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

(All amounts in US$ 000)

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

196. This major programme embodies in the first instance the Sustainable Development (SD) Department's mandate to provide leadership to, and coordinate FAO's work on sustainable development. It operates through extensive networking, both within FAO and with external partners. Within FAO, it serves as an integrative focal point for facilitating FAO-wide coordinated activities in important cross-sectoral areas such as: gender, population, environment, agricultural research and extension, land tenure and sustainable livelihoods. 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 coordination and its implementation.

197. By its very nature, this major programme contributes to all Strategic Objectives of the Organization, but in particular to the following:

A1: Sustainable rural livelihoods and more equitable access to resources;

C1: Policy options and institutional measures to improve efficiency and adaptability in production, processing and marketing systems, and meet the changing needs of producers and consumers;

C2: Adoption of appropriate technology to sustainably intensify production systems and to ensure sufficient supplies of food and agricultural, fisheries and forestry goods and services; and

E1: An integrated information resource base, with current, relevant and reliable statistics, information and knowledge made accessible to all FAO clients.

198. FAO's focal point responsibilities are exercised for follow-up to the major UN international conferences and summits held in the 1990s, e.g. the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), including interaction with the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the associated conventions (climate change, biodiversity and desertification), as well as the more recent World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The major programme also provides technical and logistical support to the Secretariat of the Science Council (ex-TAC) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and to the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). It is instrumental in promoting gender mainstreaming throughout the Organization's substantive work, through the FAO's Gender and Development Plan of Action. The major programme also spearheads efforts to analyse and address the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on agriculture, food security and rural development. Its mandate of fostering cross-sectoral linkages within FAO implies that the SD Department is involved in all 16 PAIAs²⁹. It holds the chair for three and ensures the secretariat for six of them.

199. The most important priorities include:

1. fostering sustainable livelihoods, more equitable access to natural resources and food security in rural areas;
2. strengthening of public and private sector and civil society rural institutions at national, regional and local levels, including institutional decentralization;
3. knowledge enhancement and technology transfer in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS);
4. the analysis and design of strategies for improving the efficient delivery of extension, education, rural youth and communication systems;
5. the use of environmental observing systems, information technology and database development, including decision-support tools;
6. addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its implications for food security;
7. 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

200. Increased resources under Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer will be used to support training activities in the use of Spatial Information Products and decision-support tools and for the creation of a new post at P3 level (Training Coordinator) in SDRE in order to respond to the coordination and reporting on FAO training responsibilities mandated across all Departments as an outcome of the review of training activities.

201. In terms of non-staff resources, an FAO contribution was introduced as support to the GFAR-Secretariat. Additional resources would be used to increase the number of activities and deliverables within existing major outputs in Programme Entities 251A2, 251A4,and 251P3. Furthermore, 251S1 (Technical Support to Member Nations and Field Programme) is strengthened to provide specialised support to Members.

202. Resources for Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population have declined because of the withdrawal of UNFPA funding for population-related issues. This has been partially offset by the addition of a new P5 post (Senior Officer on HIV/AIDS and Food Security) under joint funding from UNAIDS and FAO's regular programme. This has allowed the creation of a new programme entity 252A4, which will emphasize the focus of FAO on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on food security.

203. Additional resources for Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development would allow for the establishment of a new land tenure post in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific which will result in an ability to respond to requests for assistance from the region which are currently not being met because of staffing constraints.

204. Significant additional resources are provided for coordination and monitoring to respond to the expanding extra-budgetary support for SPFS under Programme 2.5.6.

205. The increase in programme management under 259S1 results from a technical adjustment in the distribution of the Management Support Service of AFD and the addition of a registry post in SDD.

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management
and Technology Transfer

(All amounts in US$ 000)

251A1 - Integrated Use of Information for Sustainable Development

Objective

Wide adoption by countries of more appropriate environmental, social and economic information tools, data and knowledge, to support sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) through improved national policy making and more active participation in international environmental agreements and global/regional observing systems.

Biennial Outputs

• Development of global databases on ecosystem monitoring
• Studies and technical reports on the integrated use of data in international environmental conventions such as biodiversity, climate change and desertification (Reduced in ZRG)
• Formulation and implementation of bio-energy projects through the Clean Development Mechanism and the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Support to networks on rural bio-energy systems and environmental monitoring to facilitate data and information exchange
• Guidelines and training materials with appropriate methods and tools, and national and sub-regional workshops and database re-tabulations to integrate gender and demographic factors into statistical data collection and analysis (Reduced in ZRG)
• Decision support tools for integrated management of data and information for food security and environmental conventions
• 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
• Impact assessment for development projects and natural disasters and climate monitoring data for use in connection with crop and climate change issues
• Methods and procedures for collection of land tenure database

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

Objective

Increased awareness of the importance of youth among national decision makers, relevant government ministry personnel and development strategists; assist with policies for better integration of youth in the rural development process; youth organizations have a clearer, shared vision and use it to improve education and training in food security and rural development.

Biennial Outputs

• Policy and advocacy materials for rural youth development programmes
• Rural youth database
• Rural youth website
• Training materials and guidelines on rural youth
• Technical reports on outstanding rural youth development programmes
• Guidelines and materials on innovative ways of delivering education and training to rural youth, including rural radio and ICTs
• Technology notes for rural youth workers and rural teachers on subjects related to bio-technology, nutrition, vegetable gardening

251A3 - Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

Objective

Biosafety regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are applied in national regulatory frameworks, possibly harmonised regionally, and biosafety regulatory bodies established, strengthened and trained in the risk assessment of transgenics; a wider and more accessible knowledge base on policy issues related to biotechnology; an effective inventory of biotechnology informs policy makers and is used to identify gaps, needs and opportunities for research.

Biennial Outputs

• Training materials on biosafety and training of national staff working in regulatory bodies in charge of risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Advice to countries on the establishment of national regulatory frameworks based on prior assessment of national needs and harmonisation of biosafety regulations at the regional level
• Electronic conferences on biotechnology policy issues
• Database of biotechnology in use or in the pipeline in developing countries (FAO BioDeC) and Studies on research gaps, needs and opportunities for developing countries in biotechnology
• Identification of appropriate initiatives to enhance applications of biotechnology in developing countries
• Revision and updating of the Glossary of Biotechnology for Food and Agriculture

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

Objective

More appropriate national policies and strategies aimed at strengthening and integrating agricultural research, extension, education and communication services through improved organisation, staff performance, communication, priority setting and sustainable funding.

Biennial Outputs

• Training materials and workshops on extension, education and communication for development
• Methodologies for the formulation of national plans and strategies related to extension, education and communication for development
• Normative publications in extension, education and communication for development
• Policy guidelines and materials on extension, education and communication for development.
• Assistance for improved access to information and knowledge about technologies for food security programmes
• Support to enhanced capacities for research planning and priority setting, technology assessment and transfer
• Improved databases and strengthened regional networks
• Action plans for the adoption of AKIS workshop recommendations
• Publication on "Bringing Closer Partners in AKIS"
• Methodologies for formulating research and extension plans
• Projects, seminars, workshops for strengthening AKIS (Reduced in ZRG)

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

Objective

Strengthening of GFAR, through provision of institutional support to all GFAR stakeholders, in particular the developing countries' National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and their regional and sub-regional fora, in order for them to actively participate in the emergence of a Global Agricultural Research System.

Biennial Outputs

• Institutional support to all GFAR stakeholders (NARS, regional/sub-regional fora, civil society organizations)
• Development of regional and sub-regional research agenda based on identified priorities, through related fora and facilitation of global research partnership programmes
• 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

Objective

Focusing on cross sectoral priority issues (e.g., biodiversity, climate change, desertification, organic farming, energy, ecosystem management), decision makers at national and sub-national levels will formulate or improve policies which relate to management of natural resources; national capacity for implementation of related programmes to be strengthened.

Biennial Outputs

• Coordination of FAO inputs to international environmental convention mechanisms, including advisory bodies, conferences of the parties and secretariats, and WSSD follow-up
• Technical support to data and information systems related to major Conventions (e.g. CBD, CCD)
• 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 (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical guidelines and materials for enhanced participation of countries in international environmental agreements

251P1 - Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services

Objective

To assist governments as well as international organizations and donor agencies in making timely and effective scientifically-based decisions and formulating policies in relation to the development of food production, natural resources management and the migratory pests situation, through accurate and timely geo-referenced information.

Biennial Outputs

• Electronic facilities for improved access to FAO spatially-referenced data and information (Reduced in ZRG)
• Environmental data acquisition and management in support of early warning systems
• Norms and guidelines for management and access to spatial data (e.g. UNGIWG)
• 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)

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

Objective

To harness the potential of new information and communication technologies to assist countries in addressing major obstacles in agricultural and rural development.

Biennial Outputs

• Resource material to support Radio and ICTs development
• Materials and guidelines on ICT innovative concepts and applications
• Training materials and workshops on ICT applications
• Methodologies and guidelines in support of ICT applications
• Training and support to the application of ICTs for improving rural women's access to education and training, for improving information exchange, and to increase awareness of their rights

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

Objective

Improved quality and delivery of the CGIAR system institutions; testing and evaluation in countries of technologies and approaches promoted by CGIAR institutions; and ultimately integration of the most promising technologies and approaches into national extension curricula.

Biennial Outputs

• Advice and recommendations on CGIAR priorities, strategies and resource allocation
• Advice on and evaluation on CGIAR Research Agenda
• Evaluation of CGIAR Centres, Systemwide Programmes and Challenge Programme activities
• Impact assessment of training and integrated natural resources management activities
• Cost benefit Meta Analysis of CGIAR research
• Organization of 4 - 6 Science Council and its Standing Panel meetings and records of proceedings
• Reports of strategic studies
• External evaluation reports of Centres, Research Agenda, Systemwide and Challenge Programmes
• Reports of Impact Assessment
• Science Council Chair's Annual Reports

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

Objective

The objective of technical service is to improve the quality of access to knowledge and information through advice and technical assistance in the broad areas of the Divisional mandate including research, extension, education, communication, rural youth, the environment and cross-sectoral issues related to sustainable development and the conservation of natural resources.

Biennial Outputs

• Ongoing assistance to countries in the areas covered by Programme 2.5.1 (Reduced in ZRG)
• Support to the implementation of Agenda 21 and follow up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population

(All amounts in US$ 000)

252A3 - Gender and Natural Resources Management

Objective

Policies, programmes and projects that ensure gender equality in the distribution and management of natural resources and increased farmers' participation in policy and programme formulation processes.

Biennial Outputs

• Information and case studies on the gender dynamics of natural resource management (Reduced in ZRG)
• Guidelines, training materials, methods and tools (such as gender-sensitive indicators) to promote mainstreaming of gender in natural resource management (Reduced in ZRG)
• 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 (Reduced in ZRG)

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

Objective

Appropriate interventions and policy instruments to counter the effects of HIV/AIDS on the rural and agricultural sector.

Biennial Outputs

• Policy and decision support tools (methodologies, research papers, guidelines, training materials) on the linkages between HIV/AIDS, population dynamics, agriculture, food security, and environment (Reduced in ZRG)
• Workshops and support to HIV/AIDS networks on socio-cultural and population issues to build national capacity at all levels of government and civil society to address the implications of HIV/AIDS and to assist affected populations (Reduced in ZRG)
• Research papers and other policy- and decision-support materials on the interconnections between HIV/AIDS and land tenure

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

Objective

FAO staff and governments will be able to utilise population and gender information in support of national and sub-national planning and decision making; reduce or eliminate discrimination by gender, age and/or socio-cultural characteristics, and enhance capacity to use population and gender analysis methodologies.

Biennial Outputs

• Materials and training-of-trainers workshops at regional and national level, in the framework of the Socioeconomic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA) Programme (Reduced in ZRG)
• Guidelines and methodologies on how to address gender factors in national agricultural policies and programmes (Reduced in ZRG)
• Studies of gender-differentiated impacts of globalisation/trade liberalisation (Eliminated in ZRG)
• Coordination of the implementation of the PAIA on Gender and Development 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 (Reduced in ZRG)
• SEAGA-oriented technical guidelines, studies relating to gender mainstreaming issues within various technical fields, in coordination with other technical FAO units, and integration of the SEAGA materials into FAO training programmes

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

Objective

To strengthen institutional capacity for the incorporation of gender related issues in concrete projects and programmes to achieve food security and to support women's and men's equitable access to resources and on and off-farm activities, in order to pursue sustainability in rural development efforts.

Biennial Outputs

• Policy advice and technical assistance in response to demands from Members in support of gender mainstreaming and the FAO field programme (Reduced in ZRG)

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

(All amounts in US$ 000)

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

Objective

New policy and legislation formulated which strengthens land tenure security for the disadvantaged, especially women, and which supports increasing production; strengthening or establishment of land tenure regulation institutions; and increasingly effective land markets.

Biennial Outputs

• Policy materials for agrarian reform and improved access to natural resources
• Policy and training materials and workshops on land consolidation
• Materials on training strategies for capacity building in land administration
• Methodologies for participatory territorial planning for rural development
• Land Reform, Land Settlement and Cooperatives Bulletin
• Integrated multi-lingual resource material on land tenure terminology (Reduced in ZRG)
• Resource kit and training materials on decentralization of land administration services
• Resource material to support access to land through partial transfers
• Policy materials for common property institutional strengthening (Reduced in ZRG)
• Guidelines for strengthening of indigenous common tenure regimes
• Policy and training materials and workshops for negotiated land conflict resolution
• Policy and training materials for rationalization of land tenure in peri-urban zones

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

Objective

Rural institutions, local civil society and voluntary producer organizations in countries have enhanced management capacity, are more participatory in nature and are better coordinated, allowing them to better service agricultural producers.

Biennial Outputs

• Normative materials on institutional restructuring, decentralization and strengthening the participation of farmers and rural community organizations
• Normative materials on the transfer of agricultural and rural development support services from the public to the private sector
• Normative materials for strengthening formal farmer organizations, cooperatives and other rural producer groups
• Collaboration with the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC)
• Normative materials to promote multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration to enhance rural livelihoods
• Normative materials for reinforcing participation of farmers and rural workers in decision-making processes

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

Objective

Programmes and projects, funded by national governments and international development agencies, aimed at food security, sustainable use of natural resources and rural development, adopt and/or implement appropriate participatory methods and sustainable livelihood approaches; FAO's normative outputs incorporate sustainable livelihoods approaches and methods.

Biennial Outputs

• Normative materials on participatory approaches and methods to promote sustainable rural livelihoods
• Guidelines for strengthening local institutional capacities for disaster preparedness and prevention and long-term sustainable livelihoods development in high risk areas
• Regionally and culturally-appropriate indicators and methodologies field tested and refined
• Regularly updated and expanded website on participation
• Institutional learning methodologies for promoting sustainable rural livelihoods of the poor
• Normative materials for enhancing sustainable rural livelihoods of the poor in FAO field programmes and projects

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

Objective

The adoption and/or implementation by national and international organizations of multi-stakeholder perspectives and strategies, and coordinated programmes on food security and rural development.

Biennial Outputs

• Technical and logistical support to the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security
• Regular updating of the UN System Network Website and database

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

Objective

Preparation of draft policy documents to improve access and tenure security.

Biennial Outputs

• Technical advice/assistance in the design and implementation of sustainable rural livelihood policies, programme, projects (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical advice and support to restructuring and improvement of rural public sector institutions and cooperatives (Reduced in ZRG)
• Direct advisory services to member countries and support to projects on improved access and management of land and natural resources (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical advice to improve access to land and tenure security (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical advice on strengthening of local institutional capacities to support cooperatives, farmer organizations and other community-based organizations (Reduced in ZRG)

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

(All amounts in US$ 000)

256P1 - Management and Coordination

Objective

Effective coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the SPFS at all levels; promotion of South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiatives and increased mobilisation of funds from donors and financial institutions in support of the SPFS.

Biennial Outputs

• Coordination of contributions from other units to the SPFS through formation of a Technical Support Group
• Overall monitoring and reporting
• Identification of resource requirements and assistance in resource mobilization
• Support to oversight structures
• Support to formulation missions and internal process of appraisal and approval of project documents and agreements
• Backstopping of project activities to ensure coherence with SPFS goals and approaches
• Dissemination of SPFS-related information including new or improved guidelines and technical documents
• Updating SPFS Website
• Capacity building for SPFS programme management at country level

256P2 - SPFS Formulation

Objective

Assist countries, especially LIFDCs, in achieving food security through the formulation of an SPFS National Programme Document and Plan of Action and of Phase I or extension/expansion of the programme.

Biennial Outputs

• Formulation of approximately seven programmes at Phase I
• Formulation of approximately ten programmes at Phase I Extension
• Formulation of approximately three programmes at Phase II
• Formulation of eight SSC Agreements

256P3 - SPFS Implementation

Objective

To provide essential financial support to food security enhancement of LIFDCs, through rapid increases in productivity and food production on an economically- and environmentally-sound basis; to improve people's access to food; to promote diversified food production on a self-reliant basis through better input supply services and access to village credit.

Biennial Outputs

• Implementation of approximately eight additional national SPFS programmes at Phase I (Reduced in ZRG)
• Implementation of approximately fifteen additional national SPFS programmes at Phase I Extension (Reduced in ZRG)
• Implementation of approximately three additional national SPFS programmes at Phase II (Reduced in ZRG)
• Implementation of eight additional SSC Agreements (Reduced in ZRG)

Programme 2.5.9: Programme Management

(All amounts in US$ 000)

206. 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.

²⁹ Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action