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Major Programme 2.2: Food and Agriculture Policy
and Development

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

Trust Fund

2.2.0

Intra-departmental Programme Entities for Food and Agriculture Policy and Development

0

6,000

6,000

(129)

5,871

6,202

2.2.1

Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

17,050

1,811

18,861

(1,032)

17,829

9,375

2.2.2

Food and Agricultural Information

33,362

(1,982)

31,380

(1,772)

29,608

5,664

2.2.3

Food and Agricultural Monitoring, Assessments and Outlooks

13,229

506

13,735

(537)

13,198

6,874

2.2.4

Agriculture, Food Security and Trade Policy

14,138

(2,118)

12,020

(662)

11,358

4,079

2.2.9

Programme Management

8,690

988

9,678

(394)

9,284

0

Total

86,469

5,205

91,674

(4,526)

87,148

32,194

Cost Increases

   

3,671

 

3,534

 

Total - recosted

   

95,345

 

90,682

 

Distribution of Resources by Strategic Objectives

 

Major Programme 2.2

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

2.2.0

Intra-departmental Programme Entities for Food and Agriculture Policy and Development

                 

2.2.1

Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

     

 

2.2.2

Food and Agricultural Information

     

       

 

2.2.3

Food and Agricultural Monitoring, Assessments and Outlooks

   

   

2.2.4

Agriculture, Food Security and Trade Policy

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

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

395. Major Programme 2.2 is implemented by the Economic and Social Department (ES) and the Library and Documentation Systems Division (GIL). Its overall thrust is to contribute to the eradication of food insecurity and rural poverty. Building on core statistical work, it monitors and analyses the reasons for insufficient progress in combating hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity, and proposes policies and programmes that can be applied, nationally and internationally, to resolve these problems. It disseminates information on food security and rural development. Major Programme 2.2 plays a significant role in ensuring greater participation of developing countries in the formulation of a rules-based food and agricultural trading system that is supportive of food security, and in assisting the entire membership improve quality and safety of food and healthy diets for consumers. Special attention is given to capacity building in member countries to address these priorities issues.

396. This translates into substantive priorities within four principal domains of work:

(i) Statistics and Information on Food, Nutrition and Agriculture

  1. producing and disseminating comprehensive and high-quality statistics and information based on common concepts, standards and definitions (FAOSTAT), and strengthening national statistical systems for policy analysis and formulation and decision making;
  2. facilitating international and national access to information (WAICENT), bridging the Rural Digital Divide, strengthening national agricultural information systems, and promoting international cooperation for information management policies and systems;
  3. promoting food security information systems (FIVIMS), together with partners, and supporting national systems for improved decision making and targeting of policies and programmes on the poor and undernourished.

(ii) Assessments, Outlooks and Long-term Perspectives

  1. improving preparedness and response to food emergencies, including refining Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) methodologies and indicators for crop and food supply assessments, particularly in complex emergency situations;
  2. providing regular and timely assessments of food supply/demand situations, the outlook for agricultural commodities and strategic analyses, and perspectives on longer-term food and agriculture and food security at national, regional and global levels;
  3. reporting progress towards achievement of the World Food Summit (WFS) target in The State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI);
  4. disseminating policy-oriented analyses, assessments and knowledge on emerging food security, rural development and agricultural development issues, inter alia via The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA).

(iii) Analysis of Food, Agriculture and Trade Policy Issues

  1. contributing to improved policy frameworks for agriculture and rural development and policy and institutional frameworks to make markets work in favour of the poorest and most disadvantaged groups;
  2. raising awareness of the economic benefits of alleviating hunger and poverty, and identifying priority areas for policy intervention and investment for achieving the WFS target and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);
  3. taking account of environmental and natural resource issues in agriculture and rural development and pointing to the ways in which environmental payments and multilateral environmental agreements can be used to alleviate poverty and hunger;
  4. promoting sustained improvements in nutritional well-being through community-based actions that address local causes of malnutrition including in emergency situations and households affected by HIV/AIDS.

(iv) Standard Setting, Consensus Building and Policy Advice

  1. as part of WFS follow-up, assisting in the elaboration of voluntary guidelines to support members' efforts to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security;
  2. facilitating the integration of developing countries into international markets by enabling them to participate as well-informed and equal partners in Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN) on agriculture, and enhancing the competitiveness of their agricultural products through improved domestic and trade policies;
  3. in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), setting food safety standards through the Codex Alimentarius Commission;
  4. providing independent, science-based advice on food quality and safety issues for the international harmonisation of risk analysis, assessment of food-related risks in collaboration with WHO; capacity building in developing countries to organize and manage food control systems.

Changes in Resources

397. As generally already reflected in the Medium Term Plan 2004-2009 (MTP), a number of changes to the underlying programme structure, activities and the balance of resource allocations are introduced into Major Programme 2.2. The main highlights are as follows:

Programme 2.2.0: Intra-departmental Entities

  1. This programme is created, clustering entities of an inter-disciplinary nature that relate most directly to the WFS target of halving the number of undernourished by 2015;
  2. budget allocation for 220S1 – Servicing the Committee on World Food Security, is increased in line with its additional responsibilities stemming from the WFS:fyl.

Programme 2.2.1: Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

  1. The new title reflects the high priority attributed to food quality and safety issues;
  2. work on human nutrition requirements and food composition is restructured under the new entity, 221P1 - Nutrient Requirements and Dietary Assessment for Food Safety and Quality;
  3. resources allocated to Codex (221P2) and Codex-related work (221P6) are substantially increased, such that the recommendations of the 2002 Codex Evaluation Report may be implemented in full (at both the Zero Real Growth and Real Growth levels);
  4. new entity 221P8 - Food Safety and Quality throughout the Food Chain is introduced, while outputs are limited to the development of a framework document addressing key elements of policy advice, capacity building and technical assistance, and actions to be taken at national and international levels.

Programme 2.2.2: Food and Agricultural Information

  1. Given the importance of high-quality and more timely statistics having global coverage, the Basic Data Branch (Statistics Division) is upgraded to a Service;
  2. FAOSTAT is being redeveloped (2003-05), with full corporate scope, thanks to funding available from arrears payments, as specified in Conference Resolution 6/2001;
  3. GIL entities are restructured in part to eliminate duplication of activities;
  4. work on the World Agriculture Information Resources System (WAIR) (222A5) is expanded to include integrated information network activities, such as the International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) and the Worldwide Network of Agricultural Libraries (AGLINET), including the Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) project, and information exchange activities with international partners;
  5. entity 222P7 - Standards, Norms and Procedures for Improved Access to Agricultural Information, is reduced in scope, while 222P9 - Virtual Library and Library Information Services in Support of WAICENT, is expanded to build capacity in FAO country offices.

Programme 2.2.3: Food and Agricultural Monitoring, Assessments and Outlooks

  1. Additional resources are provided to entity 223P6 - Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture, to meet the increasing number of requests for assessment missions from member countries;
  2. increased emphasis is given to supporting the formulation of agricultural commodity and trade strategies centring on competitiveness of developing countries' agricultural sectors and exports, and management of risks from international instability (for both commodity exporting and food importing countries);
  3. work on a new, long-term, global, food and agriculture perspective study is to be initiated under entity 223A2 - Global Food and Agricultural Perspective Studies, (time horizon to be determined) and to be completed towards the end of the MTP 2004-09 period.

Programme 2.2.4: Agriculture, Food Security and Trade Policy

  1. The title of the ESA Division is modified to Agricultural and Development Economics Division for greater clarity;
  2. core analytical work is to be more sharply focused on the economic benefits of alleviating hunger and the linkages between poverty, food insecurity, agriculture and rural development, within the overall UN-wide effort on MDGs;
  3. additional resources are allocated to entity 224P3 for work on the economics of natural resources and environmental sustainability, including the analysis of the use of environmental payments for poverty reduction and food security;
  4. high priority continues to be given to 224A2 - Commodity and Trade Policy Support to Developing Countries for Trade Negotiations, for the analysis of trade-related policies and strengthening of national capacities to participate fully in World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral trade negotiations.

Programme 2.2.9: Programme Management

  1. A post of Communications Officer is created to improve substantially the communication of outputs to target audiences and thereby achieve greater impact of all activities undertaken by the ES Department.

Programme 2.2.0: Intra-departmental Entities

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.0.A1

Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information for Better Policy Targeting (FIVIMS)

0

3,835

3,835

(75)

3,760

2.2.0.P1

World Food Summit and Millennium Development Goals Monitoring and Action

0

1,641

1,641

(54)

1,587

2.2.0.S1

Servicing the Committee on World Food Security

0

524

524

0

524

Total

0

6,000

6,000

(129)

5,871

Cost Increases

   

221

 

217

Total - recosted

   

6,221

 

6,088

398. This Programme clusters those entities within Major Programme 2.2 that relate most directly to the WFS target of halving the number of undernourished by 2015 and the UN-wide efforts towards the MDGs. It is inter-disciplinary in nature, with outputs implemented by units across the ES Department. Servicing of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Elaboration of Voluntary Guidelines for the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security falls within this programme, but is financed from extra-budgetary resources.

220A1 - Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information for Better Policy Targeting (FIVIMS)

399. Objective: assist Members and the international community in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes to achieve the food security goals of the WFS and other international conferences, by providing accurate and timely information on the incidence, nature and causes of food insecurity and vulnerability at the national and sub-national levels.

Biennial Outputs

220P1 - World Food Summit and Millennium Development Goals Monitoring and Action

400. Objective: an operational mechanism is set up, monitoring progress towards the attainment of the WFS goals and helping decision makers in governments, donor agencies and civil society to implement policies and manage food security interventions and take corrective action, as necessary.

Biennial Outputs

220S1 - Servicing the Committee on World Food Security

401. Objective: harmonised and prioritised implementation of the World Food Summit Plan of Action by member nations and their various development partners.

Biennial Outputs

Impact of Zero Real Growth (ZRG) Resource Levels

While resources for the Committee on World Food Security are not affected, reductions under the other two entities would affect support to the Inter-Agency Working Group on FIVIMS and some capacity building activities (220A1) and analytical work under 220P1

Extra-budgetary Resources

402. As recalled above, servicing of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Elaboration of Voluntary Guidelines for the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security is financed from extra-budgetary resources. Donor support is also expected for normative FIVIMS work on the determination of indicators and mapping tools as well as FIVIMS start-up activities within countries, particularly within the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF)/Common Country Assessments (CCA) and the World Bank sponsored Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).

2004-05 Estimates by Funding Source, Unit and Region (US$ 000)

Funding Source

Organizational Unit

Region

Fund

Total

Unit

Programme of Work

Trust Fund

Total

Region

Total

Programme of Work

 

AFI

231

0

231

Global

7,812

Regular Programme

6,000

ESA

2,246

181

2,427

Inter-Regional

2,128

Programme of Work

6,000

ESC

66

0

66

Africa

692

Trust Fund Activities

 

ESD

603

6,021

6,624

Asia and Pacific

523

Trust Funds

6,202

ESN

432

0

432

Near East

246

Trust Fund Activities

6,202

ESS

1,067

0

1,067

Europe

288

   

GIL

80

0

80

Latin America / Caribbean

513

   

RO

973

0

973

   
   

SO

302

0

302

   

Programme 2.2.0 Total

12,202

 

6,000

6,202

12,202

 

12,202

Programme 2.2.1: Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.1.A1

Human Nutrition Requirements

1,074

(1,074)

0

0

0

2.2.1.A2

Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development

1,803

(1)

1,802

(43)

1,759

2.2.1.A4

Community Action for Improved Household Food Security and Nutrition

1,277

(246)

1,031

(40)

991

2.2.1.A5

Food and Nutrition Education, Communications and Training

1,104

163

1,267

(30)

1,237

2.2.1.A6

Nutrition and Household Food Security in Emergencies

666

(9)

657

(31)

626

2.2.1.P1

Nutrient Requirements and Dietary Assessment for Food Safety and Quality

736

794

1,530

(222)

1,308

2.2.1.P2

Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius)

4,724

849

5,573

(21)

5,552

2.2.1.P5

Food Quality Control and Consumer Protection

2,450

268

2,718

(356)

2,362

2.2.1.P6

Food Safety Assessment and Rapid Alert System

1,495

956

2,451

(10)

2,441

2.2.1.P7

Public Information about Nutrition, Food Quality and Safety

366

(51)

315

(7)

308

2.2.1.P8

Food Quality and Safety throughout the Food Chain

0

226

226

(77)

149

2.2.1.S1

Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

1,355

(64)

1,291

(195)

1,096

Total

17,050

1,811

18,861

(1,032)

17,829

Cost Increases

   

756

 

732

Total - recosted

   

19,617

 

18,561

403. The programme is structured in five technical projects (TPs) and five continuing programme activities (CPs), in addition to the usual technical services agreement (TS). A major priority is to ensure quality and safety of food for consumer protection and fair practices in food trade. Together with WHO, the programme provides a forum for risk assessment of chemical, biological and microbiological food-borne hazards. Through the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, it hosts the Secretariat of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which develops and adopts science-based international food standards and related instruments for use of governments.

404. The programme also seeks to improve dietary intakes and promote nutritional well-being for all, giving particular attention to food insecure and nutritionally vulnerable households and population groups. Policy and technical advice is provided to Members on various aspects of food and nutrition, including the implementation of national plans of action, as a follow-up to the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) and the WFS.

405. The programme develops international norms for nutrient requirements and coordinates international food composition, food consumption and dietary assessment work. It provides guidelines, training and technical support for national food control systems and specific nutrition programmes and activities, and for incorporating nutrition improvement objectives into development initiatives. It covers methodologies for monitoring, surveillance and assessment of human nutrition and household food security requirements under a wide range of situations.

221A2 - Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development

406. Objective: to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of national plans of action for food security and nutrition.

Biennial Outputs

221A4 - Community Action for Improved Household Food Security and Nutrition

407. Objective: assist national and international development institutions and NGOs to initiate, implement and evaluate community-based programmes aimed at improving household food security and nutrition in both urban and rural areas; enhance collaboration among development practitioners towards practical community-based food security and nutrition interventions.

Biennial Outputs

221A5 - Food and Nutrition Education, Communications and Training

408. Objective: strengthened capacities of national and local institutions in developing countries and countries in transition to implement effective nutrition education and communication programmes and activities.

Biennial Outputs

221A6 - Nutrition and Household Food Security in Emergencies

409. Objective: national and international development institutions working in emergencies have the technical skills to take due account of nutrition aspects in emergency preparedness, response and rehabilitation.

Biennial Outputs

221P1 - Nutrient Requirements and Dietary Assessment for Food Safety and Quality

410. Objective: international accepted estimates of the minimum, optimal and maximum safe intakes of macro-nutrients (energy, protein, carbohydrates, fats), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements), non-nutrients, and anti-nutrients used as a basis to provide advice on healthy diets, to estimate the number of under-nourished and assist countries in assessing their food needs designing nutrition programmes.

Biennial Outputs

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

411. Objective: internationally accepted, science-based food standards and related instruments are used by governments at the national level, or as a reference in bi-lateral, regional or international agreements to protect consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.

Biennial Outputs

221P5 - Food Quality Control and Consumer Protection

412. Objective: to help countries organise and manage their food control systems, harmonise their food standards and regulations with the Codex Alimentarius, participate in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and therefore facilitate access of their products to international food markets.

Biennial Outputs

221P6 - Food Safety Assessment and Rapid Alert System

413. Objective: to assist countries with sound, scientific assessments of food-related risks, allowing them to respond appropriately to food-related crises and to implement effective regulatory systems; enhance transparency in international food trade through globally accepted scientific assessments.

Biennial Outputs

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

414. Objective: a steady stream of unbiased information on nutrition, food insecurity, diet and health, under-nutrition, livelihood strategies, food quality and safety, food regulations and international food standards reaches out to the food industry, consumer organizations, NGOs, and is relayed to the general public.

Biennial Outputs

221P8 - Food Quality and Safety throughout the Food Chain

415. Objective: contribute to the development of comprehensive and efficient food safety systems and provide a framework for more focused policy advice, provision of safety evaluations, capacity building and technical assistance, and required interventions along the food chain.

Biennial Outputs

221S1 - Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

416. Objective: institutional building for assessing and ensuring food quality and safety throughout the food chain, and for regulatory food control; improved access to international food markets; improved participation in Codex work; Safer food for the local consumer. National and international development institutions, ministries, NGOs, donors, and educational institutes, will use their improved and strengthened capacity to initiate, manage and evaluate better community-based programmes aimed at improving household food security and nutrition, nutrition education, and preparedness for nutrition in emergencies.

Biennial Outputs

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

The contribution that 221P5 - Food Quality Control and Consumer Protection, could make to capacity building in member countries would be curtailed, as would the normative contribution of 221P1 - Nutrient Requirements and Dietary Assessment for Food Quality and Safety, to food quality and safety standard setting. Under 221S1, lower resources would imply reduced technical assistance and capacity building in nutrition and food quality and safety.

Extra-budgetary Resources

417. Field activities are expected to expand particularly in the areas of capacity building for national food control systems, for the protection of consumer health and for facilitating international trade in agricultural commodities, as well as to support household food security and nutrition programmes. Extra-budgetary resources to expand normative work, will permit the creation of an Internet-based portal for the exchange of information between countries on conventions and standards relating to food safety and plant and animal health. Donor support is anticipated for conducting international and regional conferences on food quality and safety, with related follow-up activities at national level.

2004-05 Estimates by Funding Source, Unit and Region (US$ 000)

Funding Source

Organizational Unit

Region

Fund

Total

Unit

Programme of Work

Trust Fund

Total

Region

Total

Programme of Work

 

AFI

532

0

532

Global

14,542

Regular Programme

17,563

ESN

15,850

5,599

21,449

Inter-Regional

3,188

TF / UNDP PSC

70

FAOR

16

1,842

1,858

Africa

3,245

Technical Support Service Income

24

RO

1,385

581

1,966

Asia and Pacific

2,540

Secondments

81

SO

1,078

0

1,078

Near East

2,536

CODEX (WHO)

1,123

TCE

0

1,353

1,353

Europe

888

Programme of Work

18,861

       

Latin America / Caribbean

1,297

Trust Fund Activities

             

Trust Funds

9,375

           

Trust Fund Activities

9,375

           

Programme 2.2.1 Total

28,236

 

18,861

9,375

28,236

 

28,236

Programme 2.2.2: Food and Agricultural Information

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.2.A1

Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS)

3,886

(3,886)

0

0

0

2.2.2.A2

FAO/World Bank/USDA Initiative for Agricultural Statistics in Africa

422

18

440

(19)

421

2.2.2.A3

FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System

341

0

341

(108)

233

2.2.2.A4

Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality

0

151

151

(71)

80

2.2.2.A5

World Agriculture Information Resource System (WAIR)

488

1,807

2,295

(130)

2,165

2.2.2.P1

Agricultural Resources and Income Statistics

2,507

23

2,530

(166)

2,364

2.2.2.P2

Agricultural Production, Trade Statistics and Food Balance Sheets

4,777

28

4,805

(271)

4,534

2.2.2.P3

Agricultural Statistics Development

1,850

67

1,917

(224)

1,693

2.2.2.P5

Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage

2,066

(292)

1,774

(25)

1,749

2.2.2.P6

WAICENT Corporate Information Management and Dissemination Systems

3,991

362

4,353

(61)

4,292

2.2.2.P7

Standards, Norms and Procedures for Improved Access to Agricultural Information

3,119

(1,943)

1,176

(49)

1,127

2.2.2.P8

Facilitation of WAICENT Outreach

1,771

448

2,219

(114)

2,105

2.2.2.P9

Virtual Library and Library Information Services in Support of WAICENT

4,230

594

4,824

(141)

4,683

2.2.2.S1

Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

1,648

123

1,771

(35)

1,736

2.2.2.S2

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

2,266

518

2,784

(358)

2,426

Total

33,362

(1,982)

31,380

(1,772)

29,608

Cost Increases

   

1,094

 

1,036

Total - recosted

   

32,474

 

30,644

418. Members and the international community require comprehensive information and statistics based on common concepts, standards and definitions for international comparisons and to reflect the global situation. The programme involves the compilation and dissemination of statistics on production, trade and food supply and consumption, as well as statistics on the economics of agriculture and on gender-disaggregation. At the national level, it provides assistance for strengthening statistical information systems so that reliable and timely data are available for policy formulation and decision making.

419. This programme includes the corporate information platform (WAICENT) aimed at the effective management of FAO's store of information and its widest dissemination to Members. It coordinates methods and standards for the management of this information. Within the WAICENT framework, multilingual corporate information systems, i.e. the Corporate Database for Substantive Statistical Data (FAOSTAT), the FAO Information Database (FAOINFO), the Virtual Library, and AGRIS are key components. The Programme also develops new information systems in response to changing information perspectives, such as WAIR, the Corporate Document Repository and FAO Country Profiles.

420. After the transfer of FIVIMS to Programme 2.2.0, four TPs address time-bound initiatives. The ongoing nature of FAO's data and information collection and dissemination work explains the substantial number of distinct CPs. One entity (222P5) is dedicated to spearheading enhanced language coverage in FAO's work. The Programme also includes two TS.

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

421. Objective: national governments, the private sector and development agencies take advantage of more integrated, reliable and timely statistical information on food and agriculture in Africa, to improve sectoral planning and enhance monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the agricultural sector.

Biennial Outputs

222A3 - FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System

422. Objective: analysts, researchers, project formulators and policy makers will have a comprehensive, area-specific view of the state of agriculture, enabling them to take a coordinated approach across sectors, to identify specific target areas and/or populations in need of attention and to better define technical or emergency assistance.

Biennial Outputs

222A4 - Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality

423. Objective: the complete overhaul of FAO statistical database with more reliable, methodologically-sound and transparent data and new aggregations and extrapolations functions, providing decision makers with improved data series, therefore, contributing to improved planning, evaluation and policy setting in countries.

Biennial Outputs

222A5 - World Agriculture Information Resource System (WAIR)

424. Objective: decision makers, scientists and development workers will have access to a centralised gateway to multimedia resource collections on research and development in agriculture, and will be better able to search and retrieve information relevant to their work. Members will become proactive participants in the management and networking of national agricultural and research information systems.

Biennial Outputs

222P1 - Agricultural Resources and Income Statistics

425. Objective: to provide analysts and policy makers in governments and development agencies with: a set of up-to-date and world-wide statistical series and indicators relating to land use, population, labour force, agricultural inputs, prices, income, investment, resource flows and environmental issues; and statistical profiles with integrated presentation of key indicators of the agricultural sector.

Biennial Outputs

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

426. Objective: to provide users in FAO and the world community at large with a set of consistent and up-to-date series and indicators relating to production, trade and utilisation - crop and livestock - statistics to analyse and monitor the food and agricultural regional and global situation and to support decision making.

Biennial Outputs

222P3 - Agricultural Statistics Development

427. Objective: improved availability, reliability, timeliness and usefulness of statistics relating to food and agriculture at the national level for improved sector planning, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes addressing food security issues.

Biennial Outputs

222P5 - Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage

428. Objective: ensure that information and normative products generated under all programmes are accessible in the required FAO languages.

Biennial Outputs

222P6 - WAICENT Corporate Information Management and Dissemination Systems

429. Objective: decision makers, researchers, planners and evaluators, in particular in developing countries, will be assured timely access to multilingual information on food, agriculture and rural development via Web-based and other media such as CD-ROM, scanning and digitisation technologies.

Biennial Outputs

222P7 - Standards, Norms and Procedures for Improved Access to Agricultural Information

430. Objective: the adoption of international standards and methodologies for the collection, storage and dissemination of electronic information pertaining to food and agriculture, enabling better management of national information systems, and resulting in increased utilisation of available information.

Biennial Outputs

222P8 - Facilitation of WAICENT Outreach

431. Objective: enhanced ability of individuals and communities in countries to access and exchange information and knowledge, as well as improve the efficiency, quality and relevance of information being exchanged among the various stakeholder groups involved in agricultural development and food security.

Biennial Outputs

222P9 - Virtual Library and Library Information Services in Support of WAICENT

432. Objective: development projects and national agriculture support systems have access to technical information and expert knowledge on effective agricultural practices.

Biennial Outputs

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

433. Objective: the objective of this entity is to assist national governments, the private sector and development partners to have better access to reliable and timely statistics relating to food and agriculture for improved sector planning and monitoring and evaluation as well as for addressing food security issues.

Biennial Outputs

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

434. Objective: enhanced ability of individuals and communities in member countries to better mobilise, access and exchange information and knowledge, as well as improve the efficiency, quality and relevance of information and knowledge being exchanged among the various stakeholder groups involved in agricultural development and food security, with a focus on the most vulnerable and deprived groups.

Biennial Outputs

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

Efforts to improve coverage, quality and timeliness of core statistical information and activities under 222A4 - Systematic Evaluation and Improvement of Statistical Data Quality, 222P1 - Agricultural Resources and Income Statistics, and 222P2 - Agricultural Production, Trade Statistics and Food Balance Sheets, would be compromised. Support to national capacity building under 222P3 - Agricultural Statistics Development, would be reduced. Enhancements to the multilingual, thematic database and digital map repository of the FAO Country Profiles and Mapping System under 222A3 would be delayed. Under 222S2, reduced resources for collecting indicators on national information management strategies would jeopardize timely Consultation on Agricultural Information Management (COAIM) reports to countries and FAO participation in key UN coordinating fora would be limited. Less resources for 222P9 - Virtual Library, means reduced access to technical information resources in priority subject areas. Lower capacity to implement the AGORA project under 222A5 would deprive developing countries of information to support key national programmes.

Extra-budgetary Resources

435. The field programme will continue to aim at strengthening the capacity of developing countries to produce statistical and other information for their own planning purposes, as well as for international comparison purposes. Extra-budgetary resources are used in particular to support the FAO/World Bank/USDA Initiative for Agricultural Statistics in Africa (222A2), and will be sought for the introduction and/or adoption at the country level of tools, conceptual frameworks, methodologies and training materials for information management applications developed by FAO.

2004-05 Estimates by Funding Source, Unit and Region (US$ 000)

Funding Source

Organizational Unit

Region

Fund

Total

Unit

Programme of Work

Trust Fund

Total

Region

Total

Programme of Work

 

AFI

3,432

0

3,432

Global

17,926

Regular Programme

31,081

ESS

9,493

3,947

13,440

Inter-Regional

1,298

World Bank

77

FAOR

16

218

234

Africa

4,087

Jointly Funded Activities

40

GII

1,769

0

1,769

Asia and Pacific

4,160

TF / UNDP PSC

14

GIL

13,634

653

14,287

Near East

5,472

Technical Support Service Income

90

RO

2,386

815

3,201

Europe

1,816

Secondments

78

SO

650

0

650

Latin America / Caribbean

2,284

Programme of Work

31,380

TCE

0

31

31

   

Trust Fund Activities

             

Trust Funds

5,664

           

Trust Fund Activities

5,664

           

Programme 2.2.2 Total

37,044

 

31,380

5,664

37,044

 

37,044

Programme 2.2.3: Food and Agricultural Monitoring,
Assessments and Outlooks

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.3.A1

Global Perspective Studies

1,186

(1,186)

0

0

0

2.2.3.A2

Global Food and Agricultural Perspective Studies

0

1,196

1,196

(22)

1,174

2.2.3.P2

The State of Food and Agriculture

1,167

(3)

1,164

(112)

1,052

2.2.3.P3

Market Assessments for Basic Food Commodities and Impact on Global Food Security

1,458

(22)

1,436

(45)

1,391

2.2.3.P4

Projections and Global Commodity Market Assessments

986

49

1,035

(87)

948

2.2.3.P5

Market Assessments of Tropical, Horticultural and Raw Material Commodities and Impact on Food Security

1,976

31

2,007

(78)

1,929

2.2.3.P6

Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture

5,924

196

6,120

(174)

5,946

2.2.3.S1

Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

532

245

777

(19)

758

Total

13,229

506

13,735

(537)

13,198

Cost Increases

   

626

 

608

Total - recosted

   

14,361

 

13,806

436. The programme serves to meet Members' requirements for regular and timely flows of information on, and assessments of, current food supply/demand situation, the outlook for agricultural commodities, and for strategic analyses and perspectives on longer-term food and agriculture and food security at national, regional and global levels.

437. The programme builds on core statistical information generated mainly through Programme 2.2.2, as well as commodity market information within Programme 2.2.3. It addresses cross-cutting issues having policy implications, particularly food security in developing countries. SOFA is a major vehicle to report policy-oriented analyses that contribute to and influence debate on emerging food security, rural and agricultural development issues. The programme provides assessments of the world commodity situation and its short and medium-term implications and fosters understanding of the impact that agricultural development and commodity export earnings have on food security. The GIEWS will pursue its essential role in alerting the world community to pending food shortages, and wide circulation of the results of the global perspective study, Agriculture Towards 2015/30, will be continued.

223A2 - Global Food and Agricultural Perspective Studies

438. Objective: key decision makers at national and international levels will be more aware of long-term developments, constraints and opportunities in world food, nutrition and agriculture, and will be able to make more informed policy and programmatic choices, as a result.

Biennial Outputs

223P2 - The State of Food and Agriculture

439. Objective: decision makers can make improved policy or planning decisions based on enhanced awareness and understanding of global or major trends, constraints and opportunities in agricultural development.

Biennial Outputs

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

440. Objective: the key actors in food and agricultural commodity market will be able to make better decisions in adapting to changing market conditions. In particular, decision makers in governments will promote appropriate programmes or policies aimed at enabling the private sector to seize emerging commodity market opportunities.

Biennial Outputs

223P4 - Projections and Global Commodity Market Assessments

441. Objective: countries adjust their policies, strategies and plans to seize trade-related opportunities, based on increased awareness of current developments and future prospects in global commodity markets.

Biennial Outputs

223P5 - Market Assessments of Tropical, Horticultural and Raw Material Commodities and Impact on Food Security

442. Objective: enhanced market efficiency and improved participation in commodity markets by developing countries, through better informed policies and decision making.

Biennial Outputs

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

443. Objective: enable the provision of relief assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters in time to prevent loss of life or minimise human suffering.

Biennial Outputs

223S1 - Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

444. Objective: improved technical and economic efficiency of commodity markets, and enhanced capability of member countries to maximise benefits from commodity production and trade; mobilisation of extra-budgetary resources in support of these aims

Biennial Outputs

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

The scope and coverage of information produced under 223P2 – The State of Food and Agriculture, and 223P4 – Projections and Global Commodity Assessment, would be scaled down. 223P6 – Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture, would have insufficient resources to meet the increasing number of requests from countries for crop and food supply assessment missions and timely reports and alerts.

Extra-budgetary Resources

445. Extra-budgetary resources are expected to support the further development of GIEWS information technology applications and, where feasible, national and regional early warning systems. They will also be used in projects or activities to strengthen the competitiveness of developing countries exports and for conducting analytical case studies on the functioning of commodity markets.

2004-05 Estimates by Funding Source, Unit and Region (US$ 000)

Funding Source

Organizational Unit

Region

Fund

Total

Unit

Programme of Work

Trust Fund

Total

Region

Total

Programme of Work

 

AFI

550

0

550

Global

8,626

Regular Programme

13,625

ESA

1,104

91

1,195

Inter-Regional

364

TF / UNDP PSC

70

ESC

10,646

654

11,300

Africa

1,992

Technical Support Service Income

40

ESD

1,169

0

1,169

Asia and Pacific

1,471

Programme of Work

13,735

FAOR

16

0

16

Near East

6,762

Trust Fund Activities

 

RO

224

905

1,129

Europe

665

Trust Funds

6,874

SO

26

0

26

Latin America / Caribbean

729

Trust Fund Activities

6,874

TCE

0

5,224

5,224

   

Programme 2.2.3 Total

20,609

 

13,735

6,874

20,609

 

20,609

Programme 2.2.4: Agriculture, Food Security and Trade Policy

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.4.A1

World Food Summit Monitoring and Follow-up

616

(616)

0

0

0

2.2.4.A2

Commodity and Trade Policy Support to Developing Countries for Trade Negotiations

941

488

1,429

(66)

1,363

2.2.4.A3

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

671

(671)

0

0

0

2.2.4.P1

Agricultural Adjustment and Policy Reforms

1,626

(73)

1,553

(43)

1,510

2.2.4.P2

Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Food Security: Analysis of Linkages

1,559

212

1,771

(175)

1,596

2.2.4.P3

Economics of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

436

182

618

(161)

457

2.2.4.P4

Analysis and Consensus-Building on Emerging Commodity and Trade Issues

4,983

(1,161)

3,822

(136)

3,686

2.2.4.P5

Enhancing Diversification and Competitiveness of Agricultural Commodities

1,132

(31)

1,101

(37)

1,064

2.2.4.S1

Technical Support Services to Member Nations and the Field Programme

2,174

(448)

1,726

(44)

1,682

Total

14,138

(2,118)

12,020

(662)

11,358

Cost Increases

   

543

 

525

Total - recosted

   

12,563

 

11,883

446. This programme aims at sustainable improvements in the standard of living and nutritional status of the whole population, taking full advantage of the contributions made by agriculture to economic and rural development and to the reduction of poverty and food insecurity. Sound agricultural policies play a major role in this effort. In an increasingly complex and rapidly changing international trade environment, countries need to strengthen their agricultural trade performance by improving competitiveness and developing appropriate policies. This programme also covers comparative analyses of food security and agricultural development experiences and aims at informing policy advice rendered by FAO. The outputs are mainly in terms of publications, meetings and seminars. Advisory services are provided in collaboration with the Policy Assistance Division (TCA).

447. In the area of policy analysis, emphasis is given to how policies could promote harmonious development of both agriculture and the overall rural space, including opportunities for the poor to improve their livelihoods. In relation to poverty and food security, attention is given to the analysis of the persistence of hunger, its effects on the society at large and the ways (policies, programmes, institutions) in which it can be effectively tackled. Taking account of environmental and natural resources in the mainstream agricultural policy framework, and innovative schemes of environmental payments for poverty reduction, constitute important elements.

448. In the high priority area of trade policy, the broad objective is to strengthen national capacities, particularly of developing countries, for fuller participation in bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations, as well as the formulation of better trade policies. Special attention is given to pursuing reforms of the Intergovernmental Group (IGG) system including thematic commodity conferences in collaboration with other bodies; further work on the linkages between scientific developments and agricultural commodity trade; and assisting developing countries in more rational formulation of trade policies in light of changing international environment.

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

449. Objective: countries, especially developing countries, are able to participate effectively in trade negotiations affecting the international regulatory framework for agriculture.

Biennial Outputs

224P1 - Agricultural Adjustment and Policy Reforms

450. Objective: policy makers and international organizations have increased awareness of the need to revise agricultural policies, build their capacity to design, adjust and evaluate policies of relevance to agriculture and rural development, and use this capacity to negotiate and implement enabling policy frameworks for agriculture development.

Biennial Outputs

224P2 - Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Food Security: Analysis of Linkages

451. Objective: strengthened awareness among decision makers at national and international levels about the importance of reversing declining resource flows to agricultural and rural development and improving the policy environment in order to fight hunger and poverty.

Biennial Outputs

224P3 - Economics of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability

452. Objective: decision makers, increasingly aware of the economics of environmental degradation, propose, adopt and implement agricultural policies and programmes taking environmental costs into account; supporting the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and conventions.

Biennial Outputs

224P4 - Analysis and Consensus-Building on Emerging Commodity and Trade Issues

453. Objective: the international trading system becomes better accepted by all countries as a fair and efficient system, and developing countries improve their capacity in maximising the benefits from trade in processed and semi-processed food and agricultural commodities.

Biennial Outputs

224P5 - Enhancing Diversification and Competitiveness of Agricultural Commodities

454. Objective: more effective national commodity and trade development strategies; enhanced capacity to generate individual commodity and trade development projects aimed at improved competitiveness and exploitation of market opportunities.

Biennial Outputs

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

455. Objective: the objective is to provide technical support to countries and regions in implementing the World Food Summit Plan of Action in the manner most appropriate to the country and region specific context through fostering information exchange, debate and consensus-building on policy issues identified as most critical to reducing hunger sustainably, and providing advisory services on request.

Biennial Outputs

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

Normative work underpinning agricultural and food security policy analysis would be reduced under 224P2 – Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and Food Security: Analysis of Linkages. The planned expansion of work on 224P3 – Economics of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, would not be feasible due to the inability to create a P-3 post of Environmental Economist. Work on issues related to the economics of natural resource management and poverty alleviation, particularly by ensuring leadership in using multilateral environmental agreements for poverty alleviation would be drastically curtailed.

Extra-budgetary Resources

456. Analytical studies and capacity building for countries to participate as well-informed and equal partners in WTO trade negotiations on agriculture remain strong candidates to attract donor interest. Extra-budgetary resources are to support normative work on the socio-economic analysis and the policy implications of the roles of agriculture in developing countries, and on ways to improve information to guide emergency operations, especially in situations of complex emergencies, where normal information systems have stopped functioning. Moreover, extra-budgetary resources should enable FAO to carry out further analyses of the various dimensions of food security, and direct field work on food security information systems.

2004-05 Estimates by Funding Source, Unit and Region (US$ 000)

Funding Source

Organizational Unit

Region

Fund

Total

Unit

Programme of Work

Trust Fund

Total

Region

Total

Programme of Work

 

AFI

476

0

476

Global

5,252

Regular Programme

11,810

ESA

4,350

2,853

7,203

Inter-Regional

2,042

TF / UNDP PSC

130

ESC

5,909

410

6,319

Africa

3,408

Secondments

80

FAOR

16

0

16

Asia and Pacific

1,697

Programme of Work

12,020

RO

787

815

1,602

Near East

1,544

Trust Fund Activities

 

SO

482

0

482

Europe

618

Trust Funds

4,079

TCE

0

1

1

Latin America / Caribbean

1,539

Trust Fund Activities

4,079

           

Programme 2.2.4 Total

16,099

 

12,020

4,079

16,099

 

16,099

Programme 2.2.9: Programme Management

(All amounts in US$ 000)

 

Programme Entity

2002-03 Programme of Work

RG Programme Change

RG 2004-05 Programme of Work

ZRG Programme Change

ZRG 2004-05 Programme of Work

2.2.9.S1

Departmental Direction

3,351

701

4,052

(359)

3,693

2.2.9.S2

Divisional Direction

3,495

232

3,727

(29)

3,698

2.2.9.S3

Regional and Sub-regional Direction

1,844

55

1,899

(6)

1,893

Total

8,690

988

9,678

(394)

9,284

Cost Increases

   

431

 

416

Total - recosted

   

10,109

 

9,700

457. This programme covers the immediate Office of Assistant Director-General (ESD), including the Programme Coordination Unit (ESDP), the offices of Division Directors and those parts of regional office direction attributable to the programmes on food and agriculture policy and development. The increase in programme management under 229S1 results from a technical adjustment in the distribution of the Management Support Service (MSS) of AFD.

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

The proposal to establish a new Communications Officer post would need to be cancelled, forsaking the expected improved outreach of the Department’s activities.

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