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

92. This major programme is characterised by intensive relationships, both outside and inside FAO. It spearheads, in the first instance, 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 also ensures policy inputs to the work of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Conversely, it plays a major role in mainstreaming into FAO's technical work, the concerns raised and the guidance provided by these events. As host to the provision for direct support to the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in Low-Income, Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), it ensures house-wide coordinated inputs to its implementation.

93. The following already identified broad priorities will continue to remain highly relevant over the medium-term:

• The furtherance of equitable and sustainable livelihoods and food security in rural areas, including access to land resources, effective functioning of community and civil society organizations, the use of participatory approaches and methods, and the integration of gender and population issues into policy formulation and plans
• Knowledge enhancement and technology transfer, in particular the strengthening of national capacities at all levels to carry out agricultural research, undertake gender and age sensitive analysis, and to apply appropriate technologies
• Putting to full use the potential of environmental observing systems, information technology, database development and analysis for food security and sustainable development including application of Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing, indicators of sustainability, gender and population data and land tenure data
• The exercise of Organization-wide responsibilities concerning environmental change, including follow-up to UN conventions, conferences and international agreements, work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the implementation of UNCED Agenda 21 and the resulting conventions on biological diversity, climate change and desertification
• The expansion of the SPFS, pursuing its integrative and multi-disciplinary approach to the solution of acute food production and supply problems in LIFDCs

94. In the light of the above, the component programme entities presented below make a major contribution to the implementation of Strategic Objective A1, Sustainable rural livelihoods and more equitable access to resources. Nonetheless, in dealing with specific production-related, conservation and information dissemination aspects of agricultural and sustainable development, they also contribute in varying degrees to Corporate Strategies C, D and E, as evidenced in the summary tables.

95. As regards the SPFS (Programme 2.5.6), it is expected that its Phase I will be operational in around 80 countries at the beginning of the period of coverage of this Medium Term Plan. Moreover, at the same time, Phase I would have been extended in about 8 countries and South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiatives would be fully operational in 16 countries. The three biennia will, therefore, witness the full implementation of Phase I, the extension of Phase I at national level, the initiation of Phase II in several countries and the further implementation of South-South Cooperation components.

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management
and Technology Transfer

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

251A1

TP

Integrated Use of Information for Sustainable Development

251A2

TP

Youth in Agriculture, Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods

251A3

TP

Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

251A4

TP

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

251A5

TP

National Agricultural Research System (NARS) Secretariat of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR)

251A6

TP

Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated Environmental Planning and Management

251P1

CP

Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services

251P3

CP

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

251P4

CP

Secretariat of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the CGIAR

251S1

TS

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

Legend
	Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million	US$ 1.5 million to 3 million	US$ 3 million to 5 million	More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

• Need to exploit advances in information technology which allow environmental, social and economic information to be used in more integrated ways, facilitating assessment, analysis, and decision-making in the agricultural and rural sectors.
• Considerable demand for such integrated data in addressing a variety of issues (e.g. gender, demography, ecosystem change, land quality, water availability, biodiversity, climate change).
• Need to take a multi-disciplinary approach.

Objective

To provide countries with effective tools and build national capacities, thereby also enhancing their participation in, and reporting under, international agreements with complex ramifications.

Major Outputs

1. Facilitation of access to, and use of ground- and satellite-based observing systems data and information products.
2. Incorporation of gender and demographic factors in agricultural statistics (including guidelines and training).
3. Decision-support tools and sustainability indicators for national and regional environmental management.
4. Comprehensive database on land tenure systems, with comparative analysis.

Indicators

• Number of countries and intergovernmental bodies requesting and making effective use of databases, information systems and related tools.
• Improved capability of countries for producing and using integrated data and information collected at the ground level with that collected through larger scale efforts such as earth observation systems.
• Uptake of guidelines/advice.

Rationale

• Need to reflect the special requirements and better harness the potential of youth at policy formulation level in many countries, so that they can become active partners in food security and sustainable development.

Objective

To strengthen the capacity of government agencies and NGOs to deliver effective programmes and projects for young people.

Major Outputs

1. Food security and sustainable livelihoods strategies, targeting children and youth.
2. Guidelines, training and dissemination of information on design of youth programmes.
3. Innovative approaches to develop education, extension and communication packages for youth programmes.

Indicators

• Uptake of guidelines and new methodologies.
• Outreach of training activities.
• Demand by governments, NGOs and other users for information, publications and other products.
• Evidence of strengthened capacity of government agencies and NGOs.

Rationale

• Significant gaps among countries in terms of regulatory framework, access to, and effective use of biotechnology.
• Accordingly, many countries look to FAO's support and advice to help bridge this gap, as well as objective information.

Objective

To assist countries in understanding of, and decision-making related to biotechnology, and to help with harmonised regulations and control protocols.

Major Outputs

1. Harmonisation and implementation at regional and national levels, of regulations for biosafety of genetically modified organisms and derived products in agriculture.
2. Assessments of policy and social consequences of selected biotechnology applications for agriculture, and advice thereon to countries (including electronic forum and consultations).

Indicators

• Adoption of FAO's advice and recommendations in publications of harmonised regional regulations and, through surveys, of existing regulations in the countries.
• Number of "hits" in the Biotechnology Forum Website, number and nature of enrolled participants in the forum and demand for publications.

Rationale

• Effective national agricultural research, extension, education and communication systems are a prerequisite to generating, adapting and disseminating productivity enhancing technologies and, therefore, improving agricultural performance.
• Countries also need to promote a holistic approach towards sustained interaction of all elements involved in research and extension: planning, technology generation, adaptation, validation, transfer, dissemination through appropriate institutions for eventual utilisation by end-users.

Objective

To facilitate the formulation of policies and strategies by countries for improving integrated agricultural knowledge and technology development and dissemination.

Major Outputs

1. Support to enhancement of national agricultural extension, education and communication for development systems (including aspects of policy, organisation, methodologies and staff performance) - including workshops, case studies and concept papers.
2. Capacity-building of national and regional agricultural research systems for priority setting, sustainable funding, and effective technology assessment and transfer.
3. Guidelines and direct advice to countries on the organisation of efficient research, extension, education, and communication (REEC) interfaces.

Indicators

• Uptake of guidelines and advice by countries, as documented through reports and specific requests.
• Evidence of enhanced policy formulation by countries.

Rationale

• NARS represent the most important actor in the process that goes from research to technical change and innovation at the farm level, and must be able to disseminate the technology that is developed by international agricultural research centres.
• FAO has been instrumental in developing the GFAR initiative and very supportive of its launching through its offer to host the NARS Secretariat. FAO's commitment has recently been reaffirmed through its acceptance of hosting a unified GFAR Secretariat.

Objectives

To facilitate cooperation among NARS through strengthening of their regional and sub-regional organizations and promote research partnership between them and other stakeholders of agricultural research for development.

Major Outputs

1. Active exchanges of experiences among NARS and networking arrangements/regional fora.
2. Cost-effective, innovative partnerships among the stakeholders of agricultural research for development.
3. Facilitation of the flow of information and knowledge among the stakeholders of agricultural research development (including through electronic conferences and specialised Website).

Indicators

• Evidence of active participation of NARS in collaborative undertakings.
• Uptake by NARS of advice/lessons/data generated.

Rationale

• FAO needs to ensure a coordinated approach in supporting the implementation of a number of international environmental agreements [e.g. Conventions on Biodiversity (CBD), Climate Change (CCC), Desertification (CCD)] Agenda 21, including support to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
• Countries need assistance in the further application of Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) through the incorporation of environmental, social and economic issues in an integrated manner, and policy guidance on topics such as environmentally sound production systems and organic agriculture.

Objectives

To ensure FAO's 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.

Major Outputs

1. Support to the implementation of conventions and other international environmental agreements (including conceptual inputs, advice to countries and in-house coordination machinery).
2. Support to the secretariats and advisory bodies of international environmental conventions and agreements (including reports, meetings and preparation of position papers).
3. Environmental guidelines, documentation and training for the implementation of Agenda 21 and international conventions.
4. Methodological studies and guidelines for agro-ecosystem management approaches at national and regional levels (with dissemination through various means, including thematic networks).

Indicators

• Adoption of FAO's inputs to conventions' secretariats and intergovernmental instances (including documented evidence).
• Demand for advice from countries/institutions.
• Uptake of guidelines and data, and outreach of training.

Rationale

• Geographic information systems, remote sensing and ground-based agro-meteorological and other observations assist in addressing key issues related to environment and natural resources management, food production and security, coastal zone monitoring, desertification, biodiversity, energy and climate change impact.
• Therefore, accurate, up-to-date, geo-referenced environmental information from ground and satellite sources are essential elements of, and inputs to food security and environmental management at national, regional and global levels.

Objective

To support use, within and outside FAO, of geo-referenced data for a wide variety of applications, including the strengthening of Members' capacities.

Major Outputs

1. Environmental data acquisition and management (including: a) an integrated environmental data acquisition and spatial information management capability - remote sensing, GIS, AGROMET and ARTEMIS; b) geo-information databases, and related cartographic and thematic map products and reports; c) norms, standards and guidelines for spatial data acquisition, processing, storage and retrieval and manuals for geo-information services).
2. Tools and methodological frameworks for integrated analysis of geo-information.
3. Periodic reporting on natural resources conditions and trends.

Indicators

• Effective use of information/data and uptake of tools/methodologies (through special surveys and assistance/adaptation in field projects).
• Timeliness and accessibility of databases.
• Contributions to other key FAO activities.

Rationale

• Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a crucial force in world economic and social development and can significantly assist countries in addressing major obstacles in agriculture and natural resources management for improved food security.
• Communication for development methodologies, approaches and strategies need to be applied to the information and knowledge needs of rural communities, farmers, extension agents, researchers, educators, government planners and NGOs.

Objective

To promote innovative, cost-effective and sustainable information and communication technologies for the improvement of national agricultural research, extension and education (REE) systems and their clients.

Major Outputs

1. Appropriate applications of ICTs for country use and supportive networks on REE systems.
2. Conceptual frameworks, methodologies and training material for ICT applications and content development, distance-learning and impact assessment.

Indicators

• Participation in networks, and outreach of training activities.
• Demand for methodologies.

Rationale

• The jointly-funded TAC Secretariat is hosted by FAO, and supports the formulation of CGIAR centres' activities and furnishes scientific, technical, policy, institutional, administrative and logistical support to the Technical Advisory Committee.

Objective

To provide sound scientific advice to the CGIAR.

Major Outputs

1. Advice on CGIAR research priorities and strategies, and resource allocation.
2. Assessment of the quality and relevance of scientific achievements of the Centres.
3. Evaluation and ex-post impact assessment of CGIAR activities.
4. Organisation of TAC meetings and dissemination of TAC decisions, reports, strategic studies, and reviews to TAC and CGIAR members, and stakeholders.

Indicators

• Adoption of TAC's recommendations to the CGIAR, and citation of publications in scientific literature.
• Evidence of satisfaction with the quality of TAC products.

This technical service agreement covers advisory services and technical backstopping in a wide range of technical disciplines, such as environment, natural geo-information infrastructure and services.

Programme 2.5.2: Women and Population

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

252A2

TP

Inter-relations between Gender, Population and Food Security

252A3

TP

Gender and Natural Resources Management

252P1

CP

Promotion of Gender and Population in Policies, Legislation and Civil Institutions

252S1

TS

Technical Support to Member Nations and the Field Programme

Legend
	Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million	US$ 1.5 million to 3 million	US$ 3 million to 5 million	More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

• Understanding the inter-relations between gender, population dynamics and agriculture is particularly relevant to the attainment of food security.
• Countries require policy and decision support tools and capacity-building for both public and non-governmental sectors.

Objective

To improve national capacity at all levels of government and civil society to address the policy implications of the linkages between gender, population, food security and the environment.

Major Outputs

1. Policy and decision support tools (methodologies, guidelines and policy advisory notes) on factors of population dynamics relating to gender, environment, socio-cultural aspects and food security.
2. Technical assistance and training support in the area of population, gender and environment interactions (focusing in particular on changes in population age composition, spatial distribution, agricultural labour supply and impact of HIV/AIDS).

Indicators

• Uptake of guidelines and tools, requests for assistance, outreach of training (participants).
• Evidence of improved national technical capacity to integrate gender and population in policies and programmes.

Rationale

• Growing demand among decision-makers and development practitioners for better understanding of the gender dimensions of natural resource management and use of participatory and gender sensitive methods to more systematically mainstream gender-responsiveness and farmers' participation into their work.

Objective

To promote enhanced understanding of the linkages between gender and natural resource management and build capacities to manage, design and implement gender-sensitive programmes and policies.

Major Outputs

1. Gender-responsive information and methods for natural resources management
   (including field-testing).
2. Support to gender-responsive natural resources management policy formulation.

Indicators

• Citation of the research outputs in natural resource management studies.
• Use and adaptation of methods by key partners working on community-based natural resource management.
• Establishment/strengthening of specific mechanisms for gender-responsive approaches in policy and programmes relating to resource distribution.

Rationale

• FAO Governing Bodies have emphasised the need to mainstream population and gender concerns into FAO's own programmes and the policy advice it provides to countries.
• There is a concomitant requirement for capacity-building in the analysis of gender issues in the context of formulating and implementing agricultural and rural development policies, programmes and projects.

Objective

To promote awareness, training and improved use of population and gender information, thereby, reducing or eliminating discrimination by gender, age and/or socio-cultural characteristics.

Major Outputs

1. Socio-economic and Gender Analysis Programme (SEAGA) tools (particularly through training-of-trainers and national training workshops).
2. Support to population and gender mainstreaming in FAO's technical work (including reporting to Governing Bodies and status reports to various UN fora).
3. Assistance to countries on population/gender-responsive national legislation and policies (including methodology development, consultations and supportive databases).

Indicators

• Level and extent of participation in training workshops and networks.
• Requests for population and gender analyses methods, tools and information via electronic and non-electronic communications.
• Extent of adaptation of population and gender analyses methods and tools by national/local institutions.

This technical service agreement covers services of general nature regarding gender and population mainstreaming, not otherwise addressed in the above entities.

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

253A1

TP

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

253A2

TP

Improved Rural Institutions and Services to Promote Sustainable Rural Livelihoods

253A4

TP

Participatory Approaches and Methods to Support Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security

253P1

CP

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

253S1

TS

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

Legend
	Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million	US$ 1.5 million to 3 million	US$ 3 million to 5 million	More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

• Need for adequate institutional arrangements to determine rights and access to rural resources (land, water, trees, wildlife, etc.) as a prerequisite to agricultural development and food security.
• Many countries specifically require advice on such institutional arrangements for property rights, on how to ensure more equitable access by women and men to natural resources, on functioning land markets and land administration to take account of mortgage-secured credit for investment and good governance of land and natural resources.

Objective

To assist Member Nations with effective policies, programmes, best practices and tools for land tenure to facilitate access to land, ensure user rights and improve land markets.

Major Outputs

1. Methodologies for the formulation of government-assisted land tenure policies to improve access to land by disadvantaged groups, especially women.
2. Market and private land transaction policies and institutional measures to improve access to and sustainable use of natural resources, including guidelines and manuals.
3. Assistance for land tenure modifications under indigenous and common property resource management systems, for balanced rural development.
4. Tools for land tenure regularisation and manuals for institution-building in peri-urban/peri-rural zones, as part of the programme "Food for the Cities".

Indicators

• Uptake of tools and methodologies into national policies and programmes.
• Extent of participation of stakeholders in development programmes and activities.

Rationale

• Countries need to enhance the capacities of local public, private sector and civil society institutions to improve the opportunities of the rural, peri-urban and urban poor to strengthen, diversify and sustain their livelihoods.
• They, therefore, require relevant and practical training materials and methodologies, also with a view to forging alliances between government, civil society and private sector interests.

Objective

To build capacities of rural public institutions, private sector and civil society organizations at all levels to improve the socio-economic and food security conditions of small farmers and other marginalised groups in countries.

Major Outputs

1. Methodologies for, and training on restructuring and decentralisation of rural institutions, with a view to improved service delivery and effectiveness.
2. Capacity-building of small farmer/rural producer organizations, through methodologies and training materials addressing major issues in performance and efficient functioning.
3. Facilitation of institutional mechanisms for stakeholder dialogue and collaboration (including information exchange/drawing from experience).

Indicators

• Uptake of methodologies by institutions and evidence of stronger national capacity.
• Participation of local stakeholders in design and outreach of training.

Rationale

• As consistently emphasised in UN system fora and elsewhere, gender-sensitive, people-centred development requires, in particular, that the rural poor in food-deficit and economically marginal areas, and the socio-economically marginalised groups in favourably endowed areas are more fully involved in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of plans and projects affecting them.
• Participatory methods based on a stakeholder approach have proved to be effective in negotiation, conflict mediation and decision-making among different groups.

Objective

To promote use in countries of improved participatory methods and tools in the formulation of policies, programmes and institutional measures, aimed at more equitable sharing of benefits from development.

Major Outputs

1. Inter-disciplinary participatory approaches and methods for sustainable rural livelihoods and more equitable access to resources.
2. Appropriate indicators for assessing the degree and quality of participation in rural development and food security projects and programmes.
3. Exchange of information and experiences on the use of participatory methods (including through an expanded FAO Website).

Indicators

• Interest in the information generated (number of "hits", requests, etc.).
• Uptake of methodologies and outreach of training component.

Rationale

• A major outcome of the World Food Summit, the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security is the inter-agency mechanism for follow-up to the Plan of Action, and embodies commitment to coordinated country-level action by main development partners to fight food insecurity and alleviate rural poverty.
• Established in 1997, the Network is a two-tiered mechanism, comprising Thematic Groups working on rural development and food security issues at the country level and at the international level, a network of UN system organizations and associated international and regional NGOs.

Objective

To catalyse governments' efforts to implement the WFS Plan of Action and to foster active cooperation among participating organizations.

Major Outputs

1. An enhanced ACC Network, including support to national Thematic Groups.
2. FAO's Website, electronic conferences, information and training materials aimed at dissemination and exchange of information and knowledge.

Indicators

• Number of ACC Network Thematic Groups established in developing countries, including degree of interest of partners and the type of activities implemented.
• Outputs of the ACC Network and Thematic Groups (as recognised in UN and non-UN literature and international fora).

This technical service agreement is to meet the direct needs of countries and field projects in these areas.

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

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

256P1

CP

Coordination and Monitoring

256P2

CP

SPFS Formulation

256P3

CP

SPFS Implementation

Legend
	Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million	US$ 1.5 million to 3 million	US$ 3 million to 5 million	More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

• Need for oversight of the development and implementation of the Special Programme, including South-South Cooperation initiatives. The entity provides the Secretariat to the internal management and coordination structure, as well as the external Oversight Panel.
• Need for coordination of FAO's support to the SPFS in line with the multi-disciplinary nature of the programme.

Objective

To ensure coordinated support to the successful implementation of the SPFS.

Major Outputs

1. Coordination of inputs from other units to the SPFS, identification of resource requirements, participation to mobilisation of resources and support to oversight structures.
2. Support to formulation missions and internal process of appraisal and approval of project documents and agreements.
3. Support to the implementation of approved projects and overall monitoring and reporting activities.
4. Preparation and dissemination of SPFS-related information, guidelines, technical documents and status reports.

Indicators

• The continued expansion and successful implementation of the programme.
• Extent of participation of stakeholders in development of outputs.

Rationale

• This entity covers the organisation and formulation of the Extension of Phase I and of Phase II programmes in additional countries. Moreover, it provides for joint South-South Cooperation (SSC) formulation missions with the main task of identification and agreement on SSC arrangements including the work programme, expertise required and the preparation of Tripartite Agreements.

Objective

To contribute to the orderly extension/expansion of the SPFS for benefit of concerned countries.

Major Outputs

1. Formulation of national SPFS programmes at Extension of Phase I and Phase II levels (in collaboration with TCI and other technical divisions, preparation of approximately eight national project documents and plans of operations per biennium).
2. Formulation of South-South Cooperation agreements within the framework of the SPFS.

Indicators

• Extent of coverage of countries' requirements at both Phase I and II.

Rationale

• A major portion of the budget allocation under Programme 2.5.6 is to support implementation of the various components (water control, crop intensification - including urban and peri-urban agriculture, diversification and analysis of constraints to food security) of approved SPFS projects at country level, and the required SSC components. This is, of course, to be supplemented by much larger amounts from donors, financial institutions and recipient countries themselves.

Objective

To provide essential financial support to the SPFS, thereby catalysing donors' interest.

Major Outputs

1. Implementation of national SPFS programmes at Phase I level.
2. Implementation of national SPFS programmes at Extension of Phase I/Phase II levels.
3. Implementation of South-South Cooperation agreements.

Indicators

• Leverage in attracting support to the SPFS.
• Number of countries where the SPFS is operational, and at Phase II of implementation.
• Number of countries where South-South Cooperation is under implementation.