Major Programme 3.5: Cooperation with External Partners

Substantive thrusts under ZRG conditions

304.     Programme 3.5.1: Multilateral and Bilateral Agencies aims at the further expansion and diversification of resources under FAO trust funds, through sustained and dynamic dialogue with partners. It facilitates an active dialogue and partnership with decentralized donors and bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Development of strategic alliances with major donors will continue, bolstered by expected income from Technical Cooperation Department.

305.     Emphasis will be placed on field programme development in support of national and regional strategies, based on the effective use of country and regional knowledge as well as overview of sector issues, drawing the attention of technical units to countries’ needs and opportunities for project formulation. The programme will ensure that the field programme is consistent with the agenda set by the international conferences of the 1990s, culminating in the MDGs, and with existing development frameworks at country level, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) and UNDAF.

306.     Programme 3.5.2 addresses important components of the cross-cutting organizational strategy on Broadening partnerships and alliances. It promotes a corporate framework for effective partnerships to guide the various FAO units involved in enhancing cooperation with different partners such as civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector and decentralized entities. It supports FAO’s involvement in the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). The programme also includes support to World Food Day and TeleFood related activities, as well as to the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH).

307.     The IAAH Secretariat, which serves communication and coordination among the Alliance members (FAO, IFAD, IPGRI, WFP, International NGOs, IPC⁴⁶ and National Alliances), will be strengthened by resources transferred from Programme 1.3.1 and expected income. The IAAH will interface with the implementation process for the UNGA Millennium Declaration and other international efforts in calling attention to policy reforms and programme initiatives to reduce hunger.

308.     Under Programme 3.5.3, the implementation of the Partnership Programmes benefits Members in terms of capacity-building and greater leverage for the limited resources at FAO’s disposal. OCD will continue to provide central coordination and support to the implementation of the Partnership Programmes, taking into account the needs of all stakeholders. Innovative ways and means of promoting these programmes will be explored to enrich the pool of experts and scientists.

Zero Nominal Growth Impact

309.     Under Programme 3.5.2, strategic partnerships could no longer be addressed through a dedicated unit. Activities related to cooperation with NGOs/CSOs, private sector, UNDG, the decentralized cooperation programme and the secretariat function for the Field Programme Committee and Emergency Coordination Group would be absorbed under other organizational units. Under Programme 3.5.3, the implementation of Partnership Programmes would be constrained.