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F. United Nations/FAO World Food Programme

WFP pledging target

305. The Conference recalled that the WFP pledging target for the biennium 1987-88 of US$1400 million, comprising 3.25 million tons of food at current prices and US$405 million in cash, had been recommended by the Programme's governing body, the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes, and subsequently unanimously supported by the Eighty-eighth Session of the FAO Council. It welcomed the Executive Director's statement that the achievement of the target would enable the Programme to maintain the very considerable momentum it had built up over the past five years, and in terms of deliveries would mean placing in the hands of beneficiaries about 1.5 million tons each year for development projects alone.

306. The Conference noted the Executive Director's statement that global food aid for the year 1984-85 had reached a level of 12 million tons, 20 percent more than the previous highest recorded figure, since the World Food Conference. While donors had given more food through WFP than ever before, much of the increase in this period was due to the generous response of the donors countries to the crisis in Africa, and most of their additional assistance had been channelled bilaterally. It also noted the Executive Director's assurance that WFP had the proven capacity to use food for development, and his appeal that donors provide to WFP, for development purposes, some of that additional aid they had shown they were so willing to give for emergency uses.

307. The Conference commended the efficient and effective management, and the dedication of the staff of the World Food Programme. The unanimous acceptance of the target was a clear demonstration of the confidence of the donor as well as of the recipient countries in the capability, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the Programme.

308. The Conference endorsed the decision of WFP to give priority to Africa, and at the same time supported the need to meet the developmental and emergency needs in other regions. It congratulated WFP on its timely and effective response to the African food crisis. It also appreciated WFP's quick response to the Mexican earthquake and to the volcanic eruption in Colombia, which clearly demonstrated the ability of the programme to move with great despatch in responding to disasters.

309. The Conference emphasized the benefit of triangular transactions in terms of timely delivery, incentives for agricultural production and rural development, and at the same time promoting ECDC. It encouraged WFP to continue such purchases and commodity swops in developing countries and appealed to the donor community to make the necessary funds or commodities available to the Programme for such transactions. It noted that, this year, some African countries had surpluses and invited the Programme to make every effort to address, as far as possible, the needs of African countries with food from Africa. It was recalled that the success of the Programme had been based on its ability to use donated commodities effectively for developmental and humanitarian purposes.

310. The Conference welcomed the growing spirit of cooperation between WFP and FAO. It looked forward to the final report on the implementation of the recommendations of the UN/FAO Task Force, which was to be submitted to the Twenty-first Session of the CFA. It further welcomed with appreciation WFP's close relationship with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and IFAD.

311. Concern was expressed regarding WFP's headquarters office accommodation, presently scattered in different locations, and it was hoped that the accommodation problem would be resolved expeditiously. Some members stated that the costing exercise underway regarding services, including accommodation, provided by FAO, required expeditious resolution.

312. The Conference supported the splitting of the proposed pledging target into commodities and cash, noted the difficulties of some countries in pledging both in cash and in commodities, and further noted the possibility of still pledging in monetary terms only. While most members would have liked to support a higher target level, they would accept the proposed level as representing the appropriate balance. It was noted that the target represented significant real growth compared to the level which was likely to be achieved in the current biennium. The Conference generally agreed that more cash contributions were needed to effectively administer the food aid management of the Programme and to purchase food in developing countries.

313. The Conference unanimously endorsed the pledging target. It appealed to the traditional as well as new donors to pledge generously at the forthcoming Donors' Conference to be held in New York, in March 1986, to achieve and, if possible, surpass the level, both in cash and in commodities, so as to enable the Programme to meet the growing demand for its assistance. It also appealed to all the donors for generous contributions to the IEFR, taking into account the need for more supplementary food for vulnerable groups than hitherto and more cash to meet internal transportation costs and to purchase more food in developing countries.

314. The Conference unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

Resolution 11/85

TARGET FOR WFP PLEDGES FOR THE PERIOD 1987-88

THE CONFERENCE,

Recalling the provisions of resolution 4/65 that the World Food Programme is to be reviewed before each pledging conference,

Recalling the provisions of operative paragraph 4 of its resolution 10/77 of 30 November 1977 that, subject to the review mentioned above, the next pledging conference should be convened at the latest early in 1986, at which time governments and appropriate donor organizations should be invited to pledge contributions for 1987 and 1988, with a view to reaching such a target as may be then recommended by the General Assembly and the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,

Noting that the review of the Programme was undertaken by the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes of the World Food Programme at its Twentieth Session and by the FAO Council at Its Eighty-eighth Session,

Having considered resolution 1/88 of the FAO Council as well as the recommendations of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes,

Recognizing the value of multilateral food aid as implemented by WFP since its inception and the necessity for continuing its action both as a form of capital investment and for meeting emergency food needs,

(Adopted 28 November 1985)

G. Relations and Consultations with International Organizations

Recent developments in the United Nations system of interest to FAO
Relations with intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations

Recent developments in the United Nations system of interest to FAO

315. The Conference considered that the documents reflected the multiplicity and diversity of FAO's involvement in the activities and programmes of the United Nations system which was compatible with the Organization's wide mandate and the links between the food and agriculture sector and other sectors. In this context, the Conference was informed that FAO participated in 42 of a total of 60 inter-secretariat coordinating mechanisms.

316. The Conference noted with satisfaction that FAO's interagency cooperation had progressively increased. In particular, FAO's active participation in the work of the UN Economic and Social Council was noted with appreciation. However, some members expressed concern and noted that further Improvements could be made with regard to FAO's cooperation in the context of the UN's overall coordination mechanisms.

317. The Conference noted the lead role played by FAO in the ACC (Administrative Committee on Coordination) Task Force on Rural Development. It commended the preparation of 'Guiding Principles for the Design and Use of Monitoring and Evaluation in Rural Development Projects and Programmes' by the Task Force under the guidance of a panel convened by IFAD.

318. The Conference commended the active role played by FAO in the work of the ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition (SCN) as described in the documents.

319. The Conference strongly commended the series of important initiatives taken by FAO with respect to the critical situation in Africa, including the constant flow of timely situation reports through its Global Information and Early Warning System for Food and Agriculture and its crops assessment and other missions, and the mobilization of assistance through the Agricultural Rehabilitation Programme for Africa. It learned with satisfaction that an in-depth study on the food and agricultural situation of Africa was in preparation and would be submitted to the next Regional Conference for Africa in September 1986. It emphasized the need for focusing attention on rehabilitation and long-term development programmes. It also welcomed and further encouraged the role of FAO in support of the United Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa (OEOA).

320. With respect to the mid-term Review and Appraisal of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade (IDS), the Conference expressed concern that the IDS targets had not been achieved and that the per capita output in the developing countries, or aggregate, was 5 percent less in 1985 than in 1980.

321. It was also noted with concern that, due to interest payments and other factors, there was a net transfer of financial resources from developing countries in general to developed countries in 1984, with projections indicating a similar situation in 1985. The Conference emphasized the need for increasing external financial flows to developing countries.

322. The Conference reiterated its appeal to bring the negotiations for the second replenishment of IFAD to an early satisfactory conclusion.

323. The Conference welcomed the reaffirmation of commitments by developed countries, in the document containing the agreed conclusions of the United Nations Committee on Review and Appraisal, of the target of 0.7 percent of GNP (Gross National Product) as official development assistance (ODA), and the achievement of that goal as soon as possible and, in any case, before the end of the Decade.

324. The Conference commended the activities of the FAO Investment Centre in assisting developing countries to obtain external capital finance for the development of their agriculture. The Conference expressed concern at the decline in multilateral commitments to agriculture, particularly in lending on concessional terms.

325. Referring to the mid-term review of the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries (SNPA), conducted by the high-level meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of LDCs of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) (Geneva, 30 September - 11 October 1985), the Conference expressed concern at the shortfall in the achievement of the SNPA targets. It supported the conclusion of the above-mentioned meeting as adopted. The need for LDCs to allocate an appropriate share of domestic resources to rural development and for the donors to support the efforts of the LDCs in this priority area was highlighted.

326. The Conference also welcomed the reiteration of the SNPA target of 0.15 percent of GNP as donor official development assistance to LDCs, together with the meeting's recommendation to the bilateral donors to provide ODA to LDCs essentially in the form of grants, and the request to the multilateral financial institutions to provide credits to the LDCs on highly concessional terms. The Conference was of the view that FAO should be fully involved in the UNDP round-table processes for LDCs, in the context of arrangements approved by the UNDP Governing Council.

327. The Conference noted FAO's work in support of Economic Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, and recalled the high priority given to it in the Programme of Work and Budget in 1986-87, which would enable the Organization to step up its activities in this sphere.

328. The Conference expressed appreciation for decision 85/26, adopted by the UNDP Governing Council, allocating to the Administrator US$1.5 million, from UNDP Special Programme Resources, for the promotion of action-oriented TCDC activities. The Conference was informed that the FAO Representatives (FAORs) had been requested to apprise the respective Governments of the availability of these funds, and if the Governments should decide to make use of these resources, the FAORs should advise them in preparing proposals.

329. The Conference commended the close collaboration between FAO and UNEP, including FAO's active participation in the preparation of the System-Wide Medium-Term Environment Programme (SWMTEP). It considered that close cooperation should be maintained in the implementation of the decisions adopted by the May 1985 session of the UNEP Governing Council in areas of concern to FAO, such as marine pollution, soils, desertification, energy, water, toxic chemicals, etc.

330. The Conference noted that a UNEP African Environmental Conference was to be held in December 1985 in Cairo. It hoped that the proposed institutional arrangements, if adopted, would take fully into account the competence and ongoing activities of FAO, and that the necessary consultations would take place to that effect.

331. The Conference was informed of the ongoing collaboration between FAO and UNIDO in areas of mutual interest. The Conference hoped that, with UNIDO becoming a specialized agency, such collaboration would further increase in the future.

332. A suggestion was made that in future documents on this item, mention should be made of the decisions taken by the Governing Council of UNDP in so far as they were relevant to FAO's activities.

333. In emphasizing the important role of women in the food and agriculture sector, the Conference expressed appreciation for FAO's substantial contribution to the documents submitted at, and its active participation in, the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, held in Nairobi in July 1985. It commended FAO's programmes and projects undertaken for the benefit of rural women and urged the strengthening of these activities.

334. The Conference adopted the following resolution:

Resolution 12/85

RURAL WOMEN

THE CONFERENCE,

Recognizing the fundamental role of women in agriculture, nutrition, family welfare and rural development, as well as the adverse conditions directly affecting them as workers, mothers and managers of the households,

Considering that women have not been provided with the educational opportunities to enable them to participate more effectively in agricultural development and the improvement of living conditions within their communities,

Conscious that training rural women could help boost production and assist the Organization in achieving its economic and social objectives,

Acknowledging that the programmes of the Organization express FAO's concern for the conditions of women in the Third World is it relates to agriculture, nutrition and rural development,

Taking into account the conclusions of WCARRD in 1979, resolution 35/136 of the UN General Assembly, resolutions 1982/50, 1983/78, 1985/46 of ECOSOC, and decision 1984/101 of ECOSOC as adopted,

Endorsing paragraph 16(c) of the conclusions and recommendations of the Eleventh Ministerial Session of WFC (World Food Council); paragraph 50 of FAO Council document CL 88/REP; the Government Consultation on the "Role of Women in Food Production and Food Security" held in Harare, Zimbabwe (10-13 July 1984).

Taking into account Agenda Item No. 8 of the "World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace", held in Nairobi, Kenya (15-26 July 1985), entitled "Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women up to the Year 2000",

(Adopted 28 November 1985)

Relations with intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations

335. The Conference took note with satisfaction of the developments that had taken place since its Twenty-second Session in relations between FAO and intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations, including international trade unions.

336. It expressed appreciation of FAO's cooperation with intergovernmental organizations and gave its support to the strengthening of such cooperation. In particular, it endorsed FAO's successful cooperation with the Organization of African Unity and with other regional and sub-regional organizations in fighting the consequences of the catastrophic drought in Africa, and in preparing and implementing the programme of rehabilitation and reconstruction of African agriculture. FAO would be associated with the consultations for implementation of the EEC's African rural rehabilitation programme.

337. The Conference also noted with interest the report of the Informal Meeting of Representatives of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) attending the Twenty-third Session of the Conference. The meeting had as its central theme "Collaboration of INGOs in achieving the objectives of the FAO Programme of Work and Budget 1986-87" and considered ways and means which would allow these organizations to participate more actively in FAO's work in the field of rural development.

338. The Conference expressed support for FAO's determination to strengthen further its collaboration with NGOs, through appropriate arrangements, for example by increased cooperation in FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System.

339. The activities of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign - Action for Development (FFH/AD) had been particularly appreciated and support was expressed for their further development. It was suggested that a report on FFH/AD activities should be prepared for the next session of the Conference.

340. The Conference expressed particular appreciation for the involvement of NGOs in organizing celebrations of the Fortieth Anniversary of FAO, as well as of World Food Day, especially at national-and local levels.

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