MAJOR PROGRAMME 2.5: CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIAL PROGRAMME THRUSTS

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer

251A1 - Integrated Use of Information for Sustainable Development

93. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. decision support tools for integrated management of data and information (e.g. dynamic atlas);
2. development of global databases on ecosystem monitoring;
3. studies and technical reports on the integrated use of data in international environmental conventions such as biodiversity, climate change and desertification;
4. formulation and implementation of bio-energy projects through the Clean Development Mechanism and the Global Environment Facility (GEF);
5. methods and procedures related to integrated use of data and information in areas such as terrestrial carbon observations and indicators of environmental change at the national, regional and global levels;
6. support to networks on rural bio-energy systems and environmental monitoring to facilitate data and information exchange;
7. impact assessment for development projects and natural disasters and climate monitoring data for use in connection with crop and climate change issues;
8. guidelines, training materials with appropriate methods and tools, and national and sub-regional workshops to incorporate gender and demographic factors into statistical data collection and analysis;
9. training and guidelines for collection and analysis of data on the human component in sustainable rural development strategies; and
10. development of land tenure databases and training materials for collection and analysis of land tenure data.

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

94. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. studies of country rural youth situation and needs;
2. support to programmes targeting rural youth and national seminars to promote rural youth programmes in the context of food security as well as related promotional materials;
3. rural youth database, publication of YouthWorks newsletter, rural youth Website; and
4. case studies on innovative rural youth programmes, and prototype sets of guides for leaders.

251A3 - Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

95. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. training materials on biosafety and national and regional courses to train personnel working in regulatory bodies in charge of risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs);
2. advice to countries in the establishment of national regulatory frameworks and harmonisation of biosafety regulations at the regional level;
3. electronic conferences on biotechnology policy issues; and
4. database of biotechnologies in use or in the pipeline in developing countries and studies on research gaps, needs and opportunities for developing countries in biotechnology.

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

96. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. action plans, training modules, seminars and workshops, and publications to facilitate the adoption and implementation of institutional reforms and ensure capacity building and sustained funding for research, extension, education and communication systems in countries; and
2. dissemination of information on best practices for these systems, coupled with synthesis of national studies on effective institutional linkages between education, research and extension.

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

97. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. institutional support to all GFAR stakeholders, in particular the developing country NARS⁵¹ and their regional and sub-regional fora, to enable their active participation in the context of an emerging Global Agricultural Research System;
2. development of regional and sub-regional research agenda through related fora; and
3. facilitation of global research partnership programmes and operationalisation of the Regional Agricultural Information Systems (RAIS) as building blocks of the Electronic Global Forum on Agricultural Research (EGFAR).

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

98. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. coordination of FAO inputs to international environmental convention mechanisms, including advisory bodies, conferences of the parties and secretariats, and WSSD follow-up;
2. technical reports and policy documents related to biodiversity, climate change, desertification, rural bio-energy, organic agriculture, adequacy of environmental observing systems, methodologies and guidelines on ecosystem management approaches to sustainable agriculture;
3. technical support to data and information systems related to major Conventions (e.g. CBD, CCD); and
4. technical guidelines and materials for enhanced participation of countries in international environmental agreements.

251P1 - Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services

99. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. electronic facilities for improved access to FAO spatially-referenced data and information (e.g. GeoNetwork);
2. environmental data acquisition and management in support of early warning systems;
3. cartographic and mapping services and tools to other technical units, including for land and water development, pest and disease forecasting, and environmental databases for food security (e.g. FIVIMS); and
4. norms and guidelines for management and access to spatial data (e.g. UNGIWG).

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

100. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. national studies on local appropriation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by community groups;
2. methodologies and guidelines for evaluating impact of ICTs on rural communities;
3. studies on ensuring equitable access to ICTs across all levels: institutions, services and community groups;
4. information systems to promote the dissemination of agricultural technologies in support of agricultural development and the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS);
5. further support to initiatives related to Virtual Extension Research and Communication Network (VERCON) and FarmNets among countries, including effective implementation at the national and regional level;
6. workshops, seminars and training for content development and building capacity in ICT applications for rural development;
7. strategies and plans for ICT and rural radio applications, stressing local content development (based on WAICENT) and knowledge sharing networks;
8. support to the application of ICTs for improving rural women's and girls' access to education and training, for information exchange and sharing, and to increase awareness of their rights;
9. enhancement of skills of rural women and girls in the sustainable use and management of natural resources by the identification of possible options of distance learning; and
10. training through ICTs to increase the equitable participation of women and girls in food security, and inter-sectorial collaboration to utilise distance-learning resources to expand rural women's and girls' options for sustainable livelihoods.

(SEE CORRIGENDUM)

251P4 - Secretariat of the Interim Science Council (ISC) of the CGIAR

101. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. assessment of evolving needs for scientific research tied to increased crop productivity and improved food security, identification of priorities and assistance to policy formulation;
2. assessment of quality on the basis of results of regular and periodic External Programme and Management Reviews of individual CGIAR⁵² Centres, as well as system-wide programmes; and
3. reports on strategic studies and external reviews and synthesis of meeting discussions, together with posting of ISC-related information on the ISC Website.

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

102. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. support to the formulation of national projects aimed at the establishment of biosafety regulations, including training of the personnel of the implementation bodies;
2. national and regional projects aimed at institutional strengthening and building human capacity in biosafety and biotechnology; and
3. ongoing assistance to countries in the areas of: agro-biodiversity, agro-meteorology, bio-energy, climate change impacts and adaptation, environmental data and information, decision-support tools, desertification, environmental planning and policy, global terrestrial observations, international environmental conventions, sustainable natural resources management, satellite remote sensing, spatial information systems, organic agriculture, sustainability indicators, and follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population

252A3 - Gender and Natural Resources Management

103. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. guidelines, methods and tools (such as gender-sensitive indicators), to monitor and evaluate mainstreaming of gender in natural resource management;
2. national and sub-regional workshops to enhance the understanding and application of the linkages between gender, the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources in programmes at all levels;
3. training on participatory methods in plant genetic resources management;
4. guidelines and case studies on the conservation of plant and animal genetic resources, as well as sustainable land use and water management; and
5. policy advice to countries to design and implement gender sensitive policies, and support to sub-regional networks of government staff, NGOs and the private sector concerned with gender issues in natural resource management.

252A4 - Analysis and Mitigation of the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Food Security and Rural Development

104. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. policy and decision support tools (methodologies, research papers, guidelines) on the linkages between HIV/AIDS, population dynamics, agriculture, land tenure, food security, and environment;
2. gender-responsive policies and decision support tools for HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation; and
3. support to networks on socio-cultural research on population issues and to national capacity building at all levels of government and civil society to address the implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and assist affected populations.

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

105. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. consolidated reports and other documentation to UN fora relating to FAO's activities in support of the implementation of the Platform for Action from the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), as well as inputs to various UN system-wide initiatives under the auspices of the UN Inter-agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE), and reporting on follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994), and the Second World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid, 2002);
2. training-of-trainers workshops at regional and national level, in the framework of the Socioeconomic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA) Programme, designed to build capacity for analysis of socio-economic, gender, and population issues;
3. integration of the SEAGA training materials into training programmes within FAO;
4. SEAGA-oriented sector or sub-sector specific technical guidelines, in coordination with other technical divisions and services;
5. coordination of the PAIA on gender mainstreaming within FAO, inter alia through support to implementation of the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action (2002-2007), including regular monitoring and analytical reporting functions; and
6. in collaboration with other units, study of the gender differentiated implications of globalisation in rural areas, in particular as regards opportunities and risks from greater liberalisation of agricultural trade.

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

106. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. direct advice to governments in support of gender mainstreaming and backstopping of the field programme, including the SPFS; and
2. dissemination to national goverments, International and national Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs/NGOs), research and training institutes, extension services and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), of information for participatory planning and decision-making responsive to demographic trends and socio-economic and gender issues.

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

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

107. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. assistance to countries on land tenure policies to enhance access to land and promotion of gender in such policies and reforms;
2. support to rational land allocations by consolidation of small and fragmented holdings, capacity building in land administration at the central and local levels, and to the implementation of rural property taxation systems for financing of decentralised rural services;
3. materials to strengthen local capacity for sustainable management of common property resources, and support to capacity building of local communities and governments in negotiation and resolution of land conflicts; and
4. assistance to countries for tenure security in peri-urban areas through land tenure regularisation, and to local communities to carry out efficient territorial planning of land and other natural resources.

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

108. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. assistance to countries in institutional strengthening, restructuring and decentralization to promote rural development and sustainable livelihoods;
2. support to improving the efficiency and responsiveness of decentralised institutions to the needs of different population groups, in particular the disadvantaged;
3. dissemination, through workshops and field projects, of methodologies and training materials strengthening small farmer groups and cooperatives;
4. promotion of more effective dialogue and consultation mechanisms at different levels to foster the participation of public, private and civil society actors to enhance food security and rural livelihoods; and
5. fostering more Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) through improved dialogue and strengthened local, national and multistakeholder institutions, in the context of UNCED and WSSD follow-up for SARD.

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

109. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. assistance to countries in promoting and assessing the effectiveness of participatory approaches and methods to support sustainable livelihoods and food security, especially for the most vulnerable;
2. materials to strengthen the capacity and participation of local institutions in managing risk in disaster prone areas;
3. knowledge sharing on participatory methods and tools through the FAO Participation Website; and
4. development, field testing and dissemination of methodologies for fostering sustainable livelihoods through cross-sectoral and inter-departmental teams and other forms of collaboration.

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

110. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. support to national Thematic Groups of the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security, to promote the exchange of experiences, the generation of ideas for new activities and strengthened collaborations between UN Organizations, governments, NGOs, CSOs and other networks;
2. regular meetings with IFAD⁵³ and WFP on the management of the Network and the implementation of joint activities; and
3. maintenance of Network Website and database on Thematic Groups' activities, inter-agency events and joint UN organizations/civil society initiatives.

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

111. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. support to countries for the identification and preparation of projects on: improved access to, and management of, land and natural resources, increased security of tenure to rights, property valuation and taxation, territorial planning, strengthening public institutions, small farmer and herders organizations and cooperatives, multi-stakeholder dialogue and alliances, participation of vulnerable groups including indigenous people, agricultural workers, pastoralists and the disabled; and
2. direct advisory services on these issues to governments upon request.

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

256P1 – Management and Coordination

112. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. coordination of contributions from other units to the SPFS through a Technical Support Group;
2. identification of resource requirements and support to resource mobilisation;
3. support to SPFS oversight structures and to the formulation missions and the internal process of appraisal and approval of project documents and agreements;
4. overall monitoring and reporting, including dissemination of SPFS-related information, new or improved guidelines and technical documents; and
5. support to capacity building for SPFS programme management at country level.

256P2 – SPFS Formulation

113. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. in collaboration with TCI⁵⁴ and other technical divisions, formulation of approximately seven programmes at Phase I, three at Phase I Extension and one at Phase II level; and
2. about eight South-South Cooperation (SSC) agreements formulated.

256P3 – SPFS Implementation

114. Planned Outputs for 2004-05

1. support to Phase I activities, focussing on four interrelated components, namely; water control, sustainable intensification of crop production systems, diversification of production systems into short cycle animals, artisanal fisheries, aquaculture and tree crops, and analysis of socio-economic constraints;
2. support to Phase I Extension to address new constraints that emerge as a consequence of scaling up activities that proved successful in the pilot phase; and
3. support to the large-scale replication of successful development approaches under Phase II.

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⁵¹ National Agricultural Research Systems

⁵² Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

⁵³ International Fund for Agricultural Development

⁵⁴ Investment Centre Division