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

Distribution of Resources by Strategic Objectives

Major Programme 2.5

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

2.5.1

Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer

2.5.2

Gender and Population

2.5.3

Rural Development

2.5.6

Food Production in Support of Food Security in LIFDCs

Legend

Greater than zero, less than US$ 1 million

US$ 1 million to 2 million

US$ 2 million to 4 million

More than US$ 4 million

582. 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 World Summit for Social Development and the International Conference on Population and Development. It is instrumental in promoting gender mainstreaming throughout FAO's substantive work, for which the Gender and Development Plan of Action is the main instrument, and in leading institution-wide efforts to analyse and address the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on agriculture, food security and rural development. It also ensures policy inputs to the work of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). 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.

583. The following priorities will continue to remain highly relevant over the biennium:

1. Ensuring equitable and sustainable livelihoods and food security in rural areas, including access to employment, resources and services, effective functioning of community and civil society organizations;
2. Mainstreaming gender and population issues, including HIV/AIDS, in agricultural, environmental and rural development policies and programmes, legislation and civil institutions;
3. Assisting the transformation of the agriculture sector through support to effective national agricultural research, extension, education and communication systems capable of generating, adapting and disseminating productivity enhancing technologies;
4. Putting to full use the potential of environmental observing systems, information technology, databases and analyses for food security and sustainable development;
5. 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 (CBD), Climate Change (FCCC) and Combating Desertification (CCD); and
6. Supporting the continued expansion of the SPFS.

Resources

584. 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 as the "National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) Secretariat of the GFAR". Policy decisions were taken to merge the two secretariats, NARS and GFAR, into the new GFAR Secretariat. Most of the work of the latter is carried out through trust fund arrangements, thus the small amount shown in the following table below.

585. In terms of major resource movements, the net decline 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 additional resources provided for gender-related activities in the Gender and Population Division (SDW) and a new post to analyse the adverse effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on food security and rural development, especially in Africa. It should also be noted that substantial resources formerly under Programme 2.5.2 have been transferred to Programme 2.5.1 (as SDW's contribution to inter-divisional programme entities 251A1 and 251P3). 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. Besides the impact of resource transfers between programmes noted above, some realignment of resources across entities has been made within Programmes 2.5.1 and 2.5.3.

586. 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 programme's expansion.

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer

587. The Research, Extension and Training Division (SDR) implements this Programme, which assists member countries in key aspects of sustainable agricultural and rural development, including the implementation of environmental and natural resource initiatives, and the strengthening of national agricultural research, extension and education systems. Many programme entities are by essence relevant to several FAO's strategic objectives and also contribute significantly to a number of Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs).

588. These entities will be implemented through integrated approaches and partnership arrangements involving other FAO technical divisions, with SDR as a lead technical unit.

589. The programme will also continue to provide institutional, technical and logistical support to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and to its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), as well as to the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).

590. Availability of extra-budgetary support to entity 251A1 permits to reduce the provision and to shift resources to high-priority work under entity 251A6. Entities 251A4 and 251P3 are fairly complementary. While resources have been shifted from the former to the latter to reflect the effective import of planned activities, total resources for essential information dissemination work are increased.

251A1 - Integrated use of Information for Sustainable Development

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

592. Approach: this technical project (TP) covers information systems, guidelines, training materials and protocols for access to, and use of, satellite and ground measurement information. It deals with natural disaster impact assessment and crop monitoring, and manages databases including the Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS), data on land tenure, and synthesised information on FAO's website dealing with the implementation of environmental conventions. It also supports analytical studies on ecosystem management, organic agriculture, terrestrial carbon observations and agricultural effects on climate and rural energy. In addition to biophysical considerations, this entity will also incorporate gender, demographic, land tenure and other social aspects into data collection and analysis. This will be done inter alia by developing integrated analytical methods and research tools and by constructing appropriate social indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, which will be tested and incorporated in training materials. Activities aiming at improved gender and demographic factors in agricultural statistics will include: technical support to countries on gender issues for national agricultural censuses; training of national agricultural statisticians and policy makers in gender-disaggregated data production and use; re-tabulation of existing agricultural census/survey data to prepare gender-sensitive, spatially-referenced data sets for decision-support tools; and incorporating gender-sensitive information into FAO databases (e.g. related to animal production and health, fisheries, and food security).

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

593. Objective: to assist countries with strengthening and expanding rural youth development programmes, projects and activities which enable young people to become active partners in the achievement of national food security goals, while enhancing the sustainable livelihood of young men and women.

594. Approach: this TP will continue to issue information materials on the situation, needs, interest and aspirations of rural youth, to assist national youth policy development and for use by local teams, government officials, and rural development planners. This will be accompanied by guidelines on building national networks and effective partnerships among governments and non-governmental youth organizations. The global database on networks and rural youth programmes involved in food security and sustainable development will be expanded, in cooperation with regional offices. National seminars on participatory strategic planning for rural youth and food security will be organised in response to requests in different regions. Approaches to incorporate rural youth development concerns and issues into agricultural curricular of academic institutions, initially developed and tested in key countries in Africa, will be expanded to other regions.

251A3 - Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

595. Objective: 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.

596. Approach: assistance will be provided in the development of regulatory frameworks for biosafety of GMOs, including harmonisation in all regions. Development of training tools and capacity building of biosafety regulatory bodies will be undertaken in selected countries of the Latin American region. An electronic forum will contribute to the debate on the social and policy implications of biotechnology applications in food and agriculture. Studies will be continued, or be initiated, on the assessment of needs and the improvement of the application of biotechnology in agriculture. Intra- and inter-regional cooperation on selected issues in biotechnology will be promoted through research and development networks.

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

597. Objective: to assist national research, extension, education and communication institutions to develop integrated approaches attuned to the information needs of rural people, particularly for better management of farms, households and communities.

598. Approach: the TP will develop methodologies to assess and improve the effectiveness of linkages between relevant public and private institutions active in research, extension, education and communication. Innovative approaches and best-practice arrangements will be studied in selected countries. Databases on agricultural research and extension institutions will continue to promote partnerships and sharing of information in various regions. Due attention will be given to the extension needs of special groups, such as those living in mountains, deserts, small islands, and those who are physically disabled. The above studies will be used as a basis for assistance to the restructuring of national agricultural research and extension systems, as well as to strengthen national capacities for ensuring effective interactions among research, extension and education institutions in selected countries.

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

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

600. Approach: prioritised regional and sub-regional research agendas will be prepared for endorsement by related fora. Other activities will be: design and facilitation 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

601. Objective: to ensure FAO participation and coordinated inputs to the implementation of environmental agreements and conventions, and to facilitate uptake of technical frameworks by countries and other stakeholders for improved understanding and reporting on environmental issues in relation to food and agriculture.

602. Approach: this TP will support in-house coordination mechanisms for implementation of conventions and UNCED follow-up. It will prepare analytical reports and position papers in relation to the conventions and their advisory bodies and guidelines on the ecosystem management approach at selected national and regional levels, including guidance on the contribution of organic agriculture to conventions and Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD). Other planned activities include: preparation of the global information system for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and guidelines and capacity building for desertification assessment; materials for national capacity building on implementation of Agenda 21; environmental information network for the implementation of conventions; integrated thematic environmental databases; national capacity building on reporting, monitoring and training; and the application of environmental indicators.

251P1 - Environmental Geo-information Infrastructure and Services

603. 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 Members' capacity in environmental information management and analysis.

604. Approach: this continuing programme activity (CP) covers, in particular: environmental databases for food security, early warning and migratory pest and animal disease forecasting; the development of user-oriented and geo-referenced core data sets, including related cartographic and thematic map products and reports; the formulation of norms and guidelines for spatial data handling and methodologies for integrated environmental analysis and natural resources management; further development of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS); and the pilot development and testing of geo-networking. It will issue dynamic reports on environmental hot and bright spots for monitoring food security, based on an integrated environmental information development and management capability using remote sensing [i.e. African Real-Time Environmental Monitoring Information System (ARTEMIS), Agrometeorology Group (AGROMET) and Geographical Information System (GIS)].

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

605. Objective: to test and apply innovative and sustainable applications of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in support of research, extension and education (REE) systems, and to harness ICT for accelerated advancement of rural populations, particularly women and girls.

606. Approach: the CP will develop adapted versions of the Virtual Extension Research Communication Networks (VERCON) prototype for selected countries, and improved versions of multi-media farm information networks (FARM-Net) in selected countries. It will assist countries particularly in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Near East regions in fulfilling their needs for information and communication technologies for research, extension and education systems in agriculture. It will also develop training materials, databases and software for ICT applications. Studies on impact assessment of ICT applications will be undertaken in all regions. In Asia, they will identify national and regional strategies to achieve gender equitable allocation of ICT and distance learning resources to serve women in agriculture and rural communities. In Latin America, the emphasis will be on information needs of seasonal workers, particularly women, in relation to agricultural contaminants.

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

607. 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.

608. Approach: subject to results of ongoing reform discussions, this CP will continue to formulate recommendations on CGIAR priorities, strategies and resource allocation, including the annual review of the CGIAR centres' research agendas and financing plans. It will carry out: strategic studies in relation to important topics including assessment of the impact of CGIAR research; five to six external programmes and management reviews of individual CGIAR centres and one system-wide review. It will also organise at least four meetings of TAC and its standing committees and panel, as well as further dissemination of information and documentation.

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

609. 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.

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels
The lower provision under entity 251A6, Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated Environmental Planning and Management, would seriously jeopardise support to networks and capability in the use of geo-referenced information in support of key international environmental conventions (CBD, CCD and FCCC), and affect capacity building in member countries to implement Agenda 21. It would also have a negative impact on implementation of recommendations of the Technical Committees of the Council calling for increased flows of information related to food security, including training, methodology, and guidelines as well as synergy development. The same would apply to entity 251P3, Information and Communication Technologies in support of Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Systems, in terms of facilitation of access to new information and communication technologies by rural communities at levels originally envisaged. It would also be necessary to reduce by half FAO's contribution to the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) Secretariat (251A5).

Extra-budgetary Resources

610. Extra-budgetary funding in the area of natural resources information systems is expected to support mostly operational work at country level, although some projects also have normative components in the sense that methods and standards are developed which are of wider applicability. Specific donors are also interested in supporting normative work related to education, information and communication, and promotion of inter-regional cooperation for capacity building in biosafety and biotechnology.

Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population

611. The programme is composed of four programme entities - two technical projects (TPs), one continuing programme activity (CP), and one technical services agreement (TS) - while, as recalled above, to support the inter-disciplinary nature of the work, considerable resources are also allocated by SDW to Programme 2.5.1, Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer, (251A1 and 251P3).

612. The programme focuses on policy advice, technical assistance and training to countries and civil society partners to support the mainstreaming of gender and population issues in agricultural, environmental and rural development policies, programmes and projects, as well as in agricultural censuses and surveys, and in relevant legislation. It will need to address several emerging issues, such as: the impact on agricultural productivity and food security of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and of progressive rural ageing; and the gender-differentiated impact of globalisation, i.e. in the context of commercialisation of agriculture and liberalisation of agricultural trade, and in terms of access to new technology, in particular new information and communication technologies (ICT). This programme also covers the function of corporate focal point, regarding the Priority Area for Interdisciplinary Action (PAIA) on gender mainstreaming, for which the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action (2002-2007) will be the main instrument of implementation.

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

613. Objective: to improve national capacity at all levels of government and civil society to address the policy implications of the linkages between food security, gender and population issues (such as HIV/AIDS, population ageing, and migration) and the environment.

614. Approach: the TP will produce technical papers, training materials, guidelines and policy notes on pertinent issues of the inter-linkages between food security, gender, and population dynamics, with special emphasis on spatial distribution, changing age structure, gender and health aspects (HIV/AIDS) of food security and rural development. Technical papers will also be prepared in response to topics determined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under the technical support services (TSS) system. Support will be given to a network on socio-cultural research on population and a number of training activities.

252A3 - Gender and Natural Resources Management

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

616. Approach: the TP will provide advice on gender/people-sensitive management of natural resources across sectors, especially plant and animal genetic resources management, and will issue publications and media products on plant and animal genetic resources, enhanced research capacity building and related training of development workers. A network on gender, environmental conservation, biodiversity, and indigenous knowledge systems will be established, and an inter-regional meeting convened to exchange experiences on approaches and strategies. Inventories of key actors in gender and natural resources conservation will be carried out in one country each in Africa, Asia and Latin America, in cooperation with Regional Offices. Case studies will document gender dimensions in biodiversity management as they impact on household food security, leading to advice to countries on the gender dimensions of biodiversity management and legislative action on farmers' rights. This TP will continue the development and dissemination of the Socioeconomic and Gender Analysis Programme (SEAGA)-based guidelines on gender-sensitive and participatory management of plant genetic resources. It will also develop course curricula guidelines on gender-sensitive indicators and case studies on participatory/qualitative methodologies.

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

617. Objective: to facilitate decision making in governments, the private sector and civil society, to remove any discrimination by gender, age and/or socio-cultural characteristics, and to build national capacities in the use of population, socio-economic and gender analysis methodologies for policy and programme planning.

618. Approach: this CP reflects the dual mandate of Programme 2.5.2, as corporate focal point for gender mainstreaming within FAO and as a source of policy advice and technical assistance, including building national capacity for socio-economic and gender analysis in agriculture and rural development. Hence, this CP will coordinate follow-up to the implementation of the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action (2002-2007); the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Cairo Programme of Action; including reporting to FAO and UN bodies. It will also foster gender mainstreaming in FAO programmes, both through actions called for in the Plan of Action, and through the development of sector and sub-sector specific guidelines and methodologies. Assistance will be provided to countries in integrating gender into national policies and programmes, and increasing awareness of policy-makers of the respective roles, responsibilities, tasks, constraints and opportunities of women and men in agriculture and rural development. Advice will also be provided on the inclusion of gender both in relevant national educational curricula and gender databases, particularly for household division of labour. Guidelines on impact assessment will be disseminated. Training-of-trainers on the use of SEAGA methodologies and tools will be carried out, in cooperation with decentralized offices, at regional and national-level, as well as seminars and expert consultations on key gender issues. The CP will also ensure close collaboration with other UN organizations active on gender issues.

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

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

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels
It would be necessary to forego the establishment of a new post dealing with the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on food security, and associated planned activities on this important issue covered under programme entity 252A2. Lower available resources under entity 252P1 would negatively affect planned SEAGA training activities, and detract from planned support to the implementation of the Gender and Development Plan of Action, once the Plan is approved by the Conference.

Extra-budgetary Resources

620. Extra-budgetary resources are expected (in part in support of normative work) in the following areas: continued expansion and dissemination of SEAGA materials (252P1); collection and use of gender disaggregated data for policy and programme planning; furtherance of gender-responsive biodiversity preservation and natural resources management policies (252A3); and mitigation of the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture and food security (252A2). Should the expected level of additional extra-budgetary funding fail to materialise, it would reduce, probably by more than half, work that could be accomplished, particularly field testing and validation. Unavailability of extra-budgetary support for planned work on HIV/AIDS would greatly diminish effective impact in follow-up to the recommendations of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG), the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the Council regarding this new threat to food security.

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

621.Programme 2.5.3 actively fosters people's participation and supports food security objectives. It is structured into three technical projects (TPs), one continuing programme activity (CP) and one technical services agreement (TS). These entities and their major outputs are directed principally at corporate strategy A - Contributing to the eradication of food insecurity and rural poverty, as well as at the PAIA on Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (LHOO). The programme also supports the Secretariat for the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) Network on Rural Development and Food Security and its national Thematic Groups. Hence, it provides tools and disseminates best practices for Members to develop policies covering inter-related components of land tenure dynamics, regularisation and administration, land markets and reform processes. It is also concerned with strengthening decentralised capacities of public, private sector and civil society institutions, with particular emphasis on reaching disadvantaged rural groups (e.g. small farmers, agro-pastoralists, the landless and disabled).

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

622. 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.

623. Approach: guidelines will be issued regarding: government-assisted agrarian reform policies ensuring an adequate gender perspective; land consolidation and development policies and procedures; and education and training activities required for improved land tenure policies and land administration capacities and responsibilities. The TP will also generate training materials for participatory diagnostics of common property resources in Lusophone countries, as well as technical documents on key aspects of land tenure. It will ensure inputs to FAO task manager role for Chapter 14 of Agenda 21, including support for land tenure related comparative analysis of trends and experiences in selected regions and countries, and for policy and technical documents.

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

624. 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.

625. Approach: this TP will produce technical papers and guidelines on restructuring and decentralisation of agricultural services in major farming systems, with emphasis on privatisation, as well as information and training materials on strengthening local stakeholders in institutional reform and decentralisation processes. It will support capacity building of formal and informal farmers associations, cooperatives and inter-group structures and study institutional changes in support of rural poverty alleviation.

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

626. 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.

627. Approach: the TP will prepare and disseminate field-oriented materials on participatory approaches and methods to promote sustainable rural livelihoods and case-specific guidelines to strengthen local institutional capacities for disaster preparedness, prevention and long-term sustainable development in high-risk areas. It will develop indicators and methodologies to assess the degree and quality of participation in rural development and food security projects and programmes, in addition to ensuring electronic dissemination of best practices in participatory approaches, and organising a global e-mail conference.

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

628. Objective: to catalyse governments' efforts for the implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action and to foster collaboration among participating organizations in support of national efforts.

629. Approach: this CP will seek to consolidate existing (and establish new, especially in Eastern Europe and Central Asian Member Countries) Thematic Groups and formulate guidelines for mobilising financial support for coordinated action and projects. It will carry out an assessment of results and impact of Thematic Groups in the Horn of Africa region. Dissemination and exchange of information and knowledge will take place through the Network's website and 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

630. This entity provides direct advice and technical support to Members and the field programme, including the SPFS and emergency activities, with particular emphasis on: land tenure and land administration; registration and cadastre systems; land taxation, land transfer and mortgages and land markets; institutional reforms and decentralisation; capacity building of stakeholders; and participatory approaches.

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels
Under project 253A2, Improved Rural Institutions and Services to promote Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, it would be necessary to reduce a number of planned case studies and inter-regional consultations, as well as training activities on institutional reforms, including the new roles of farmers and community organizations. Preparation of substantive, state-of-the-art reports and inputs to Chapter 14 of Agenda 21 and the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) on SARD would be compromised, as would participation in important meetings associated with Agenda 21 - task manager functions. Similarly, under entity 253P1, Management and Support to the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security, several activities would be negatively affected, including prototype network systems for the national thematic groups affiliated to the broad-based ACC network; seminars for capacity building of these thematic groups and advisory missions particularly in the Horn of Africa region.

Extra budgetary Resources

631. The Rural Development Division (SDA) will proactively seek extra-budgetary resources through a variety of cost-sharing and partnership arrangements.

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

632. The Special Programme for Food Security (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. As of July 2001, 21 SSC agreements had 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 are charged to the programme for administrative and operational support services.

633. Programme 2.5.6 covers the Regular Budget's contribution to the SPFS, which is supplemented by extra-budgetary support.

256P1 - Coordination and Monitoring

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

635. Approach: this CP ensures coordination of contributions from other units to the SPFS, the identification of resource requirements; and support to oversight structures. It also supports formulation missions and the internal process of appraisal and approval of project documents and agreements. As part of overall monitoring and reporting, it disseminates SPFS-related information, guidelines and technical documents, as required. It will also coordinate such action as may arise out of the evaluation of the SPFS currently under way.

256P2 - SPFS Formulation

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

637. Approach: this CP covers the formulation of national SPFS programmes as relates to the extension of Phase I and Phase II (in collaboration with TCI and other technical divisions) and South-South Cooperation agreements within the framework of the SPFS.

256P3 - SPFS Implementation

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

639. Approach: the provision finances part of national SPFS programmes and projects at Phase I, Extension of Phase I and Phase II levels, and supports the implementation of South-South Cooperation agreements. It is worth noting that as additional resources have become available, leveraged by this Regular Budget provision, the SPFS has pursued its drive to expand coverage to all LIFDCs. By July 2001, the SPFS was in operation in 64 countries, including 38 countries in Africa, 14 in Asia, 8 in Latin America, 2 in Europe and 2 in Oceania. Despite these efforts, it is clear that financial resources constitute the main limiting factor for further developing SPFS activities.

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels
The elimination of the net increase under 256P3, SPFS Implementation, would be to the detriment of the further expansion of the Special Programme, by reducing the number of beneficiary countries.

Extra-budgetary Resources

640. As recalled above, the SPFS is receiving increased financial support from bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions. Also, a number of developing countries participating in the programme are financing their own projects within the framework of the SPFS through unilateral trust fund arrangements with FAO.

Programme 2.5.9: Programme Management

641. 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.

13 IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development)
14 SADC (Southern African Development Community)
15 Support to strengthen coordination of Fishery Management in the Adriatic Sea
16 Advice, technical support and establishment of cooperation networks to facilitate coordination to support fisheries management in the Mediterranean
17 Computerized System of Fish Marketing Information