MAJOR PROGRAMME 1.3: EXTERNAL COORDINATION AND LIAISON

Programme Outcome

Achievements

71. The Major Programme supports coordination and enhanced cooperation with the United Nations and its major organs, programmes and specialized agencies. It also covers contributions to Inter-agency coordination mechanisms and the work of the FAO Liaison Offices. A reorganization of responsibilities resulted in the abolition of the Office for External Relations (OER) and its replacement with a small group, the Unit for Relations with the UN System (SADN). The responsibilities for coordination of relations with other organizations and institutions rest with other programmes e.g.: financial institutions in Major Programme 3.2, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Major Programme 3.5 and research institutions within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in Major Programme 2.5.

Programme 1.3.1 - External Relations and Coordination

72. The Programme provides for preparation and support of FAO participation in the UN system's main coordination mechanism, the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) which groups Executive Heads of the UN system, and its preparatory group the Organizational Committee (OC). The number of ACC-related requests increased, reflecting a broader recognition, by both UN system organizations and Member Nations, of the need to distil comprehensive UN system approaches to issues which lend themselves to system-wide consideration.

73. Responses were provided to a large number of requests from UN system organizations for information and inputs, to UN system reports and exercises. Guidance was also provided to FAO units on FAO activities coordinated with other UN system organizations, particularly, in the context of UN reform and sustainable development.

74. FAO participation in external meetings organized by UN system entities was facilitated and coordinated to ensure compliance with policy directives and optimal use of travel funds. Extensive UN system documentation of interest to the Organization was received, distributed, and stored. Information on the selected activities undertaken by the Programme is indicated in Table 1.3-1.

Table 1.3-1: UN Documentation and Meetings Requests, 1996-97

75. Financial contributions to UN Inter-agency coordination mechanisms covered inter alia: the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) Subsidiary Machinery, the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), etc. The Programme also provided support for promoting coordinated follow-up to the World Food Summit Plan of Action with UN partners.

Programme 1.3.2 - Liaison Offices

76. The Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium (LOBR) in Brussels and the Liaison Office for Japan (LOJA) in Yokohama, became operational and joined the existing Liaison Offices with the United Nations, New York (LONY) and Geneva (LOGE) and the Liaison Office for North America (LOWA) in Washington D.C. Activities of LONY and LOGE included representing the Organization at inter-governmental and inter-agency meetings, thus reducing the requirement for travel of staff from Headquarters, maintaining contact with organizations and institutions associated with the UN system and facilitating the exchange of information between the UN and FAO. LOWA continued to provide timely information on developments concerning policies and legislation of importance to the Organization, support and secretariat services for the Consultative Sub-committee on Surplus Disposal, general information in support of World Food Day and the WFS and a wide range of administrative support functions.