CHAPTER 2: TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES

Major Programme 2.1: Agricultural Production
and Support Systems

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

143. The major programme relates to the World Food Summit Plan of Action, principally by aiming at reliable production, processing and delivery of more food. Its normative and operational components promote technologies to sustainably intensify agricultural production; reduce the effects of agriculture-related environmental degradation and market failures on vulnerable, food insecure households; and address the biosecurity risks of exchanges of agricultural inputs and products to facilitate expanded international trade.

144. The major programme not only operates through the constituent entities and major outputs within each programme, but contributes in a significant manner to Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs), in particular on biotechnology, biosecurity, biodiversity, food for the cities, sustainable rural livelihoods, and integrated productions systems. Integrated information systems and services are often facilitated by a dedicated entity within each programme.

145. The programme on natural resources gives prominence to work in integrated planning and management of land and water resources, as well as information systems. Attention is also given to institutional aspects, including privatisation of irrigation services. The prime emphasis under land management shifts from technical aspects of soil inventories and conservation techniques to integrated planning and management.

146. The crops programme addresses integrated crop and grassland/pasture production systems, cropping systems biodiversity, rice-based systems, integrated pest management, desert locust control through the related component of the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES), and the use of biotechnology. It supports the implementation of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), as well as seed policy and security. Increased support is provided to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and the Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

147. As part of a stepwise strategic reassessment of the livestock programme, priority is given to: transboundary animal disease (TAD) control through EMPRES; veterinary public health, food/feed safety and zoonoses; environmental management of insect-borne diseases, including the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT). Priority is also accorded to global livestock information, together with a livestock resources knowledge management facility to address increasingly intensive animal agriculture and livestock sector and policy analysis, including environmental and socio-economic impact assessment of animal agriculture.

148. The programme on agricultural support systems aims at establishing an enabling environment for farm and non-farm enterprise development and promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture, agribusiness and agricultural support services. Priority attention is given to products and services for increasing small farmer incomes, meeting urban food needs, reinforcing commercial provision of agricultural services, developing agribusiness and post-production systems, and strengthening agricultural services data and information systems.

149. The programme on agricultural applications of isotopes and biotechnology, implemented by the Joint FAO/IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Division in Vienna, has an increased focus on the use of biotechnology in crop improvement, plant protection and animal health, in close collaboration with the programmes on crops, livestock and natural resources.

Changes in Resources

150. A major presentational change, already reflected in the Medium Term Plan, is the introduction of five intra-departmental entities to address cross-cutting issues, including integrated production systems, conservation agriculture, genetic resources for food and agriculture and servicing of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), and the Committee on Agriculture (COAG).

151. While involving some expansion of activities in relatively new fields, most of the resources are simply shifted from other programmes. In addition, a sixth entity has been added (210S5) this time involving "fresh" resources in order to provide central support to the implementation of PAIAs. It is placed for administrative convenience under Major Programme 2.1, but is intended to serve the cross-sectoral objectives of the PAIAs which extend to the whole gamut of FAO's substantive work.

152. Other noteworthy alterations to the programme structure since the Programme of Work and Budget 2000-2001, are the consolidation of constituent programme entities under Programme 2.1.1 (one less) and even more so under Programme 2.1.4 (four less), whereas under Programmes 2.1.2 and 2.1.3, it was felt opportune to give due prominence to several important areas through dedicated entities, i.e. International Rice Commission (IRC)-related activities (212P5); the Environmental Management of Insect Borne Diseases (213A9); and Livestock Sector Analysis and Strategy Development (213B1). The programme structure and/or resources for Programmes 2.1.2 and 2.1.9 are also affected by the transfer of activities previously located there to the "inter-departmental" level (CGRFA and COAG).

153. As a result of these structural changes, the aggregate resource change figures at programme level must be interpreted with caution. In fact, despite the substantial resource change shown at the whole major programme level, i.e. around US$ 4.4 million, or over six percent (net of entity 210S5 which, as stressed above, does not apply strictly to Major Programme 2.1) the net change for Programme 2.1.1 appears limited (just one percent), and even negative for Programmes 2.1.2 and 2.1.4. In fact, discounting the transfers, the underlying increases in resources are US$ 415,000 for 2.1.1, US$ 740,000 for 2.1.2, US$ 721,000 for 2.1.3, US$ 349,000 for 2.1.4 and US$ 165,000 for 2.1.5. The same caution should be exercised in interpreting the - at times very substantial - resource changes indicated at entity level in the more detailed programme level tables below.

154. The selective application of incremental resources would permit, for instance: the substantial strengthening of land and water-related information systems (211P7); additional expert groups to support the implementation of the IPPC (212P1), and recommendations on pesticide residues (212P2); formally consolidating the provisional strengthening of work on the PIC procedure and on desert locusts in the central region effected after the Programme of Work and Budget 2000-2001 was approved [in terms of new posts, this translates into two senior posts in the Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP) to cover implementation of the Rotterdam Convention and EMPRES, and one post of Secretary to Central Desert Locust Commission in the Regional Office for the Near East (RNE)]; faster implementation of verification of freedom from rinderpest (213A7) and design of animal genetic improvements schemes (213A5); coupled with greater attention to biotechnology applications under the pertinent entities. As for other major programmes, these incremental resources are also to translate into improved language coverage in publications and meetings.

155. It is also planned to augment professional capacities in other selected areas in line with identified major substantive thrusts, e.g. three junior posts in the Agricultural Support Systems Division (AGS) to complement expertise in agribusiness and rural finance development, as well as information system management; strengthening of the Regional and Sub-regional outposted teams, in particular through an agriculture officer in the Regional Office for Europe (REU) (where no such expertise existed hitherto), transfer of a meat officer to the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), a new post of animal production officer in the Sub-regional Office for Southern and East Africa (SAFR) and additional land and water posts in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and RLC.

Intra-departmental Entities

210A1 - Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Production Systems

156. Objectives: to disseminate promising integrated production techniques and best management practices for several major agro-ecological zones, and ensure coordinated approaches to the intensification of production systems.

157. Biennial Outputs: website and information dissemination on integrated production systems from agro-ecosystem and thematic perspectives. Assessment of effective integrated production systems, leading to a future benchmark publication. Workshops for each regional agro-ecosystem specific pilot project. Analytical and planning tools for locally adapted technology (rice-based cropping systems). Training on economics of water management in integrated production systems of semi-arid areas in Southern Africa.

210A2 - Promotion of Conservation Agriculture

158. Objective: to achieve increased sustainable agricultural production through better land husbandry based on principles and practices of conservation agriculture.

159. Biennial Outputs: support to the wider adoption of conservation agriculture (integrated technologies including mechanisation, soil and water, crop rotations with particular reference to cover crops and animal production) through two regional networks, two regional meetings and a multilingual global database. Two major technical publications, one comprehensive training manual and a multilingual set of extension materials.

210P1 - Secretariat of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)

160. Objective: to facilitate and support the work of the Commission and attendant intergovernmental agreements.

161. Biennial Outputs: one regular session of the Commission and support to its Intergovernmental Technical Working Groups (ITWGs) on Animal and on Plant Genetic Resources, the major specialised fora for the development of agreed policy and regulatory frameworks for animal and plant genetic resources and other sectors. Support to the entry into force of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. Coordination with other relevant international processes. Meeting of the Panel of Eminent Experts on Ethics in Food and Agriculture, and two publications.

210S1 - Committee on Agriculture (COAG)

162. This entity covers servicing of COAG, the Technical Committee that reports to FAO Council on Major Programmes 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, 2.2, Food and Agriculture Policy and Development, and 2.5, Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts, involving also the preparation of issue papers.

210S2 - Technical Services for Partnership Development and Information Enhancement

163. This entity covers several activities of interest to the Agriculture Department:

1. work on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) of Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED);
2. coordinated contributions to global perspective studies, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and other partnership agreements;
3. advocacy publications and the Agriculture Department's (AG) website.

210S5 - Central Support to PAIAs

164. As mentioned under Changes in Resources above, it is necessary to provide for catalytic resources (to be placed under this new entity, and to be centrally-administered) to support effective implementation of the PAIAs in the 2002-2003 biennium. Subject to specific criteria, these resources will be put at the disposal of the Chairpersons of coordination mechanisms to cover the cost of truly cross-sectoral activities, particularly where it would be impractical to expect cost-sharing by too many concerned units.

Programme 2.1.1: Natural Resources

211A1 - Agricultural Water Use Efficiency and Conservation

165. Objective: to promote efficient use and conservation of water in agriculture through improved irrigation and water harvesting technologies, effective water management and related water resources policy and institutional reforms.

166. Biennial Outputs: guidelines, training materials, regional seminars and networks on such subjects as: improved on-farm water control, irrigation scheduling, water harvesting, irrigation scheme modernisation and water resource valuation and demand management for irrigated agriculture. Studies on impact of water saving, crop water productivity, irrigation system performance, and on policy and institutional reform for groundwater irrigation management. Pilot projects on the provision of irrigation services through private entrepreneurs.

211A2 - Land and Soil Productivity

167. Objective: to improve soil productivity and sustainable land use through integrated plant nutrition management and soil fertility enhancement; soil management and soil and water conservation technologies; and policies and strategies for land use options, land management and fertiliser use.

168. Biennial Outputs: methodologies for assessment and monitoring of soil fertility and plant nutrients. Networks on soil productivity improvement to promote participatory diagnosis. Technical materials on management, conservation and rehabilitation of degraded and problem soils, including through participatory methods (farmer field schools). Updated FAO land evaluation framework. Information systems and other tools to plan land resources use. Support to Rio+10 processes and international conventions.

211A3 - Integrated Land, Water and Plant Nutrient Management

169. Objective: to promote an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to land and water management, taking account of major land-water interactions.

170. Biennial Outputs: guidelines on moisture conservation in rainfed areas. Strategies, and training modules for the assessment, development and conservation of wetlands. Impact studies on wetland and lowland development. Case studies and workshops on land and water linkages in rural watersheds. Guidelines for maintenance of drainage systems and performance assessment. Technology transfer on reclamation of salt-affected soils. Case studies on health impact of water development, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Meetings, training and networks on the use of land and water assessment, planning and management to mitigate natural disasters, including guidelines on adjustment to climate variability.

211P7 - Land and Water Information Systems, Databases and Statistics

171. Objective: to provide a recognised point of reference and a continuous forum for exchange of experiences, norms, data and information on the state of land and water for food and agriculture in the world.

172. Biennial Outputs: Internet-based Land and Water Information Systems including an interactive site for the Rural Water Statistical System (AQUASTAT), and contributions to the World Water Development Report. Digital map of world irrigation. Software tools to model current and future impact of water scarcity on food production. Documents using global agro-ecological zone (AEZ) applications on land degradation risks, climatic change scenarios and country analysis of land potentials and constraints.

211P8 - Knowledge Management and Partnerships

173. Objective: to provide a service and reference centre on important land, water and plant nutrition issues to guide effective planning and sound management of land and water resources and application of fertilisers.

174. Biennial Outputs: knowledge centre for land and water management to operate on an interactive basis. Support to international partnerships and initiatives, i.e. conventions, international meetings, the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) Sub-committee on Water, Global Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment.

211S1 - Direct Support to Member Nations and to the Field Programme

175. This entity will support the formulation and implementation of projects including the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) and emergency and relief operations from the perspective of land and water issues. It will also support national action plans to combat desertification, the Soil Fertility Initiative (SFI) for Africa, and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Land Use and Landscapes programme.

211S2 - International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID)

176. A joint initiative of several partner institutions, IPTRID will continue to enhance the standard of applied research and technology transfer of irrigation and drainage in developing countries through facilitation, mobilisation of expertise, analytical reports, thematic networks, formulation of policies and projects, information dissemination activities, and it will complete a study on benchmarking of irrigation systems.

Programme 2.1.2: Crops

212A1 - Alternative Crops and Cultivars for New Opportunities

177. Objective: to assist countries with crop diversification options in specific ecological zones, in relation to food security and income generation targets and market opportunities.

178. Biennial Outputs: high-value cultivars tested, i.e. temperate fruit species for tropical highlands, drought-resistant species for low rainfall areas and sub-tropical fruit and nut species for the Himalayan foothills. Support to national and regional initiatives for date palm propagation and production in African drylands, and global date palm network. Promotion of cold tolerant oil palm. Newsletters and website providing information on the crop development potential of 40 under-utilised species. Identification of market opportunities for neglected ornamental plants. Training modules for vocational schools and growers on integrated greenhouse crop production and protection.

212A3 - Strategies and Technologies for Sustainable Crop and Grassland Production Systems

179. Objective: to assist with strategies and integrated production technologies capable of reducing food insecurity, generating income and contributing to the sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity.

180. Biennial Outputs: plant biotechnology strategies, network and website focusing particularly on Africa. Studies, reports and information dissemination on global cassava strategies, smallholder mushroom cultivation, fodder crop strategies, rangeland development, low-input grassland systems and grassland biodiversity, and cereal-based cropping systems in tropical savannahs. Training and workshops on improved cereals breeding and crop technologies, including participatory technology transfer for rural women and support to community-level seed multiplication enterprises. Publications on certifiable organic production of tropical fruits and vegetables, major world grasslands, transhumant systems, and youth-oriented educational material on grassland biodiversity.

212A4 - EMPRES - Plant Pests Component

181. Objective: to promote concerted efforts by donors and affected countries to prevent major desert locust upsurges through early warning, early reaction and relevant research.

182. Biennial Outputs: upgraded early warning communication systems in, and among locust-affected countries. Improved methodologies and training for locust control operations, including locust surveys, reaction to critical desert locust situations, safety to human health and environmental aspects, and coordination of research.

212A5 - "Mainstreaming IPM" by Enhancing Essential Ecological Processes

183. Objectives: to expand the number of national programmes, especially in countries covered by the SPFS, that sustainably identify, analyse and enhance essential agro-ecological processes based on local decision-making, and to facilitate related policy and institutional changes.

184. Biennial Outputs: application of practical weed population ecology (through farmers field school groups) in a range of representative agro-ecosystems. Training of plant protection and regulatory personnel on herbicide resistant crops and pilot Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods for major weeds. Population dynamics, pathosystem analyses and studies on evolution in IPM. Operational network of national IPM field programmes; case studies on successful community IPM methodologies and emerging opportunities due to demand for cleaner agricultural production.

212A7 - Strengthening National Seed Production and Security Systems

185. Objective: to promote country commitment and facilitate farmer participation in the strengthening of farmers' seed production and supply systems, particularly within the framework of the SPFS, and with due attention to seed security.

186. Biennial Outputs: scientific and technical working group meetings of the regional seed networks and seed consultative fora. Advice to seed security consultative groups and networks, and community-based seed production enterprises, in disaster-prone areas. Guidelines and manuals on improving seed and planting material production systems, including seed biotechnology.

212A8 - Facilitating Plant Production and Protection Decision Making

187. Objective: to meet the substantial demand for technical information on seed and planting material, crop production, and plant protection.

188. Biennial Outputs: operation of the comprehensive and user-friendly system providing basic information on major global crop species, plant diseases, pests and weeds and biological control agents in cooperation with a broad range of sources and data providers, and the associated analytical database, updated with ecological information on 500 plant species.

212P1 - Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

189. Objective: to secure common action to prevent the spread and introduction of plant pests and promote measures for their control through effective implementation of the Convention, including the improvement of national capacities.

190. Biennial Outputs: two meetings of the (Interim) Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, and up to four meetings of the (Interim) standard setting committee. Up to six new international standards for phytosanitary measures. One meeting of the Asian and Pacific Plant Protection Commission. Two coordinating meetings of regional plant protection organizations. Information exchange mechanism relevant to the implementation of the Convention (subject to additional extra-budgetary resources), and technical assistance related to the implementation of international and national phytosanitary regimes.

212P2 - Pesticide Management

191. Objective: to promote sound pesticide management practices and reduction of risk to human health and the environment associated with their use.

192. Biennial Outputs: publication of the revised International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, and up to two pesticide management guidelines, to reflect new strategies in risk reduction. FAO/WHO pesticide product specifications for approximately 15 new active ingredients of pesticides. FAO/WHO joint meeting on pesticide residues. Provision, together with UNEP, of the Interim Secretariat for the Rotterdam Convention, and (subject to extra-budgetary resources) two meetings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and Interim Chemical Review Committee. Decision-guidance documents for substances included in PIC procedures, and information system. Subject to extra-budgetary resources: inventory of obsolete pesticide stocks in Latin America and parts of Asia; training and awareness workshops on obsolete stocks; and technical assistance aiming at replacing methyl bromide, a soil fumigant.

212P3 - Migratory Pest Management

193. Objective: to facilitate information exchange and collaboration among affected countries on migratory pests, coupled with sensitisation of the international donor community and assistance to countries affected by migratory pests.

194. Biennial Outputs: information dissemination and forecasting services, including monthly bulletins, special alerts, databases and information exchange. Technical support to countries, guidelines and methodologies on migratory pest management. Training of national survey and forecasting officers. Support to regional and sub-regional fora for discussions and decisions on common action on migratory pest control.

212P4 - Support to the FAO Global System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)

195. Objectives: to provide advice on PGRFA at all levels and across disciplines; to optimise decision-making for their efficient management and sustainable use; and to promote exchange of information and knowledge in line with the rolling Global Plan of Action (GPA).

196. Biennial Outputs: thematic papers for the Second Report on the State of the World's PGRFA; mechanisms to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the rolling GPA by all stakeholders. Second Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; PGRFA Networks. GPA monitoring information system as part of the World Information and Early Warning System.

212P5 - Support to Strategy Formulation and Promotion of Specific Action for Rice Development in Member Countries of the International Rice Commission (IRC)

197. Objective: to support the IRC and related cooperative action aimed at increasing the productivity and efficiency of rice production systems for the benefit of income-poor farmers and consumers, while maintaining a healthy environment for future generations.

198. Biennial Outputs: 20^th Session of the IRC, meetings and workshops, along with inter-regional networks on rice, IRC Newsletters and web pages. Hybrid rice technologies, rice checks (integrated crop management) and New Rice for Africa (NERICA) initiatives for bridging sizeable yield gaps through pilot demonstration, training, and support to national programmes, particularly in the framework of the SPFS.

212S1 - Advice to Countries and Support to Field Programme

199. This entity will be involved with active support to the field programme including pertinent SPFS components.

Programme 2.1.3: Livestock

213A3 - Contribution of Livestock to Poverty Alleviation

200. Objective: to provide decision-makers, including Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and bilateral agencies, with the basis to exploit the potential of livestock for improving the livelihood of rural poor.

201. Biennial Outputs: updated information, analyses and interpretation of technical options and trends, codes of conduct, best management practices, and impact assessments for decision makers (governments, NGOs, bilateral agencies and producer associations), covering small-scale and emerging low-input production systems, including those in fragile ecosystems.

213A5 - Developing the Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources

202. Objectives: to guide the development and implementation at country, regional and global levels, of a strategic framework, and to establish the various components of the Global Strategy.

203. Biennial Outputs: support to technical focal points at country and regional levels; upgrade of the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS); assistance to countries for the Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources. Review of strategic priority actions, including stakeholders meeting. Third session of the ITWG on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR). Early warning and reaction system, guidelines, training kits and updated global AnGR databank.

213A6 - Veterinary Public Health Management and Food and Feed Safety

204. Objective: to develop and promote efficient veterinary public health structures and functions through strengthening of relevant institutions.

205. Biennial Outputs: principles for sustainable veterinary public health systems and cost-effective control of selected zoonotic diseases. Analysis of zoonoses status globally, and formulation of regional strategies. Risk assessment procedures for traditional and new public health challenges, and guidelines for risk management and precautionary measures. Validated quality control mechanisms for use in livestock production, processing and distribution.

213A7 - EMPRES - Livestock

206. Objective: to promote the effective containment and control of the major epidemic and newly-emerging livestock diseases by their progressive elimination on a regional and global basis through international cooperation involving early warning, rapid reaction, and enabling research and coordination.

207. Biennial Outputs: procedures for regional and global verification of rinderpest freedom under Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP). Increased number of functional early warning systems for the major epidemic diseases of livestock at national, regional and global levels. Contingency planning and strategic analysis of animal disease emergencies to support early reaction systems in a number of countries. Application of biotechnology to diagnosis, strategic epidemiological analysis and vaccine development for major epidemic diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), rinderpest (RP), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and African swine fever (ASF). Coordinated strategies for regional control of priority epidemic diseases, especially in Near East and South Asia.

213A8 - Technologies and Systems for Efficient Natural Resource Use in Livestock Production

208. Objective: to facilitate widespread adoption of decision-support frameworks for meeting the challenges of the "Livestock Revolution", and novel technical and procedural approaches to livestock intensification and product processing.

209. Biennial Outputs: policy and regulatory frameworks, and related technologies, to address environmental issues in intensive integrated farming systems and in the area-wide integration of crop and livestock production. Technical publication on sustainable intensive livestock production. Strategies for the delivery of integrated veterinary and livestock services. Technology transfer and validation for the sustainable control of parasitic diseases; and networking for broad expert input and wide dissemination. Studies, publications and technical consultations on food and feed safety, livestock feeds, livestock products, intensive pasture-based systems, and managing genetic resources in intensive livestock systems.

213A9 - Environmental Management of Insect Borne Diseases

210. Objective: to support insect-borne diseases control through monitoring and clarifying changes in disease transmission levels, and the development of strategies for intervention and concerted regional action.

211. Biennial Outputs: monitoring of changes in disease transmission levels; strategies for intervention and support to concerted regional action. Identification, design, and formulation of disease intervention and management programmes, scientific guidance through the Panel of Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT) Advisory Group coordinators and a conducive policy environment in the PAAT Committee.

213B1 - Livestock Sector Analysis and Strategy Development

212. Objective: to facilitate economically - and ecologically - efficient and safe livestock farming, while enhancing social objectives (poverty alleviation).

213. Biennial Outputs: assessment of the impact of the Livestock Revolution, focusing on external costs and benefits, complemented by country case studies and methodology development at different scales. Strategies that address the Livestock Revolution - public goods interface, covering general principles and specific regional, national and sub-national approaches.

213P1 - Global Livestock Information System and Knowledge Framework

214. Objective: to collate, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information and develop tools for livestock policy analysis and methodologies for policy formulation.

215. Biennial Outputs: website supporting the Global Livestock Knowledge Framework, coupled with electronic conferences, publications, a peer-reviewed scientific journal (AGRIPPA), technical papers and manuals. Global Livestock Information System (GLIS) providing baseline information on livestock sector resources, animal production, environment, animal and public health, as well as socio-economic aspects of livestock production.

213S1 - Advice to Member Countries and Support to the Field Programme

216. This entity includes considerable technical support to the SPFS and to emergency and relief operation projects.

Programme 2.1.4: Agricultural Support Systems

214A1 - Enhancing Small Farmer Livelihoods

217. Objective: to improve small farmers' livelihoods, and in particular their incomes and competitiveness through guidance on supportive policies, opportunities for increasing farm income, improvement of farmers' management skills, and strengthening farmer advisory and support services.

218. Biennial Outputs: publications on key aspects to small farmers' livelihoods, e.g. diversification, export-oriented production following trade liberalisation, opportunities for increasing farm income, and farmers' management skills. Support to apiculture and sericulture. Guides on farm economics for field agents, enterprise investment plans, mobilisation of funds and farmer utilisation of market information services. Technical advice to countries.

214A2 - Meeting Urban Food Needs

219. Objective: to provide the basis for government and municipal authorities to identify changes needed in order to improve the efficiency of food supply and distribution operations to, and within, urban areas.

220. Biennial Outputs: information and training material, and workshops on the roles of city and local authorities to improve food supply and distribution systems, including rural/urban-marketing linkages. Advice on small-scale agro-industries suitable for meeting urban food needs and more generally on sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture. Publications and handbook on farm management and investment for peri-urban farming.

214A3 - Sustainable Commercial Provision of Input Supply, Mechanisation, Investment Support and Marketing Services

221. Objective: to support improved performance of the agricultural sector, through increased efficiency of input-output systems and the private and government services pertaining thereto.

222. Biennial Outputs: strategies and training for enhanced input supply and financing modalities for small farmers. Economic and policy studies on farmer access to services and impacts on farm resource use and productivity. Guidelines on marketing strategy formulation in response to growing globalisation of trade, and for increased private sector participation. Publications and training of MicroBanker users and support personnel.

214A4 - Agribusiness Development

223. Objective: to enhance the integration of production, processing, packaging, transport and storage of marketable commodities and value-added products from the farm through to the consumer, and to support entrepreneurs in rural and peri-urban agribusiness development.

224. Biennial Outputs: training packages for entrepreneurs in agribusiness and guidelines on loan finance. Support to awareness campaigns on food safety issues in food processing and marketing. Appropriate technologies for agro-industries and post-harvest management, and expert consultations. Assessment of training requirements for contract negotiation and compliance, and post-production constraints analysis in selected countries.

214A5 - Agricultural Services - Data and Information Systems

225. Objective: to collect and disseminate up-to-date information as relates to key agricultural services.

226. Biennial Outputs: databases and information systems covering: farm power and mechanisation; the AgriBank-Stat database; the Information Network on Post-Harvest Operations (INPhO), including website; Farm and Farming Systems Database (INFARM) website for farm-related data, information and technical support. Publication on farm data systems design, technical support and training for farm data collection and integrated economic and environmental accounting.

214S1 - Field Programme Support and Advisory Services to Countries

227. Besides covering the broad range of disciplines under Programme 2.1.4, this entity is to provide substantial inputs to emergency projects.

Programme 2.1.5: Agricultural Applications of
Isotopes and Biotechnology

215A1 - Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production Systems through Technologies and Capacity Building

228. Objective: to develop and disseminate improved techniques, products and practices for constraint and risk assessment, prevention and mitigation to be used by National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and plant protection authorities and transferred to extension services, NGOs and farmers.

229. Biennial Outputs: methodologies and manuals for estimating contribution of organic matter sources to plant nutrition; measuring soil water; implementing low-cost tissue culture technology; molecular characterisation of genes controlling traits for seed crop improvement; and calibration of insect sterilisation and quality controlling mass reared fruit flies. Databases on officially released crop mutant varieties and radiation doses for insect sterilisation. Thematic and regional networks. Information, training, analytical and laboratory proficiency testing services, and genetic sexing of insect strains provided to Members; technical services for the International Rice Commission.

215A2 - Sustainable Intensification of Livestock Production Systems through Technologies and Capacity Building for Mitigation of Constraints and Risks

230. Objective: to develop and disseminate improved techniques and practices for constraint and risk assessment and management, to be used by NARS and transferred to livestock production and veterinary authorities, extension services, NGOs and livestock owners.

231. Biennial Outputs: methodologies and manuals on improving utilisation of tanniferous tree foliage as livestock feed; molecular-based diagnosis of EMPRES livestock diseases; upgrading and automating tsetse mass rearing for area-wide Sterile Insect Technique (SIT); cost effective application of Newcastle disease vaccination in village poultry. Regional and inter-regional networks. Feasibility studies and projects on early warning and surveillance of TADs and controlling vector-borne diseases, including training courses and workshops. Insect strains provided to mass rearing facilities, proficiency testing services to veterinary laboratories.

215P1 - Capacity Building and Risk Analysis Methodologies for Compliance with Food Safety Standards and Pesticide Control and Strengthened Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures through Irradiation of Food and Agricultural Commodities

232. Objectives: to foster strengthened capacities, within national food and pesticides control laboratories, to implement risk analysis procedures for food contaminants and residues and compliance with pesticide standards. To promote safe use of food irradiation, thereby facilitating trade.

233. Biennial Outputs: guidelines on quality assurance parameters for method validation and determining uncertainty of analytical results for compliance with Codex maximum residue limits (MRLs) and simple methods for determining pesticide residues and mycotoxins. Projects and training courses on food irradiation, analytical methods, and laboratory accreditation for residues and contaminants covered by Codex, as well as technical advice to Codex and other bodies. Information dissemination, FAO/IAEA Training and Reference Centre on Food and Pesticide Control, the International Food Contaminant and Residue Information System (INFOCRIS). Databases on approval of irradiated food and irradiation facilities.

Programme 2.1.9: Programme Management

234. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (AGD), including the Programme Coordination Unit (AGDP), the offices of the division directors and those parts of Regional Office direction attributable to this major programme.

Major Programme 2.2: Food and Agriculture Policy and Development

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

235. This major programme is implemented mainly by the Economic and Social Department (ES) and associated regional teams, whereas the World Agricultural Information Centre (WAICENT) and other activities of the Library and Documentation Systems Division (GIL) are included under Programme 2.2.2. The main substantive thrusts were enunciated in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007, and are briefly recalled below.

236. Building on its strong information dissemination and analytical dimensions, the major programme is to address in the first instance the insufficient speed of progress in combating hunger and malnutrition. Secondly, it plays a significant role in ensuring greater participation of developing countries in the formulation of a rules-based food and agricultural trading system. Thirdly, it contributes to an extremely important goal of the whole membership, i.e. ensuring improved quality and safety of foods.

237. This context translates into key priorities, as listed below:

1. Raising awareness of the benefits of combating hunger, reducing malnutrition and identifying priority action areas, particularly through the preparation of the mid-term review of the World Food Summit (WFS) Plan of Action in 2006, including data collection, studies and reports.
2. Identification and targeting of the food insecure, through further development of the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) in collaboration with FIVIMS partners, and by assisting countries in regularly and systematically identifying, enumerating and locating the food insecure and vulnerable people. This is to be supplemented by global and regional reporting through the State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI), now a fully-fledged addition to FAO's major assessment reports.
3. Sustainable improvement in nutritional well-being through a combination of: community-based actions to address local causes of malnutrition; improvement of nutritional benefits arising from national and sectoral policies and programmes; support to civil society institutions to help create the conditions for poor householders to acquire sufficient food and utilise it most effectively; and enhanced education and public information for dietary improvement and nutritional well-being.
4. Promoting food safety and consumer protection, thereby addressing concerns about food-borne diseases in many areas of the world. This includes improvement and international harmonisation of risk analysis; objective information about incidents and food safety hazards; support to food safety at national and international levels in close cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly through Codex; and regional and global food safety conferences. Particular emphasis is given to: risk analysis of foods derived from biotechnologies, microbiological contaminants, and the establishment of a Food Safety Rapid Alert and Crisis Management System.
5. Facilitating the integration of developing countries in international markets, especially to assist countries seeking to enhance their agricultural performance through improved domestic and trade policies, and to enable them to participate as well-informed and equal partners in multilateral trade negotiations (MTN) on agriculture.
6. Improving preparedness and response to food emergencies, through further refinement of the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), and by incorporating nutrition considerations and assessments.
7. Improving quality and coverage of statistical data as well as access to FAO's data by electronic means. Part of this effort is to assist countries in enhancing the compilation of agricultural statistics, within the integrated framework for the preparation of agricultural sector accounts and food and agricultural indicators.
8. Pursuing the expansion of WAICENT as a truly integrated corporate information dissemination instrument at the service of Members, harnessing the potential of fast-changing information and communication technologies (ICTs). The programme extends to strengthening national capacities for management and dissemination of FAO information, with the proactive participation of Member Nations deciding policies on information management issues. The new WAICENT Outreach initiative will seek to expand knowledge exchange and information systems available to stakeholders associated with agricultural development and food security, and to mobilise national resources.

Changes in Resources

238. In response to the above priorities, as already reflected in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007, a number of changes to the underlying programme structure are introduced:

1. under Programme 2.2.1, the principal innovations being two new entities envisaged to be of a continuing nature, i.e. 221P6, Food Safety Assessment and Rapid Alert System, and 221P7, Public Information about Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety, whereas the remainder of entities under the same programme are also rearranged, e.g. through separate identification of work related to emergencies (221A6);
2. under Programme 2.2.2, a special effort is to be made for the Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality (new technical project 222A4), while the hitherto large entities dealing with WAICENT and the Virtual Library are broken down into more manageable and homogeneous components, including Facilitation of WAICENT Outreach (222P8); and
3. some realignment between Programmes 2.2.3 and 2.2.4 through limited resource transfers is also made, while a new technical project will cover the mandated Mid-term Review in 2006 of Progress Towards the WFS Target (224A3)

239. As regards resources, the overall net increase provided for the major programme would translate into differentiated net increases to the four constituent programmes, with Programme 2.2.2 evidencing the highest change (over 8 percent) and Programme 2.2.3 a close second (over 7 percent), while more limited increments are possible for the other two substantive programmes. This would in particular greatly facilitate the more-balanced use of FAO languages (specifically contemplated in several areas, including Codex, Global Perspective Studies, market intelligence and reports, trade information, where budgetary constraints had hitherto inhibited sufficient progress to be made). It may also be noted that the special entity introduced in the 2000-2001 biennium, 222P5, Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage, is proposed to be maintained in the 2002-2003 biennium, with a slight increase.

240. Besides the above-mentioned substantial improvements in language coverage, examples of activities which would particularly benefit from the impact of increased resource levels may be given as follows:

1. under Programme 2.2.1, training and direct assistance to countries for addressing the nutrition aspects of emergencies and biotechnology-related food safety assessments (221P5);
2. under Programme 2.2.2, start-up support to national FIVIMS in a larger number of countries (222A1), the new entity for statistical quality improvement (222A4), a more effective consultative mechanism (Consultation on Agricultural Information Management - COAIM) under 222S2 and strengthening of WAICENT tools under other GIL entities;
3. under Programme 2.2.3, an increased number of crop and food supply assessment missions for the GIEWS, an area chronically affected by resource constraints; and
4. under Programme 2.2.4, a more ample range of analytical studies and data collection efforts under the new entity 224A3 for the Mid-term Review in 2006 of Progress Towards the WFS Target; and
5. the technical service agreements entities which, unless specified below, are devoted to direct advisory services to Members and support to the Field Programme, are also to be reinforced.

241. The filling of critical gaps in expertise would also be possible, e.g. new posts in the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) dealing with food safety (microbiology), nutrition in emergencies and impact of biotechnology; two new Statistician posts in the regions; and a new post of Trade Economist (multilateral trade negotiations - MTN) in the Commodities and Trade Division (ESC). GIL would also be able to strengthen its professional capacity with several junior posts of Technical Information Specialists.

Programme 2.2.1: Nutrition

221A1 - Human Nutrition Requirements

242. Objective: to update estimates of human nutrition requirements for use by Members in national policy formulation.

243. Biennial Outputs: technical papers on determination and calculation of energy, protein and vitamin A requirements; expert consultations and publications on nutrition requirements; manuals and software incorporating new data on nutrition requirements.

221A2 - Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development

244. Objective: to reduce nutritional deficiencies and improve nutritional well being through assistance in the implementation of national plans of action.

245. Biennial Outputs: regional and sub-regional workshops to foster effective use of guidelines for: implementation of national plans of action for nutrition; targeting of nutrition interventions; policy advocacy for nutrition improvement; and introduction of nutrition considerations into agricultural research. Guidelines on government support for community-driven nutrition improvement, and on strategic alliances in the alleviation of urban malnutrition.

221A4 - Strengthening Community Action to Improve Household Food Security and Reduce Malnutrition

246. Objective: to foster inter-sectoral, community-based programmes and improve household food security and nutrition in both urban and rural areas.

247. Biennial Outputs: guidelines and direct assistance to countries for effective participatory community-based programmes for year-round access to, and consumption of nutritionally-adequate diets; training and workshops to strengthen national and local capacity for household food security and nutrition programmes; exchange of information and lessons learned on household food security and community nutrition among nutrition practitioners, including through an interactive website.

221A5 - Food and Nutrition Education, Communication and Training

248. Objective: to strengthen capacities of national and local institutions for effective nutrition education and communication programmes and activities.

249. Biennial Outputs: methodologies, training materials, direct assistance, workshops and training for promoting nutrition education in schools, and nutrition education and communication for the public.

221A6 - Nutrition and Household Food Security in Emergencies

250. Objective: to assist all stakeholders concerned in taking due account of nutrition aspects in emergency preparedness, response and rehabilitation.

251. Biennial Outputs: guidelines and training materials for incorporating household food security and nutrition considerations into emergency preparedness, response and rehabilitation. Local capacity building to deal with nutrition concerns in natural disasters and other emergencies. Direct support to countries to address nutrition in emergency situations and strengthen mechanisms for coordinated interventions.

221P1 - Food Composition (INFOODS)

252. Objective: to assist countries in updating, disseminating and using food composition data.

253. Biennial Outputs: food composition data for global assessments of the nutritional status of individuals and populations; standards for, and harmonisation of, food composition data; regional and national food composition tables and databases; international food composition training workshops conducted with regional training institutions; Journal of Food Composition and Analysis; interactive database for the promotion of local foods; organisation of an international Food Data Conference.

221P2 - Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius)

254. Objective: to develop, disseminate and maintain international science-based food standards and related instruments, to protect consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade, for use by governments and as the reference in bilateral, regional or international agreements.

255. Biennial Outputs: food standards, guidelines and other recommendations for consumer protection and trade, with due attention to increased use of FAO languages. International policies and principles for food standardisation to include risk assessment policies for food safety.

221P5 - Food Quality Control and Consumer Protection

256. Objective: to promote the establishment and operation of national regulatory frameworks compatible with international requirements, and food control systems and programmes at national and local levels that ensure food quality and safety throughout the food chain.

257. Biennial Outputs: harmonisation of national food control regulations with Codex. Support to national policies, instruments and mechanisms for the use and application of international food standards, national food quality and safety assurance systems and programmes. Risk communication and consumer awareness through workshops, publications and regional/ global food safety conferences. Scientific evaluation and nutritional and safety assessment of foods derived from biotechnology; related advice to Codex and countries.

221P6 - Food Safety Assessment and Rapid Alert System

258. Objective: to provide scientific assessments of food safety and related guidance to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to countries, and global access to information and data on food quality and safety.

259. Biennial Outputs: scientific safety evaluations of food additives, contaminants, and processes such as biotechnology. Risk assessment through dietary intake studies. Database on food additives and contaminants. Food Safety Rapid Alert and Crisis Management System.

221P7 - Public Information about Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

260. Objective: to provide to a variety of users current, relevant and readable technical information on nutrition and food control, in both print and electronic form.

261. Biennial Outputs: the Journal of Food, Nutrition and Agriculture; FAO website on food and nutrition.

Programme 2.2.2: Food and Agricultural Information

222A1 - Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS)

262. Objective: to provide accurate and timely information (including mapping) on the incidence, nature and causes of food insecurity and vulnerability, as a key input to the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes to achieve the goals of the WFS and other international conferences.

263. Biennial Outputs: support to the Inter-agency Working Group (IAWG); support to FIVIMS start-up in a large number of countries including dissemination of tool kits and support to networks; collaborative use of sub-national information and mapping in the context of national assessments and planning exercises; food insecurity and vulnerability assessment methodologies, indicators and related monitoring reports; nutritional anthropometry and dietary assessments; estimates of prevalence of under-nourishment, food consumption and income statistics stemming from household surveys.

222A2 - FAO/World Bank/USDA Initiative for Agricultural Statistics in Africa

264. Objectives: to generate timely food and agricultural data for improved sectoral planning and monitoring, and to evaluate performance of the agricultural sector in Africa.

265. Biennial Outputs: country data needs assessments; framework documents for the development of integrated statistical systems; data harmonisation, storage and dissemination, project documents for external assistance.

222A3 - FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System

266. Objective: to integrate the different FAO thematic and statistical databases on country-based information to provide complete country profiles for assessment of the state of food and agriculture.

267. Biennial Outputs: phase one development of an integrated and streamlined environment for the gathering and storage of country-based technical information, and country profiles and mapping data, together with relevant storage and retrieval tools.

222A4 - Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality

268. Objectives: to improve data series and to document data quality aspects.

269. Biennial Outputs: improved statistics on land use, irrigated areas, fertilisers, farm machinery and pesticides, and data on agricultural production and trade. Enhanced methodology for filling data gaps for non-responding countries. More complete documentation of national methods to estimate official production, trade and input statistics, and of FAO estimation procedures for non-reporting countries. Methodological material on quality of data from national agricultural censuses and surveys.

222A5 - World Agriculture Information Resource System (WAIR)

270. Objective: to establish networks of authoritative information providers in agriculture, agriculture-related sectors, and agricultural research and development, thereby ensuring multiplier effects to FAO's own dissemination efforts.

271. Biennial Outputs: phase one development of the WAICENT "Resource Finder", a global search engine for organising and linking information pertinent to FAO's work on food security and sustainable agricultural development. Applications to allow organised data exchange between networks of institutions.

222P1 - Agricultural Resources and Income Statistics

272. Objective: to provide consistent and up-to-date data series and indicators on land use, agricultural inputs, prices, income, economic accounts and related environmental concerns.

273. Biennial Outputs: databases on agricultural resources and inputs, including two volumes of the Fertiliser Yearbook; updated databases on agricultural income, investment and price statistics; regular Summary of World Food and Agricultural Statistics and related country profiles; demographic estimates and projections in collaboration with partner agencies and gender profiles of agricultural households.

222P2 - Agricultural Production and Trade Statistics and Food Balance Sheets

274. Objective: to provide consistent and up-to-date statistics on agricultural production, trade and Food Balance Sheets (FBS) for the purpose of assessing, analysing and monitoring the food and agricultural situation.

275. Biennial Outputs: agricultural production statistics, including two volumes of the Production Yearbook and two volumes of the Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics. Updated data on international trade statistics, including two volumes of the Trade Yearbook. Supply/Utilization Accounts (SUA) and FBS and related methodological documents. Guidelines on the compilation of food and agricultural data and preparation of related sectoral/environmental indicators and accounts. Training on compilation of food and agricultural statistics.

222P3 - Agricultural Statistics Development

276. Objective: to enhance national capacities to produce harmonised and improved basic data, including appropriate gender disaggregation, and to facilitate countries' access to these data.

277. Biennial Outputs: studies on agricultural censuses and probability sampling, including gender issues; review of the World Census of Agriculture publications; database on census methodologies and key results; training materials on applied survey methods, support to national systems and related guidelines for integrated systems; bulletin board on data collection dissemination and quality.

222P5 - Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage

278. Objective: to improve language balance, including by meeting important gaps in coverage and support of Internet links, CD-ROMs and publications in non-FAO languages.

279. Biennial Outputs: tools and system enhancements to improve language balance in FAO's Internet site in particular, and to facilitate production of multiple language versions of publications and CD-ROMs; filling of gaps in language coverage (publications, audio-visual products, meeting documents and interpretation services) during implementation of FAO programmes; publications in Chinese (in cooperation with national authorities) and in local (non-FAO) languages.

222P6 - WAICENT Corporate Information Management and Dissemination Systems

280. Objective: to maintain and enhance FAO information systems and systems tools, and support their continued expansion to put FAO's store of knowledge at the service of agricultural development and food security.

281. Biennial Outputs: enhanced indexing and search capabilities of the FAO website; corporate databases including FAO Information Database (FAOINFO) and maintenance of the Organization's Intranet; multilingual environments to facilitate access to WAICENT information through Internet and CD-ROM technologies; tools, guidelines and procedures to adjust and expand published content dynamically using current and new Internet technologies; support to thematic information systems.

222P7 - Document Repository and Electronic Publishing Systems, and Integrated Documentation Activities

282. Objective: to enable Members and the community of users at large to benefit from an organised and up-to-date repository of full-text, multilingual documents for consultation and printing on demand.

283. Biennial Outputs: integrated publishing workflow management system to efficiently generate information in various media (documents, Internet, CD-ROM); FAO document repository, providing full-text versions of FAO documents and publications; upgraded documentation standards utilising the international Multilingual Thesaurus of Agricultural Terminology (AGROVOC) and maintenance of FAO catalogues to strengthen information retrieval tools; support to decentralised networks of national documentation centres: the International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) and the Current Agricultural Research Information System (CARIS).

222P8 - Facilitation of WAICENT Outreach

284. Objective: to make WAICENT's store of knowledge and related information systems widely available to Member Nations and to other stakeholders including institutions associated with agricultural development and food security.

285. Biennial Outputs: adaptation of WAICENT applications and tools with content and databases, and use of information exchange systems: Virtual Extension Research Communication Networks (VERCON), and Farm Information Networks (FARMNet), to meet the specific information management requirements of national agricultural systems; conceptual frameworks, methodologies and training material (Information Management Resource Kit), including distance-learning materials and impact assessment indicators.

222P9 - Virtual Library Information Services

286. Objective: to facilitate access to the wealth of FAO's information on agriculture and agriculture-related fields, through substantive multi-media collection (Virtual Library).

287. Biennial Outputs: enhancement of FAO's multiple media resource and document master collections (including completion of digitisation of priority works and heritage library catalogues of special collections); full-text document delivery services and customised, targeted information research services; support to a global integrated library network (World-wide Network of Agricultural Libraries - AGLINET) and library exchange agreements for shared access to agricultural documentation and specialised information resources.

222S1 - Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

288. This entity covers provision of direct advisory services to Members' statistical meetings, support to the field programme and to cross-sectoral activities in the Organization.

222S2 - Assistance to Countries in Capacity Building for Agriculture and Food Information through WAICENT

289. This entity covers primarily technical assistance to national information centres (AGRIS/CARIS among others), regional cooperation through decentralized Information Management Specialist posts, and the biennial Consultation on Agricultural Information Management (COAIM), a major intergovernmental forum which reports to FAO's Governing Bodies.

Programme 2.2.3: Food and Agricultural Monitoring,
Assessments and Outlooks

223A1 - Global Perspective Studies

290. Objective: to provide a well-informed long-term perspective on world food, nutrition and agriculture, including issues of technology and natural resource use in agriculture.

291. Biennial Outputs: full report of the Study: "Agriculture: Towards 2015/30" and a shorter and more popular version. New analytical framework for making projections and undertaking scenario analysis. Contributions to non-FAO long-term assessments, as required.

223P2 - The State of Food and Agriculture

292. Objective: to inform Members, and the international community at large, in a timely and regular fashion on major events, trends and issues in food, agriculture and food security.

293. Biennial Outputs: State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) annual publications in hard copy and on the Internet, addressing global and regional food and agricultural situations; thematic reports on important and timely issues; a CD-ROM containing statistical data for users' convenience; technical documentation for meetings of FAO Governing Bodies.

223P3 - Market Assessment for Basic Food Commodities and Impact on Global Food Security

294. Objective: to provide up-to-date data, information and assessments related to global market developments of basic food commodities.

295. Biennial Outputs: commodity market reports in both printed and electronic form; medium-term projections for basic foodstuffs; integrated databases for oilseeds, oils and meals, meat and dairy products, roots, tubers and pulses; analytical models to conduct short-term market analysis of basic foodstuffs. Two editions of the Food Policies Review and three/four Intergovernmental Groups (IGGs) inter-sessional market reports. Market-based global food security indicators for the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and FIVIMS. Monitoring of food import bills of food-deficit developing countries and food aid flows and servicing of the Consultative Sub-committee on Surplus Disposal (CSSD). Training on market monitoring of key food commodities.

223P4 - Projections and Global Commodity Analyses

296. Objective: to enable national institutions and industries, and other international organizations, to recognise and take into account the forces and underlying trends which agricultural policies have failed to solve or may have aggravated.

297. Biennial Outputs: analytical studies on overall commodity markets and trade, including the Commodity Market Review, in both printed and electronic form; medium-term agricultural commodity projections to 2010; software and manuals on the revised FAO World Food Model; training on projection methodology.

223P5 - Market Assessments and Food Security Reports for Tropical, Horticultural and Raw Material Commodities

298. Objective: to enable national governments, development agencies, the commercial sector and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to have access to, and take into account, a wide range of information regarding market developments and prospects for tropical, horticultural and raw material products.

299. Biennial Outputs: Commodity market intelligence systems for tropical, horticultural and raw materials commodities, including electronic collection and dissemination; commodity market reports and short- and medium-term forecasts; an electronic price monitor for tropical, horticultural and raw material commodities; key indicators for analysing the impact of export price changes on food security and system to monitor the impact of export earnings on food security.

223P6 - Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture

300. Objectives: to monitor the crop and food supply/demand situation throughout the world and to provide special alerts and early warnings on impending food emergencies to governments and the international community at large, so as to facilitate timely action to prevent loss of life or minimise human suffering.

301. Biennial Outputs: regular reports - Food Outlook, Food Crops and Shortages, Food Supply Situation and Crop Prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa, Sahel Weather and Crop Situation Reports; special alerts and country-level assessments of food crop and food supply and demand situations; analysis of emergency food aid requests from governments; improved electronic dissemination of GIEWS reports and extension of data coverage in GIEWS to sub-national level. Development and maintenance of integrated food supply and demand databases.

Programme 2.2.4: Agriculture, Food Security and Trade Policy

224A1 - World Food Summit Monitoring and Follow-up

302. Objective: to monitor WFS follow-up and foster information exchange and dialogue on policy issues identified as requiring attention by the international community.

303. Biennial Outputs: monitoring reports and facilitation of information exchange (including information for media and general public, and consultations); annual thematic issues documents for the CFS; analytical documents on WFS follow-up issues; involvement of civil society, including via an interactive website.

224A2 - Commodity and Trade Policy Support to Developing Countries for Trade Negotiations

304. Objectives: to provide trade policy advice to countries to strengthen their capacity to participate effectively in trade negotiations, and to assist them in making full use of the trading opportunities arising from the implementation of trade agreements.

305. Biennial Outputs: analytical reports and information regarding the implications of alternative proposals emerging from the agenda of trade negotiations; meetings of experts on trade and food security issues under negotiation; direct support to countries to enhance their capacity to participate in ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations on agricultural commodities and trade, and in the implementation of trade agreements, including the adjustment/adaptation of domestic policies, and for the full utilisation of new trading opportunities arising from these agreements.

224A3 - Mid-term Review in 2006 of Progress Towards the WFS Target

306. Objective: to conduct an in-depth review of progress towards the WFS target of halving the number of under-nourished by no later than 2015, to be examined at a special forum in 2006.

307. Biennial Outputs: working papers on the impacts of economic and social policies on access to food and resources by vulnerable and disadvantaged groups; assessments of food consumption and, at national level, of agricultural assets critical for food production and access to food; data on changes in food consumption distribution and assessment of their impact on estimates of the number of under-nourished; assessment of country situations and nutrition prospects; anthropometric studies for monitoring under-nutrition and complementing global assessment of hunger.

224P1 - Agricultural Adjustment and Policy Reforms

308. Objective: to assist Members in developing, implementing and adjusting policies in response to rapidly changing conditions, as they affect the food and agricultural sectors.

309. Biennial Outputs: analytical reports of policy trends and agriculture performance in selected countries (also contributing to SOFA); review of critical agricultural policy issues and proposals for an agenda of priority research needs; evaluation of the impact of structural adjustment and policy reform on the agriculture and food sectors.

224P2 - Contribution of Agriculture to Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Food Security

310. Objective: to enhance Members' capacity to maximise the contribution of agriculture to rural development, food security and poverty alleviation (especially rural poverty).

311. Biennial Outputs: technical publications with comparative analysis of the economic and other roles of agriculture for equitable development (contributing to SOFA); analysis of the contribution of agriculture and farm-off-farm linkages to poverty alleviation (including interactions between agricultural growth and poverty alleviation, and risk coping strategies in developing countries); analytical studies on food security policies, practices and options; reports on the economic costs of hunger.

224P3 - Economics of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

312. Objective: to enhance Members' capacity to analyse environmental and resource problems and the environment-related benefits and costs of policies.

313. Biennial Outputs: methods for economic valuation of environmental costs and benefits and analysis of specific issues (degradation, conservation and rehabilitation of natural and biological resources).

224P4 - International Action on Commodity and Trade Issues

314. Objective: to assist countries in maximising benefits from trade in agricultural commodities and processed and semi-processed food products.

315. Biennial Outputs: analyses of emerging global and regional trade issues and policies, as they relate to agricultural trade and individual commodities. Advice on strategies to maximise benefits derived from trade; methodologies to assess the impact of changes in commodity and trade policies on international trade flows and food security; consultative mechanisms (including intergovernmental consultations, multi-commodity and multi-disciplinary outlook conferences, networking and multi-media communications, and inter-disciplinary linkages with government, non-governmental, academic and private sector stakeholders) for promoting international understanding and consensus regarding evolving agricultural trade commodity issues; databases and methodologies to assess factors such as the impact of new technologies on trade, eco-labelling and fair trade, organic agricultural development and competitiveness of agricultural commodities.

224P5 - Measures to Enhance Commodity and Trade Development

316. Objectives: to enhance countries' capacity to develop the commodity sector through improvements in productivity and increased competitiveness, and assist them in taking full advantage of trading opportunities in the globalised world economy.

317. Biennial Outputs: assistance to commodity and trade development strategies, including the building of institutional capacity and actions to attract investments to the commodity trade sectors, taking full advantage of trading opportunities at the sub-regional, inter-regional and multilateral levels; related analytical tools; formulation of commodity development project proposals and mobilisation of resources from the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC).

224S1 - Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

318. This entity also includes servicing of the Committee on World Food Security.

Programme 2.2.9: Programme Management

319. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (ESD), including the Programme Coordination Unit (ESDP), the offices of division directors and those parts of the Regional Office direction attributable to the programmes on food and agriculture policy and development.

Major Programme 2.3: Fisheries

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

320. The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the recently developed International Plans of Action, together with other international fisheries instruments, all underpin national efforts for the long-term development of fisheries and aquaculture. Major Programme 2.3 facilitates the implementation of these instruments and provides assistance in the management, development, marketing and use of fisheries and aquaculture resources. Most of the activities are multi-disciplinary, often involving cross-sectoral cooperation with other programmes of the Organization as well as with partners (national and international institutions, centres of excellence and the private sector). In addition, where relevant, activities specifically address the enhancement of the women's contribution to the development of the fisheries sector and to safety issues in the industry.

321. The need for more responsible and environment-friendly fishery management requires that attention be given to the conservation of all exploited ecosystems, with a focus on those particularly at risk, the rehabilitation of those already damaged, and the promotion of environmentally-sound and sustainable technologies. Principles and guidelines for ecosystem-based fishery management will be further developed and promoted with policy-makers.

322. Many programme entities contribute to sustainable increases in the food supply including from aquaculture and inland fisheries, and through the development of small-scale fisheries and fishing communities. The major programme will also promote the use of under-utilised resources and lower-value species; assist with national strategies for quality and safety in the handling and marketing of fish products; and support technologies to reduce discards and any negative impact on the environment from fishing activity. Greater preparedness for emergencies is proposed to combat food insecurity by lessening their adverse impact on fisheries and aquaculture.

323. Monitoring and coordination of the implementation of the Code of Conduct is key to good fisheries management. Policy-related work includes assistance in the coordination and implementation of effective fisheries management; the strengthening of regional fishery bodies; and policies to enhance both safe consumption and fair trade, including training to enhance Members' capacity to comply with the provisions of World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.

324. Finally, the major programme aims to improve the quality of, and access to information of strategic value for fisheries managers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), funding institutions and the public at large. It is intended to complete the development of a Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS) in 2003, which will be a fully integrated, policy-oriented information resource base. Other fisheries information products (such as the CD-ROM Atlas on World Fisheries) will aid in the development of global, regional and national statistical and information systems and facilitate monitoring and analysis of data and trends.

Changes in Resources

325. Programme 2.3.1, Fisheries Information, is to benefit most in relative terms (more than 8 percent) from the net increase in resources for the entire major programme.

326. Proposed staffing changes include two new posts of statisticians (one for the Asia and the Pacific region) and one of technical editor, as well as several other new professional posts to fill critical gaps, e.g. dealing with aquaculture economics, fisheries resources, marine ecosystem management, and aquaculture development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most of these posts are at junior grade levels.

327. Besides the reinforcement of the two programme entities related to fisheries information (i.e. 231A1 and 231A2), this strengthening of expertise translates into higher resources for a number of other entities (e.g. 232A3 and 232A5, reinforced by the new post of marine ecosystem management, and 232S1 dealing inter alia with advisory services on aquaculture).

328. Worthy of note are also the incremental activities on food safety and processing technology under technical project 233A4 and active support to the implementation of the FAO-sponsored International Plans of Action (IPOAs) under continuing programme activity 234P3. Greater attention to enhanced language coverage in both meetings and publications activities is also facilitated by the net increases in resources under the pertinent entities.

Programme 2.3.1: Fisheries Information

231A1 - Development of the Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS)

329. Objective: to improve access to, and disseminate, good quality and timely information for governments, policy-makers and other users in support of responsible fisheries, aquaculture and trade.

330. Biennial Outputs: prototype procedures for remote data entry by regional or national partners and partnership agreements for the supply and exchange of information. CD-ROMs, Yearbooks and other publications tailored to target audiences. Geographical Information System (GIS)-related database created and integrated in FIGIS.

231P1 - Provision of Fisheries Information and Statistics

331. Objective: to promote access, by Members and users at large, to verified global fishery, aquaculture, aquatic sciences and fisheries information and statistics, and related standards.

332. Biennial Outputs: norms, standards, guidelines, and updated arrangements and procedures for collection, storage, dissemination and sharing of fisheries information and statistics. Facilitation of the adoption of standards and procedures by countries and regional bodies. A variety of statistical and other information disseminated electronically and in other forms, i.e. publications (Statistical Yearbooks and Bulletins), Corporate Database for Substantive Statistical Data (FAOSTAT) and Computer System for Global Fish Catches (FISHSTAT) downloadable from the web. Graphical and tabular summaries for fishery status and trends reporting within FIGIS and in numerous publications.

231S1 - Advice and Technical Support to Member Nations and Regional Fisheries Bodies

333. This entity is to cover direct advice, methodological guidelines, operational tools and training to improve national fisheries information and statistics collection, processing, dissemination and exchange.

Programme 2.3.2: Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture

232A1 - Promotion of Responsible Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

334. Objective: to promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources and reduce environmental and biodiversity impacts from inland fisheries and aquaculture.

335. Biennial Outputs: methodologies and studies on conservation, management and rehabilitation of inland habitats, genetic conservation, sustainable use of land, water, feed and seed resources in aquaculture. Technical guidelines on implementation of the Code of Conduct as regards inland fisheries and aquaculture and development of regional and international norms.

232A2 - Increased Contribution of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries to Food Security

336. Objective: to assist countries in increasing aquatic production in inland and coastal areas through sustainable development of aquaculture and inland fisheries for national food security and rural development.

337. Biennial Outputs: studies and methodologies on the efficient use of resources and health management, farming systems and practices for the integration of aquaculture with agriculture and rural development, particularly for integrated small-scale rural aquaculture development. Promotion of regional and inter-regional cooperation in rural aquaculture development. Strategies for inland fisheries and aquaculture in semi-arid and arid countries.

232A3 - Marine Fisheries Resources Identification and Biodata

338. Objective: to provide information on species, stock data of potentially or actually exploited marine species and fisheries, and advice on composition of stock and catches.

339. Biennial Outputs: electronic archive of drawings, photographs, distribution maps and data on species for FAO website and other systems. Guides and catalogues of marine resources. Improvement of related software.

232A4 - Monitoring and Reporting on Global Marine Resources and Relevant Environmental and Ecological Changes

340. Objective: to satisfy stakeholders' need for summaries of trends and events in world fishery resources, including concerns about impact of human activities on marine production, habitats and ecosystems.

341. Biennial Outputs: studies of the effects of ecosystem variation on fisheries and fishery resources and the ecosystem effects on fishing. Publications, including on the knowledge of indigenous men and women about the ecosystem. Reviews of World Marine Fishery Resources.

232A5 - Assessment and Management of Fisheries Resources

342. Objective: to promote appropriate policies and technologies to encourage effective resource management, and enhance national capacity.

343. Biennial Outputs: methodologies and publications on appropriate, cost-effective resource management and risk assessment and management practices including determination of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and effort capacity. Assessment of the use of methodologies and related constraints at national level. International consultation on risk assessment and management in fisheries.

232P1 - Global Monitoring and Strategic Analysis of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

344. Objective: to assist governments, development agencies, the private sector and the NGO community in decision-making for sustainable development of inland fisheries and aquaculture.

345. Biennial Outputs: regional studies on priority areas for research; methodologies to promote the participatory approach in extension and training materials and recognition and support of women's role in the sub-sector. Publications including: feed and nutrient atlas, a review of aquaculture information systems, reviews of the state of aquaculture and inland fisheries, culture-based fisheries and stock enhancement, evaluation of genetic resource use, and the FAO Aquaculture Newsletter. Guidelines on sustainability criteria and indicators.

232S1 - Advice on Marine Resources and Environmental Issues and Aquaculture Development

346. Direct advice and training is to be provided on management of marine fishery resources and on inland fisheries and aquaculture, including gender-specific technical advice. Technical backstopping to field projects.

Programme 2.3.3: Fisheries Exploitation and Utilisation

233A1 - Reduction of Discards and Environmental Impact from Fisheries

347. Objective: to monitor the extent of the bycatch problem both qualitatively and quantitatively, and promote new bycatch reduction technologies.

348. Biennial Outputs: documents on bycatch reduction options and manuals for the design, installation and use of bycatch reduction devices. Methodologies and guidelines for handling, processing and marketing of bycatch. Management methods for reducing discards and the environmental impacts from fisheries and methodology to estimate discard rates. Technical assistance to national Plans of Action for the avoidance of incidental catch of seabirds and follow-up of their implementation.

233A2 - Sustainable Development of Small-scale Fisheries

349. Objectives: to enhance the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and employment, promote appropriate technologies, commercial practices, related methods and approaches, and to foster capacity building and institutional strengthening.

350. Biennial Outputs: training on the development and management of artisanal ports and co-management of fish resources; manuals on participatory extension methods. Technical guidance on diversification of effort from coastal to offshore waters, including measures to store and preserve catch. Publications on improved safety at sea; guidelines leading to national safety programmes and for vessel surveyors. Analyses, guidelines and participatory training materials for the integration of small-scale fisheries in coastal area management, fish utilisation, coastal zone monitoring and control systems, access to credit and mutual insurance. Case studies on market opportunities and plans for disaster preparedness.

233A3 - Increased Production from Under-utilised Aquatic Resources and Low-value Catches

351. Objective: to provide advice on policy changes to increase production from under-utilised resources and to enhance value and utilisation for human consumption of low-value catches.

352. Biennial Outputs: updated policy options and legal instruments to promote the contribution of under-utilised species to food security. Appropriate technologies to sustainably intensify production. Technical papers on onboard handling and vessel design for harvesting selected species and catches.

233A4 - Consumption, Safety and Quality of Fish Products

353. Objective: to improve the safety and quality of fish products traded internationally and domestically.

354. Biennial Outputs: international guidelines on hazards and risk assessment. Training programmes on fish safety and quality. Implementation of quality and safety assurance systems, integrating Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), risk analysis and cost effectiveness. Internet-based data on hazards, risks and standards. International meeting on hazards of tropical and sub-tropical fish products. Products containing fish oil identified and produced to pilot plant scale, field trials and storage and acceptability testing.

233A5 - Promotion of International Fish Trade

355. Objectives: to facilitate the positions of governments in international trade negotiations through better access to timely marketing information, analysis and forecasts; and to promote developing countries' participation in international trade, including use and active membership of the Fish Marketing Information Services (INFONetwork).

356. Biennial Outputs: global network for information and technical advice related to international fish trade. Conferences on specific commodity and trade issues. Technical support to regional fish marketing information organizations. Secretariat services for the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-committee on Fish Trade.

233S1 - Support and Advice in Fishing Technology, Fish Utilisation and Trade

357. This entity covers in particular technical support services to field operations, including advice on gear and related technological developments, training materials for extension services and advice to regional agricultural credit associations on provision of credit for small and medium-scale fisheries enterprises.

Programme 2.3.4: Fisheries Policy

234A1 - Coordination and Monitoring of the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

358. Objective: to assist with national policies and strategies in fisheries and aquaculture, and improved management plans leading to the restoration of depleted fish stocks.

359. Biennial Outputs: technical guidelines and other materials for the effective implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and the related International Plans of Action (IPOAs). Assessment of likely future patterns of global fisheries management and aquaculture development. Policy-related data on the role of men and women in the fisheries sector. Reports on the implementation of the Code.

234A4 - Promotion of Coastal Fisheries Management

360. Objective: to assist stakeholders (fishers and fishworkers, fisher communities, small-scale and semi-industrial fishing sector, governmental agencies) to achieve a sustainable balance in the harvest of coastal fish resources.

361. Biennial Outputs: analysis of existing coastal management approaches and preparation of collaborative development plans to improve management. Methodologies to estimate the state of resources and the viability and sustainability of policies, strategies and other management tools. Technical advice on the planning and pilot-basis implementation of participatory fisheries management schemes.

234A5 - Promotion of Appropriate National/Regional Policies for Sustainable Aquaculture Development

362. Objective: to promote increased consumption of, and trade in, cultured fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

363. Biennial Outputs: regional-level analysis of the economic viability and sustainability of commercial culture of major species. Analysis of international markets of farmed fish. Identification of constraints to development of sustainable commercial aquaculture and discussion of policy options to counter them. National seminars on legal frameworks and economic instruments to develop the aquaculture sector.

234P2 - Global Analysis of Economic and Social Trends in Fisheries and Aquaculture

364. Objective: to provide a factual information base on fisheries and aquaculture for decision-making by governments and other interested parties on matters of both national and international concern.

365. Biennial Outputs: FAO flagship publication, the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA). Maintenance of the web-based Fisheries Atlas and production of CD-ROM version. Technical analysis Projection of world fish consumption by country in 2015/30. Publications addressing the prospects for growth in capture fisheries and in aquaculture and projected trends in international fish trade.

234P3 - Economic and Social Analysis of Fishery and Aquaculture Policy and Management

366. Objective: to assist with more effective policies and management in both fisheries and aquaculture.

367. Biennial Outputs: international guidelines on the use of economic incentives for fisheries management, and on good management practices in shrimp aquaculture. Workshops, case studies and projects in support of the implementation of International Plans of Action (IPOA) on fishing capacity, shark fisheries and other issues.

234S1 - Promotion and Strengthening of Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements and Field Programme Support

368. This entity ensures organisation and secretariat services of the Committee on Fisheries, FAO regional fisheries bodies and arrangements, and supports field activities related to fisheries policy and planning.

Programme 2.3.9: Programme Management

369. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (FID), including the Programme Coordination Unit (FIDP), the offices of the division directors and those parts of Regional Office direction attributable to fisheries activities.

Major Programme 2.4: Forestry

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

370. The rapid evolution of the forestry sector presents challenges to countries to achieve the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources, while ensuring that the social and economic needs of society are met. Most constraints and opportunities for forests and forestry are cross sectoral and inter-disciplinary in nature, requiring FAO to effectively address issues which cut across traditional sectoral boundaries.

371. International concern about forest loss and degradation is translating into political commitment to sustainable forest management. The international dialogue on forestry issues will have even greater prominence, with the establishment in 2001 of the UN Forum on Forests and the supporting Collaborative Partnership on Forests. FAO will play a leading role in providing information and knowledge to support discussions and action. Recognising that individual countries hold the key to successful action, FAO will aim to strengthen national capacities to address forest sector and inter-sectoral issues through participatory processes. A National Forest Programme Implementation Facility will be established in collaboration with key partners to support these efforts. In relation to threats to fragile ecosystems, including mountain forests, upland watersheds, deserts, and mangroves, particular emphasis during the biennium will be given to FAO's lead role in the International Year of Mountains (IYM) 2002, and to ensuring effective follow-up to new initiatives which are likely to arise during IYM 2002.

372. FAO will continue to provide comprehensive and timely information about all aspects of forests - environmental, social and economic. The 15^th meeting of the Committee on Forestry called upon FAO to provide leadership in knowledge management, to expand the scope and reliability of global forest resource assessments, and to ensure that information about forests is updated on a continuous basis with heightened dialogue with, and participation of, national institutions; and made available to Members, in all official languages, through improved use of information technology.

373. In relation to likely climate change, natural and planted forests provide an important source of stability through carbon sequestration. At the same time, forests are increasingly threatened by changes in climate, fire and pest outbreaks, and other catastrophic events. FAO will play a key role in synthesising research and disseminating timely and accurate information about forests and climate change, and facilitate a coordinated response by countries to fight forest fires.

374. Finally, critical support will be provided for the formulation and promotion of policies for sound development of forest-products' industries and trade, bearing in mind the social and economic needs of society.

Changes in Resources

375. Since the Programme of Work and Budget 2000-2001, and as reflected in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007, further efforts were made to consolidate the underlying programme structure, leading to the proposed 14 technical projects (TPs) and continuing programme activities (CPs), instead of the previous 21. Primarily for this reason, substantial changes in resources appear against many entity headings in the more detailed programme-level tables below.

376. The overall net increase in resources under this major programme should permit to strengthen expertise in a number of important disciplines or areas (e.g. new posts on forest fires, environmentally-sound logging operations, financing of forestry programmes, sustainable mountain development, wildlife post in the Africa region). Many of the new professional posts are at junior grade levels, also contributing to a more balanced staffing structure. One of the new posts will focus on the National Forest Programme Implementation Facility mentioned above (entity 243A3).

377. It may be noted that a substantial shift of resources was made from Programme 2.4.3, Forestry Policy and Planning, to Programme 2.4.2, Forest Products, which, therefore, appears to benefit from the largest net increase in resources. This was done to ensure an improved balance of resource allocation among forestry programmes. The consequent apparent reduction under Programme 2.4.3 masks a significant increase in funding for work on strengthening institutional capacities and the formulation of national forest programmes. The technical services agreements (TSs) which, unless stated otherwise in the narratives below, are to provide support to countries and advisory services, either directly or via the field programme, are also generally strengthened. Substantial additional resources would be directed to increase the number of FAO languages in which key technical publications are issued and in the Forestry section of FAO Internet website.

Programme 2.4.1: Forest Resources

241A1 - Sustainable Management of Natural Forests and Woodlands

378. Objective: to support and increase national capacities to conserve, enhance and sustainably utilise natural forests and woodlands for the provision of a wide variety of goods and services.

379. Biennial Outputs: agreement achieved among the various regional and international processes on criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, including key indicators for monitoring progress toward sustainable forest management at the international level and the incorporation of these indicators in national forest monitoring systems. Two new sub-regional initiatives (Central Africa and Asia) aimed at increasing the area of forests under sustainable management through the promotion of model and demonstration forests and the sharing of experiences and information through networking. Methodologies and best practices in silviculture and multi-purpose management of natural forests, including fragile ecosystems such as mountain forests and mangroves, including dissemination of guidelines, handbooks and case studies. New initiatives to address the special problems of countries with arid lands threatened by desertification. Global Information System on Forest Genetic Resources (REFORGEN). Provision of an effective international coordination mechanism for forest fires, and promotion of integrated pest management practices to protect forests.

241A4 -Environmental Conservation in Forests and Fragile Ecosystems

380. Objectives: to identify constraints and facilitate the uptake of improved methods of biodiversity conservation and of sustainable use of forest and wildland animal resources; to enhance the protective role and functions of trees in fragile ecosystems and marginal lands and prevent erosion and control desertification; and to increase awareness of, and action on, sustainable mountain development issues, including integrated watershed management, especially in view of the observance of the International Year of Mountains 2002.

381. Biennial Outputs: technologies and technical information on critical issues in fragile ecosystems, with special reference to mountains and drylands, including capacity building in countries and networking. Guide on best practices in watershed management. Pilot watershed management activities to generate knowledge and information on, inter alia, highland-lowland linkages. Guidelines for effective conservation and sustainable management of biological diversity, including wildlife, in forests and wildlands, together with inventories of research needs, training and support to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Capacity building through training materials and workshops at regional and country level. Support and reporting to Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), Rio+10 and other Agenda 21 related processes, according to FAO's Agenda 21 task manager responsibilities. Preparation for and follow-up to, the International Year of Mountains 2002 (IYM 2002).

241A5 - Forest Plantations and Trees Outside Forests

382. Objective: to support national efforts in planning, management and monitoring of forest plantations and trees outside forests (including agroforestry systems, and urban and peri-urban environments), through the adoption of best practices in tree improvement, nursery, silviculture and protection intervention.

383. Biennial Outputs: collection of reliable information and databases on forest plantations and planted trees. Information on appropriate tree planting materials and tree improvement technologies (including seed networks, studies and guidelines and direct advice to national institutions) as well as on management of forest plantations and planted tree resources. Land use planning and ecosystem conservation strategies through the promotion of agroforestry and other tree-based systems outside forests. Policies and programmes for the increased integration of trees in urban and peri-urban environments.

241P1 - Assessment and Monitoring of Forests and Woodland Resources

384. Objectives: to systematically analyse, document and report on the status and trends in forest resources; to develop and update methods for forest inventory, analysis, assessment and monitoring based on common and agreed concepts and terms; and to strengthen national capabilities to assess forest resources and the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation.

385. Biennial Outputs: methodologies for assessing changes in all types of forests and woodlands. Global forest survey to include additional environmental, social and economic parameters. Internet access to FAO statistics and maps on forest resources. Capacity building support to selected countries on forest resources monitoring.

Programme 2.4.2: Forest Products

242A1 - Environmental Aspects of Forests

386. Objective: to contribute to the analysis of the environmental dimension of forests and forest practices, including their impact on climate.

387. Biennial Outputs: support to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). Workshops for capacity building on land use, land use change and forestry in relation to the Kyoto Protocol. Various publications, e.g. forests' contributions to climate change mitigation, trade and marketing linkages to environmental issues, alternative systems for certification of sustainable forest management. Related meetings and/or seminars.

242P1 - Forest Products Information

388. Objective: to improve availability of, and access to, information on forestry sector utilisation, production, trade and marketing.

389. Biennial Outputs: database of the global study on harvesting intensities and impact assessments. Two issues each of the Forest Products Yearbook, Non-Wood News, and the Recovered Paper Survey. Publications on: forest harvesting and engineering intensities and related environmental impacts and unified measurements for rattan inventory, processing and trade and manual on non-wood forest products (NWFP) socio-economic assessment. Electronic network on forest energy and updated wood energy information. Four issues of Forest Energy Forum.

242P2 - Appropriate Utilisation of Forest Products

390. Objective: to develop and promote methodologies for best practices in forest utilisation covering harvesting, engineering, processing, trade, marketing of NWFP and bioenergy.

391. Biennial Outputs: promotion of codes of forest harvesting and engineering practices in Africa and Latin America (including publications and workshops). Four studies on environmentally sound harvesting and engineering in selected tropical countries. Review on logging impacts in moist tropical forests. Two issues of the Forest Harvesting Bulletin. Two worskshops on forest products marketing, and forest products trade issues. Publication on marketing of selected forest products. International expert consultation on NWFP. Publication on wood energy planning tools.

Programme 2.4.3: Forestry Policy and Planning

243A1 - Forestry Sector Outlook Studies

392. Objective: to facilitate long-term strategic forestry planning efforts, stimulate appropriate forestry policy reform in countries and to orient donor assistance and investment programmes to the needs of the forestry sector.

393. Biennial Outputs: State of the World's Forests (SOFO) 2003, to be also posted on the Internet. Forest Sector Outlook Study for Africa (including five sub-regional reports). Initiation of the Forestry Sector Outlook Studies for Latin America and the Caribbean and for Europe (completion planned in the 2004-05 biennium). Analytical activities related to long-term projections, descriptive scenarios and quantitative implications of the long-term future of forests in society.

243A3 - Strengthening of Institutional Capacities at Country Level

394. Objective: to enhance institutional arrangements and legal instruments for the forestry sector at national level.

395. Biennial Outputs: in collaboration with key partners, establishment of a National Forest Programme Implementation Facility to provide effective coordination of international support to national capacities to achieve sustainable forest management. Analyses of institutional issues and dissemination of results to FAO Members and partners. Support to regional and international cooperation and networking for enhanced capacity in forestry research, education and extension. Transfer of technology for sustainable forest management.

243P1 - Formulation of National Forest Programmes

396. Objective: to ensure that national forestry programmes maximise the contributions of the forestry sector to socio-economic development.

397. Biennial Outputs: analysis of cross-sectoral linkages, influences and inter-relations between forestry policies and other national policies. Facilitation of national processes in countries to address inter-sectoral issues, also through workshops. Studies on key forestry policy issues, including: privatisation, decentralisation of policy decisions, impact on forestry of globalisation and integration processes, public policies affecting forest fires, and financing. Updated guidelines and status information on the implementation of national forest programmes.

243P2 - Analysis of Economic Factors in Forestry

398. Objective: to help countries define forest policies and implementation procedures that are fiscally and economically sustainable, thereby supporting long-term strategic forestry planning efforts and appropriate forestry policy reform.

399. Biennial Outputs: analysis of fiscal measures and tenure arrangements that serve sustainable forest management, including cross-country comparison. Technical guidelines on best practice in forest products pricing, forest tax regimes and incentives for forestry, and on how to incorporate forest externalities into forestry policies and national forest programmes, and generate investment in sustainable forest management. Manuals and training workshops on the use of economic tools in forest management decisions.

243P4 - Participatory Forestry

400. Objective: to support both sustainable forest management and sustainable livelihoods, especially of the most vulnerable, through an enabling environment for participatory management of trees, forests, and other natural resources and increased capacity by the different actors, especially those most dependent on forest resources.

401. Biennial Outputs: assessment and design of supportive policy frameworks, processes, and institutions; and materials on participatory approaches and programmes (including linkage between conservation and development, and pathways for effective decentralisation). Methodologies and guidelines for improving natural resource management and ensuring sustainable livelihoods. Tools for improving gender participation in forest decision-making processes.

Programme 2.4.4: Forest Programmes Coordination and Information

244A1 - Follow up to UNCED and International Forestry Processes

402. Objective: to provide coordinated inputs and support to various international processes and initiatives affecting the forestry sector.

403. Biennial Outputs: analytical studies of key issues and other background documents in support of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). Technical and policy-related studies in the context of the Implementation Plan of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), with lead responsibility for agreed subject matter areas, and participation in sessions of the CPF. Coordinated forestry inputs to international conventions, including those on biodiversity, desertification, and climate change. Periodic reports to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) on the implementation of two Chapters of Agenda 21 for which FAO is the task manager - Chapter 11 (Combating Deforestation) and Chapter 13 (Sustainable Mountain Development).

244P1 - Forestry Information

404. Objective: to disseminate forestry-related data, information and knowledge by various means to a wide range of users.

405. Biennial Outputs: Forestry Information System (FORIS), with Internet-based tools to facilitate distributed "ownership" and remote entry of data by countries and partner organizations. Forestry section of FAO's website, including balanced use of FAO languages. Advisory services to, and institution-building in, countries for the management of forest-related data, information and knowledge, particularly through technical backstopping of the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO)/European Commission project "Mobilizing scientific information on forests to promote their sustainable management in ACP countries". Eight issues of Unasylva. Targeted information materials.

244S1 - Support to Statutory Bodies and Liaison with the Regional Offices

406. The following sessions of FAO Statutory Bodies in forestry are to be organised: Sixteenth session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO); six Regional Forestry Commissions; the Advisory Committee on Paper and Wood Products; the International Poplar Commission; Silva Mediterranea; the Working Group of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission; and the Panel of Experts on Forest Genetic Resources.

407. In addition, this entity will coordinate the implementation of FAO forestry programmes across Headquarters and Regional and Sub-regional Offices, support FAO staff seconded to other organizations and, in collaboration with the Government of Canada, provide secretariat services to the XII World Forestry Congress to be held in Québec City, 21-28 September 2003.

Programme 2.4.9: Programme Management

408. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (FOD), including the Programme Coordination Unit (FODP), the offices of division directors and those parts of the Regional Office direction attributable to forestry activities.

Major Programme 2.5: Contributions to Sustainable Development
and Special Programme Thrusts

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

409. This major programme has an important catalytic role in generating cross-sectoral cooperation, and involves intensive partnerships with other organizations. It spearheads follow-up to the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and associated conventions on natural resource management and conservation, as well as to recommendations by other major international summits and conferences, including the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Social Summit and the International Conference on Population and Development. It is instrumental in promoting gender mainstreaming throughout FAO's substantive work, and ensures policy inputs to the work of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Programme 2.5.6 covers the Regular Programme's provision for the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in Low-income, Food-deficit Countries (LIFDCs), also ensuring house-wide coordinated inputs to its implementation.

410. The following broad priorities have influenced the design of constituent programme entities:

1. Ensuring equitable and sustainable livelihoods and food security in rural areas, including access to land resources, effective functioning of community and civil society organizations (CSOs), the use of participatory approaches and methods, and the integration of gender and population issues into policies, plans and programmes;
2. Promoting knowledge enhancement and technology transfer, in particular the strengthening of national capacities at all levels to carry out agricultural research, to undertake gender and age-sensitive analyses, and apply appropriate technologies;
3. Putting to full use the potential of environmental observing systems, information technology, databases and analyses for food security and sustainable development, including through the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing, the development of indicators of sustainability and gender, population and land tenure data;
4. Ensuring FAO's coordinated response in relation to key issues of international interest, including follow-up to UN conventions, conferences and international agreements, work of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), the implementation of UNCED Agenda 21 and the Conventions on Biological Diversity, Climate Change and Desertification;
5. Supporting the continued expansion of the SPFS, with its integrative and multi-disciplinary approach to the solution of acute food production and supply problems in LIFDCs.

Changes in Resources

411. A new technical project 251A5, Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) Secretariat, has been introduced. It was already reflected in the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 with a more restricted title (NARS Secretariat of the GFAR), and is now expanded in line with new policy decisions to enlarge the NARS Secretariat to GFAR Secretariat. Most of the work of the latter is carried out through Trust Fund arrangements, hence the small amount shown in the pertinent table below.

412. In terms of major resource movements, the net reduction under Programme 2.5.2 is a consequence of the severe reduction of income from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In fact, it masks the additional resources provided for gender-related activities in the SDW division and a new post to deal with the adverse effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on food security and rural development, especially in Africa. The other two Programmes (2.5.1 and 2.5.3) implemented by the Sustainable Development Department (SD) evidence on the other hand net increases, including the impact of new posts on disability matters - another significant social problem affecting rural development in many areas - and on land tenure and rural institutions in the Near East region. Worthy of note is the very significant boost to entity 251P3, given the importance of enhancing capacities to make full use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in support of agricultural and rural development.

413. Finally, the provision for Programme 2.5.6 is also proposed to be increased, primarily for SPFS implementation at country-level, whereas it is also necessary to strengthen the coordination component to cope with the expansion of the programme.

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management
and Technology Transfer

251A1 - Integrated Use of Information for Sustainable Development

414. Objective: to provide countries with data, information, and decision-support tools to build national capacity for the integrated analysis of environmental, social and economic dimension of development and sustainability issues at global, regional and national levels.

415. Biennial Outputs: information systems, guidelines, training materials and protocols for access to, and use of, satellite and ground measurement information; natural disaster impact assessment and crop monitoring; databases including Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) and synthesised website information for implementation of environmental conventions; reports on ecosystem management, organic agriculture, terrestrial carbon observations and agricultural effects on climate and rural energy; methods, tools, indicators, and training to incorporate gender, demographic, land tenure and other social dimensions into data collection and analysis.

251A2 - Youth in Agriculture, Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods

416. Objective: to strengthen and expand rural youth development programmes, projects and activities which enable young people to become active partners in food security, find meaningful employment and pursue healthy lifestyles.

417. Biennial Outputs: strategies targeting rural youth, including networking, strategic planning, advocacy and national policy measures; support to design and delivery of educational programmes; training and information dissemination, focusing on youth professionals and community adult volunteer leaders.

251A3 - Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

418. Objectives: to assist countries in ensuring adequate and regionally harmonised biosafety regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and provide them with a knowledge-base for decision-making on the applications of biotechnology products.

419. Biennial Outputs: assistance in the development of national regulatory frameworks for biosafety of GMOs, including harmonisation at regional level; capacity building of biosafety regulatory bodies in selected countries; electronic forum on various aspects of biotechnologies and their applications; biotechnology research networks on selected issues.

251A4 - Integrated Development and Dissemination of Agricultural Knowledge and Technology for Food Security and Sustainable Development

420. Objective: to assist national research, extension, education and communication institutions to adjust their management, organisation and operations in light of latest social, economic and technological trends.

421. Biennial Outputs: guidelines, tools, methodologies, case studies and databases on research, extension, education and communication; advice for national integrated systems of related institutions; studies and workshops on advanced agricultural knowledge generation and delivery to clients.

251A5 - Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) Secretariat

422. Objective: to provide institutional support to all GFAR stakeholders, in particular the developing country National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and their regional and sub-regional fora, in order for them to actively participate in an emerging Global Agricultural Research System.

423. Biennial Outputs: prioritised and endorsed regional and sub-regional research agendas through related fora; design and implementation of three global research programmes within the four research priority themes identified by the GFAR Steering Committee; operationalisation of the Regional Agricultural Information Systems (RAIS) as key building blocks of the Electronic Global Forum (EGFAR).

251A6 - Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated Environmental Planning and Management

424. Objectives: to ensure FAO's participation and coordinated inputs to inter-agency cooperation related to environmental agreements and conventions, and to facilitate uptake by Members and other stakeholders of technical frameworks, with improved understanding of environmental issues in relation to food and agriculture.

425. Biennial Outputs: support to in-house coordination mechanisms for implementation of conventions and UNCED follow-up; analytical reports and position papers in relation to the conventions and their advisory bodies; guidelines on ecosystem management approach at selected national and regional levels, including guidance on contribution of organic agriculture to conventions and Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD); support to the preparation of the global information system for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and guidelines and capacity building for overall desertification assessment; materials for national capacity building on implementation of Agenda 21.

251P1 - Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services

426. Objective: to provide services to users of geo-referenced data and environmental information, both within and outside FAO, for a wide variety of applications, together with strengthening capacity of Members in environmental information management and analysis.

427. Biennial Outputs: environmental databases for food security, early warning and migratory pest and animal disease forecasting; development of user-oriented and geo-referenced core data sets, including related cartographic and thematic map products and reports; norms and guidelines for spatial data handling and methodologies for integrated environmental analysis and natural resources management; pilot development and testing of geo-networking; dynamic reports on environmental hot and bright spots for monitoring food security.

251P3 - Information and Communication Technologies in Support of Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Systems

428. Objectives: to test and apply innovative and sustainable uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in support of research, extension and education (REE) systems, and to harness ICT for accelerated advancement of rural women and girls.

429. Biennial Outputs: adapted versions of the Virtual Extension Research Communication Networks (VERCON) prototype for selected countries; improved versions of multi-media farm information networks (FARM-Nets) in selected countries; functional networks linking rural radio, Internet and REE institutions in selected countries; ICT-based information and capacity building for rural women/girls in the Asia region; training materials, databases and software for ICT applications including for distance-learning; impact assessment studies of ICT applications in REE institutions.

251P4 - Secretariat of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the CGIAR

430. Objective: to enable TAC to fulfil its function of providing independent scientific advice to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system, in accordance with CGIAR reform and transformation processes.

431. Biennial Outputs (subject to results of ongoing reform discussions): recommendations on CGIAR priorities, strategies and resource allocation, including the annual review of the CGIAR centres' research agendas and financing plans; strategic studies in relation to important topics; five to six external programme and management reviews of individual CGIAR centres and one system-wide review; organisation of at least four meetings of TAC and its standing committees; dissemination of information and documentation.

251S1 - Technical Support Services to Member Nations, the Field Programme, and Other Related Activities

432. This entity covers direct advice to Members and technical backstopping in a wide range of technical disciplines, such as research, extension, education, communication for development, environment, natural geo-information infrastructure and services.

Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population

252A2 - Inter-relations between Gender, Population and Food Security

433. Objective: to improve national capacity, at all levels of government and civil society, to address the policy implications of the linkages between gender, population, HIV/AIDS, food security, environment and rural development.

434. Biennial Outputs: technical papers, training materials and guidelines on the interaction between population dynamics (including spatial distribution, changing age structure and gender aspects) and food security with special emphasis on the impact of HIV/AIDS; various technical documents within the framework of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) technical support services (TSS) system.

252A3 - Gender and Natural Resources Management

435. Objective: to promote enhanced understanding of the linkages between socio-economic and cultural factors such as gender, and the sustainable use of the environment and natural resources, and their application in policies and programmes at all levels.

436. Biennial Outputs: guidelines on gender-sensitive indicators, case studies on participatory/ qualitative methodologies, and advice on gender/people-sensitive management of natural resources across sectors; publications and media products on plant and animal genetic resources; research capacity building and network development.

252P1 - Promotion of Gender and Population in Policies, Legislation and Civil Institutions

437. Objective: to generate, through awareness-raising, training and improved databases, the capacity to use population and gender information for planning and decision-making, especially with a view to reduce or eliminate discrimination by gender, age and/or socio-cultural characteristics.

438. Biennial Outputs: reports to other fora on FAO's activities in support of the implementation of plans of action of major international conferences and relevant UN conventions; workshops on Socio-economic and Gender Analysis Programme (SEAGA) at regional and national levels; sector or sub-sector specific guidelines and methodologies; support to the implementation of the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action (2002-2007).

252S1 - Technical Support to Member Nations and the Field Programme

439. This entity covers direct advice to Members and support to gender mainstreaming in the field programme, including the SPFS.

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

253A1 - Access 21: Land Tenure Institution Building for Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development

440. Objective: to assist Members with effective policies, programmes, best practices and tools for land tenure to facilitate access to land, ensure user rights and improve land markets.

441. Biennial Outputs: guidelines for: a) government-assisted agrarian reform policies, ensuring an adequate gender perspective; b) land consolidation and development policies and procedures; c) education and training activities required for improved land tenure policies and land administration; and d) decentralisation of land administration capacities and responsibilities. Training materials for participatory diagnostics of common property resources in Lusophone countries as well as technical documents on key aspects of land tenure.

253A2 - Improved Rural Institutions and Services to Promote Sustainable Rural Livelihoods

442. Objective: to build the capacities of rural public institutions, private sector, and civil society organizations at all levels to design and implement poverty alleviation and food security programmes focused on small farmers, the rural poor and other marginalised groups.

443. Biennial Outputs: technical papers and guidelines on restructuring and decentralisation of agricultural services in major farming systems, with emphasis on privatisation; information and training materials on strengthening local stakeholders in institutional reform and decentralisation processes; capacity building of formal and informal farmers associations, cooperatives and inter-group structures; study on institutional changes in support of rural poverty alleviation.

253A4 - Participatory Approaches and Methods to Support Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security

444. Objective: to promote adoption and use in countries of improved participatory methods and tools in the formulation of policies and programmes for the equitable sharing of economic growth and development benefits.

445. Biennial Outputs: field-oriented materials on participatory approaches and methods to promote sustainable rural livelihoods; case-specific guidelines to strengthen local institutional capacities for disaster preparedness, prevention and long-term sustainable development in high-risk areas; indicators and methodologies to assess the degree and quality of participation in rural development and food security projects and programmes; electronic dissemination of best practices in participatory approaches, and global e-mail conference.

253P1 - Management and Support to the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security

446. Objectives: to catalyse governments' efforts to implementing the World Food Summit Plan of Action and to foster collaboration among participating organizations in support of national efforts.

447. Biennial Outputs: consolidation of existing, and establishment of new Thematic Groups in Eastern European and Central Asian countries; guidelines for mobilising financial support for coordinated action and projects; assessment of results and impact of Thematic Groups in the Horn of Africa region; dissemination and exchange of information and knowledge through the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) Network website; electronic conferences on food security and rural development issues and best practices.

253S1 - Technical Support Services on Participatory Approaches, Institutional Development and Access to Land Resources

448. This entity provides direct advice and technical support to Members and the FAO field programme, including the SPFS and emergency activities, with particular emphasis on: a) land tenure and land administration; b) institutional reforms and decentralisation; c) capacity building of stakeholders; and d) participatory approaches.

Programme 2.5.6: Food Production in Support of Food Security in LIFDCs

449. The SPFS will continue to support Low-income, Food-deficit Countries (LIFDCs) in their efforts to improve food security, both at household and national levels, through rapid increases in food production and productivity on an economically- and environmentally-sustainable basis, by reducing year-to year variability in agricultural production, and improving people's access to food. A particular feature of the programme is South-South Cooperation (SSC). Based on solidarity and collaboration among developing countries, this initiative enables advanced developing countries to send field technicians and experts to specific recipient countries for a period of two to three years during which they work directly with rural communities. By February 2001, 19 SSC agreements have been signed. Approximately US$ 1.5 million of the resources under the programme are reimbursed to FAO units providing technical support services for SPFS and a further US$ 300,000 is charged to the programme for administrative and operational support services.

256P1 - Coordination and Monitoring

450. Objective: to ensure coordinated support to the successful implementation of the SPFS.

451. Biennial Outputs: coordination of contributions from other units to the SPFS, identification of resource requirements, support to oversight structures; support to formulation missions and internal process of appraisal and approval of project documents and agreements; overall monitoring and reporting; dissemination of SPFS-related information, guidelines and technical documents.

256P2 - SPFS Formulation

452. Objective: to contribute to the orderly extension/expansion of the SPFS for the benefit of concerned countries.

453. Biennial Outputs: formulation of national SPFS programmes at Extension of Phase I and Phase II levels (in collaboration with TCI and other technical divisions); South-South Cooperation agreements within the framework of the SPFS.

256P3 - SPFS Implementation

454. Objective: to provide essential financial support to the SPFS, thereby catalysing donors' interest.

455. Biennial Outputs: national SPFS programmes and projects at Phase I, Extension of Phase I and Phase II levels; implementation of South-South Cooperation agreements.

Programme 2.5.9: Programme Management

456. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (SDD), including the Programme Coordination Unit (SDDP), the offices of division directors and those parts of Regional Office direction attributable to sustainable development programmes.