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

Distribution of Resources by Strategic Objectives

Main Substantive Thrusts and Priorities

540. This major programme ensures an integrated approach to planning, coordinating and monitoring of FAO’s work on sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the social, environmental and human dimensions. Due attention is given to follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), its Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the associated conventions on climate change, biodiversity and desertification. The major programme covers the important environmental, scientific and agricultural education dimensions of the extensive partnerships generated in follow-up to the World Food Summit (WFS) and the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It also spearheads efforts to internalize major issues and recommendations arising from other important international conferences into the technical work of the Organization. The major programme coordinates FAO’s policy inputs to the work of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and provides technical and logistical support to the Secretariat of the CGIAR’s Science Council (SC), as well as the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). It is instrumental in promoting gender mainstreaming throughout the Organization, based on the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action. It also provides direct policy and technical advice on socio-economic and gender analysis in the agriculture and rural sector, including capacity-building in countries. In addition, it is spearheading institution-wide efforts to analyse and address the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on agriculture, food security and rural development, in response to calls from FAO Governing Bodies and the World Food Summit: five years later (WFS:fyl). Finally, the major programme is focal point for the FAO/UNESCO initiative on Education for Rural People, for which FAO is the lead Agency.

541. Programme 2.5.6 covers the Regular Programme’s provision for the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in Low Income Food Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), also ensuring house-wide coordination of its implementation.

542. The objectives sought under this major programme require networking both within FAO and with external partners to facilitate and coordinate FAO-wide activities in high priority areas such as: gender, sustainable agriculture and rural development, sustainable livelihoods, people’s participation, land tenure, environment and natural resources, agricultural research, extension, education and training, and communication for development. In effect, the major programme is involved in all the 16 Priority Areas for Interdisciplinary Action (PAIAs); provides the secretariat for 6 of them and chairpersons to three.

543. Priorities include:

1. promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development and more equitable access to land and other natural resources towards sustainable livelihoods and food security in rural areas;
2. assistance in strengthening of public, private sector and civil society rural institutions at national, regional and local levels, including institutional decentralisation;
3. knowledge enhancement and technology assessment and transfer, including the promotion of environmentally sound and safe biotechnology applications, through partnerships with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), regional research organizations, CGIAR centres, other development agencies and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs);
4. assistance in analysis, policy formulation and design of strategies for improving the capacity and relevance of national agricultural research systems, and ensuring efficient delivery of extension, education, rural youth and communication systems;
5. the use of environmental observing systems and geographic information technology for database development, and application in decision-support tools;
6. enhancing awareness of the important constraints posed by HIV/AIDS on agricultural production, and the need to mitigate the implications for food security and rural livelihoods;
7. ensuring systematic collection of gender-disaggregated data and information and use of socio-economic and gender analysis for agricultural policy and programme development and implementation; and
8. supporting the continued expansion of the SPFS, for the solution of acute food production and supply problems in beneficiary countries.

Resources

544. Even under the Real Growth (RG) scenario, regrettably budget cuts had to be enforced, particularly for Programme 2.5.1 and 2.5.3, to shift resources to other areas leading to negative impacts, which would be even more acute under Zero Real Growth (ZRG) conditions. Therefore, under programme 2.5.1, some regional activities in support of research and technology will be decisively reduced, as well as technical support to some countries as regards extension, education, rural youth and communications. Moreover, work related to agro-ecosystem approach will be eliminated and activities in support of organic agriculture will be curtailed. Some reductions will also take place for GeoNetwork, Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), Geographic information system services, bio-energy and land cover mapping.

545. Under Programme 2.5.3, support to farmers’ organizations (cooperatives, producer associations and farmer groups) will be severely curtailed. Increased demands for support to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD), compound the overall decline in resources, requiring a severe reduction of the allocation for entity 253P1, which provides support for the UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security, in order to strengthen entity 253A2.

546. Resources for Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population have declined because of the withdrawal of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) funding for population-related issues. This has been partially offset by the addition of a new P-5 post (Senior Officer on HIV/AIDS and Food Security) under joint funding from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and FAO's Regular Programme. This has allowed the creation of a new programme entity 252A4, which will emphasize the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on food security.

547. The increase under 259 programme management results in part from a technical adjustment at Headquarters, in the distribution of the costs of the Management Support Service of AFD, and from the addition of a Registry Clerk post in the Office of Assistant Director-General, SD (SDD).

Programme 2.5.1: Research, Natural Resources Management
and Technology Transfer

548. Programme 2.5.1 brings together important activities on research, dissemination of agricultural knowledge and technology, human resources development and natural resources and environmental management. It aims at making national institutions more effective in the generation of knowledge and in the adaptation of technologies relevant to national agricultural contexts. It promotes national, regional and international cooperation in research and technology. It is the integrative point for matters relating to the environment, energy, natural resources information and monitoring, agro-meteorology and promotion of eco-technologies.

251A1 - Integrated Use of Information for Sustainable Development

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

251A3 - Partnerships for Improving Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

• Institutional support to all GFAR stakeholders (NARS, regional/sub-regional fora, civil society organizations)
• Development of regional and sub-regional research agenda based on identified priorities, through related fora and facilitation of global research partnership programmes
• Operationalisation of the Regional Agricultural Information Systems(RAIS) as building blocks of the Electronic Global Forum on Agricultural Research (EGFAR)

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

251P1 - Environmental Geo-Information Infrastructure and Services

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

Biennial Outputs

• Electronic facilities for improved access to FAO spatially-referenced data and information (Reduced in ZRG)
• Environmental data acquisition and management in support of early warning systems (Reduced in ZRG)
• Norms and guidelines for management and access to spatial data (e.g. UNGIWG)
• Cartographic and mapping services and tools to other technical units, including land and water development, pest and disease forecasting, and environmental databases for food security (e.g. FIVIMS) (Reduced in ZRG)

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

251P4 - Secretariat of the CGIAR Science Council

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

• Ongoing assistance to countries in strengthening agricultural research and technology development capabilities (Reduced in ZRG)
• Ongoing assistance to countries in programme development, advice and collaboration in extension, education, communication and rural youth (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical assistance to member countries for environmentally-sound agricultural development (Reduced in ZRG)
• Support to the implementation of Agenda 21 and follow up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

In order to meet the necessary cut of US$ 1,500,000 over the current provision in ZRG, five posts – one P-5, two P-4s and two General Service posts – would have to be frozen, and one P-3 post abolished. These staff reductions would directly affect several programme entities and activities in several regions or sub-regions (Regional Office for Europe [REU], Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific [RAP] and the Subregional Office for the Caribbean [SLAC]). In addition, non-staff resources would be at a much lower level. The impact of these actions would be:

Dissemination of Agricultural Knowledge and Technology for Food Security and Sustainable Development: The elimination of a P-3 post in REU, and freezing of a P-5 at Headquarters and a P-4 post in SLAC, and the concurrent elimination of non-staff resources, would severely limit the programme’s capacity to effectively respond to country requests, for specialized technical assistance and normative guidance in the fields of research, technology transfer, extension, education and communication for development. At a time when agricultural systems are undergoing big transformations at national, regional and global levels, FAO would face limitations in strengthening institutions dealing with agricultural knowledge and technology assessment and transfer.

Environment and Natural Resources: The freezing of a P-4 post in RAP and two General Service posts at Headquarters would have their greatest impact on the support to the implementation of environmental agreements, agro-ecosystem analysis and lead to the elimination of environmental impact assessments. FAO participation in inter-governmental technical and policy meetings related to environmental conventions, as well as the follow-up to the World Summit in Sustainable Development, would be severely reduced. There would be significant reductions in technical activities related to agro-meteorology; geo-information, global environmental change and remote sensing.

Extra-budgetary Resources

559. Extra-budgetary resources will be primarily geared to: assisting developing countries in the application of biotechnology and strengthening capacity in biosafety and in the harmonisation of frameworks (251A3); capacity-building linked to programmes on “Education for Rural People” (251A4); providing a global forum for agricultural research institutions (251A5); building awareness on the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for food security, with emphasis on rural radio (251P3); and improving access to technical information in support of SPFS (251A4 and 251P3).

560. Extra-budgetary resources will also support ongoing work on integrated use of environmental information, support to environmental agreements and development of geo-spatial products and services. Technical assistance services are likely to be funded by donors relating to environmental information system development and decision support tools for a range of countries (251S1).

Programme 2.5.2: Gender and Population

561. The primary thrust of this programme is to provide policy advice, technical assistance, capacity-building and training services to Members and a variety of stakeholders in mainstreaming gender and population issues in agricultural, environmental and rural development policies, legislation, programmes and projects, including in agricultural censuses and surveys. The programme also faces an increased demand for policy advice and technical assistance to analyze the constraints caused by HIV/AIDS on agricultural production and to develop appropriate strategies for the agricultural sector to address and mitigate the impacts of this epidemic on food security and rural livelihoods, taking into account the gender-differentiated nature of such impacts. The programme provides the Chair and Secretariat to the PAIA on Gender and Development, for which the Gender and Development Plan of Action is the main instrument of implementation.

562. Furthermore, to support cross-divisional and inter-disciplinary work, considerable resources are allocated from this programme for specific gender-related outputs under two programme entities within Programme 2.5.1 Research, Natural Resources Management and Technology Transfer (251A1 and 251P3).

252A3 - Gender and Natural Resources Management

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

Biennial Outputs

• Information, research and case studies on the gender dynamics of natural and household resource management (Reduced in ZRG)
• Guidelines, training materials, methods and tools (such as gender-sensitive indicators) to promote mainstreaming of gender in natural and household resource management (Reduced in ZRG)
• Technical assistance to enhance the understanding and application of the linkages between gender, the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources in programmes at all levels (Reduced in ZRG)

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

564. Objective: appropriate interventions and policy instruments to counter the effects of HIV/AIDS on the rural and agricultural sector.

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

• Materials and training-of-trainers workshops at regional and national level, in the framework of the Socioeconomic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA) Programme (Reduced in ZRG)
• Guidelines and methodologies on how to address gender and population factors in national legislation, agricultural policies and programmes (Reduced in ZRG)
• Studies of gender-differentiated impacts of globalisation/trade liberalisation (Eliminated in ZRG)
• Coordination of the implementation of the PAIA on Gender and Development within FAO, inter alia, through support to implementation of the FAO Gender and Development Plan of Action (2002-2007), including regular monitoring and analytical reporting functions (Reduced in ZRG)
• SEAGA-oriented technical guidelines, studies relating to gender mainstreaming issues within various technical fields, in coordination with other technical FAO units, and integration of the SEAGA materials into FAO training programmes

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

Non-staff reductions across the programme would be required, in order to fund the new P-5 post on HIV/AIDS, food security and rural development. This post is needed to undertake urgent work mandated by FAO Governing Bodies, and planned under the new Programme Entity 252A4. The lower non-staff allocations would adversely affect especially the thematic and geographic expansion of the Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis Programme (SEAGA) under 252P1, and action- oriented research under Gender and Natural Resources Management (252A3). Furthermore, normative work on gender-differentiated impacts of globalisation, in particular the increased liberalisation of agricultural trade, would have to be postponed despite requests by the Governing Bodies to address these issues.

In fact, due to the elimination of significant UNFPA funding, and virtually no additional resources to face the new demands relating to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Programme would experience great difficulties in the delivery of outputs relating to the empowerment of rural women, promotion of gender equality and the impact of HIV/AIDS on agriculture and rural development.

Extra-budgetary Resources

567. Programme 252 will benefit from the on-going LINKs project (Gender, Local and Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity – GCP/RAF/338/NOR) and from the DIMITRA project (Rural Women and Information – GCP/INT/810/BEL) in support of normative work across all entities. Besides, several Associate Professional Officers (APOs) will be on assignment under this programme, both at Headquarters and in decentralized offices, during the period 2004-05.

568. Important field projects limited to the Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis programme SEAGA (252P1), HIV/AIDS & agriculture and rural development (252A4), and inter-disciplinary normative work carried out under the Integrated Support to Sustainable Development and Food Security Programme (IP) will be completed by end 2003. Unless additional extra-budgetary resources are mobilized to pursue these initiatives, the programme will not be in a position to respond adequately to demands from Members for assistance in these areas.

Programme 2.5.3: Rural Development

569. Programme 2.5.3 is concerned with:

1. improving access to land and tenure security for the rural poor, both men and women;
2. strengthening rural institutions, local civil society and producer organizations so that they can respond more effectively to the needs of farmers and rural households; and
3. increasing the use of participatory methods and approaches in rural development projects to reflect the needs of the rural poor.

570. The programme provides tools and disseminates best practices, with particular emphasis on reaching disadvantaged groups such as the landless, small farmers, rural workers, agro-pastoralists, indigenous peoples, the disabled and other marginalised groups, and in a manner that is responsive to FAO’s Gender and Development Plan of Action. It builds capacity for improving land tenure arrangements including access to land and security of tenure (253A1); for enhancing service delivery to rural producers by local public, private sector and civil society institutions, and for promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development (253A2); and for using participatory approaches in rural and agricultural development policies, programmes and projects (253A4).

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

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

Biennial Outputs

• Policy support and normative materials on institutional restructuring, decentralization and building social capital to strengthen the participation of farmers, rural workers, rural community organizations and marginalised groups in decision-making processes (Reduced in ZRG)
• Normative materials on the transfer of agricultural and rural development support services from the public to the private sector
• Normative materials for strengthening farmer organizations, cooperatives and other rural producer groups
• Support to improve multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) to enhance rural livelihoods (Reduced in ZRG)

253A4 - Participatory Approaches and Methods to Support Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development to Enhance Livelihoods and Food Security

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

Biennial Outputs

• Normative materials on participatory approaches and methods to promote Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) in FAO's field programmes and projects to enhance livelihoods
• Guidelines for strengthening local institutional capacities for disaster preparedness and prevention and long-term sustainable livelihoods development in high risk areas
• Regionally and culturally-appropriate indicators and methodologies field tested and refined (Eliminated in ZRG)
• Regularly updated and expanded website on participation
• Cross-sectoral normative materials and institutional learning methodologies for promoting sustainable rural livelihoods of the poor

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

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

575. Objective: preparation of draft policy documents to improve access and tenure security.

Biennial Outputs

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

Impact of ZRG Resource Levels

The necessary budget reduction of US$ 600,000 for Programme 2.5.3 over the current level would require the division to: (1) freeze three posts: one P-5 and one P-4 at Headquarters dealing with Cooperatives and Rural Organizations and one P-3 post in the Regional Office for the Near East (RNE); and (2) drastically reduce support to the UN Network on Rural Development and Food Security (253P1). Resources earmarked for 253P1 would be redeployed to 253A2 to support the SARD initiative in response of deliberation in the technical committees of Council. In terms of regional impact, the support in RNE to rural development, land tenure and rural institutions would be curtailed.

The impact of these actions would be as follows:

Agricultural cooperatives and farmer organization development: The freezing of two out of three posts in the Cooperatives and Rural Organizations Group, would severely limit this unit’s capacity to respond to country requests, for specialized technical assistance and normative guidance. These are critical institutions to improve livelihoods of the rural poor in a socially and economically sustainable manner.

Disability Matters: With the freezing of the P-4 post which is the FAO’s Focal Point on Disability Matters, the programme would no longer be able to provide advice on disability problems in relation to rural development.

UN Network on Rural Development and Food Security: Support to the UN Network on Rural Development and Food Security would be severely reduced, affecting this inter-agency network, whose members include 20 UN agencies, plus civil society organizations, and which is active in 70 countries. The network serves as a major inter-agency mechanism for follow-up to the World Food Summit.

Extra budgetary Resources

576. A donor-funded inter-departmental project will support the development of institutional learning methodologies for promoting sustainable rural livelihoods of the poor, and of working models for enhancing livelihoods in FAO field programmes and projects (253A4). Extra-budgetary resources are expected for capacity-building on policy and institutional analysis of the long-term evolution of farming systems toward SARD, for the implementation of the SARD Initiative and for SARD in mountain areas (253A2). Other areas which may attract donors’ support are: the development and dissemination of normative materials on improved access to land and improved land administration (253A1); technical assistance on agrarian reform, secure access to land in the Lusophone countries of Africa, and agrarian structures in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (253S1).

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

577. The SPFS will continue to support 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 June 2003, 28 SSC agreements had been signed. Programme 2.5.6 covers the Regular Budget's contribution to the SPFS, which is mainly supported by extra-budgetary resources.

578. Following the WFS:fyl, an increasing number of countries are developing plans for upscaling national SPFS programmes as an integral part of their Poverty Reduction Strategies. This is creating new demands on the Organization. Indeed, the growth of the SPFS has been rapid, with the number of participating countries rising from 15 in 1995 to 74 as of June 2003, and the amount of aggregate funds mobilized, increasing from an initial US$3.5 million (exclusively FAO funds) to over US$ 500 million, more than half of which has been committed by developing countries themselves.

256P1 - Management and Coordination

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

Biennial Outputs

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

256P2 - SPFS Formulation

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

Biennial Outputs

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

256P3 - SPFS Implementation

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

Biennial Outputs

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

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

582. 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

583. This programme covers SDD, including the Programme Coordination Unit (SDDP), the offices of division directors and those parts of Regional Office direction attributable to sustainable development programmes.