 120th Session of FAO Council reviewed the report of the 16th Session of COAG and made the following comments and recommendations on the Organization’s work on SARD:
“29 …appreciated the widening of partnerships and expansion of dialogue to include, inter alia, non-governmental, civil society organizations and the private sector. The Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) that was held concurrently with the COAG session exemplified this broadening of dialogue. The Council endorsed FAO’s role as “Task Manager” for those chapters of Agenda 21 that are under its leadership, and the proposal that SARD be a standing agenda item on the COAG Agenda every four years.”
“32. called for continued support to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development and related programmes within FAO to enhance improved livelihoods for the rural poor in developing countries and the productivity of small-scale farming; also recognized that the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) contributed to SARD in meeting food security; proposed that SARD and related programmes should also address broader rural development issues such as agribusiness and entrepreneurship, capacity-building and strengthening rural institutions, water harvesting and natural resource management, better extension – research linkages, gender, increased civil society participation, market access, and rural infrastructure development and other services; recommended that FAO should address the impact of HIV-AIDS, along with other UN Agencies, within its mandate in the context of sustainable agriculture and rural development.”
10-13 June 2002: World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl), Rome, Italy
During the WFS:fyl, a multi-stakeholder dialogue on SARD was organised, and two Side Events on preparations for WSSD were held, one at the NGO/CSO Forum and the other at the meetng of the International Planning Committee (IPC).
24 June-17 August 2002: Electronic Forum on SARD
In preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), FAO in collaboration with members of Major Groups and Civil Society hosted an Electronic Forum from June 24 to August 17, 2002 to promote SARD (land, water and food security) and to explore and the develop SARD implementation initiative related to: Access to Resources (land and genetic resources); SARD Good Practices, Principles and Case Studies; and Fair Conditions for Employment in Agriculture.
