Loi Angela Kitamirike in Kawempe Division, Uganda, runs a diaspora-led farming enterprise to support food security and rural development. At her farm, she connects generations with each other which leads to a generational transfer of knowledge.©FAO

The government of Sweden, through Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), has contributed SEK 173 million (approximately USD 16.5 million) with the signing of a new agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The contribution agreement will strengthen the new phase of FAO’s main pooled funding instrument, the Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) over the next four years (2022-2025). The Swedish support is partly focussed on FAO’s work on Better Environment, including innovations that address climate change and biodiversity in the context of agri-food systems, through a soft earmarking.

The FVC is FAO’s main pooled flexible Fund for supporting development work across the Organization at global, regional and country levels. Specifically, Sweden’s contribution will enable FAO to support the SDGs through the Organization’s four aspirational impacts: a better production, a better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no-one behind. Through its support to the FVC, Sweden is joining hands with other FVC Resource Partners to transform lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in the developing countries.

Sweden has been a pioneering contributor and a strong advocate for flexible funding. The Swedish government has supported three consecutive phases of the FVC, by contributing over USD 19.3 million at its inception in 2010-13, USD 15.5 million in 2014-2017 and USD 16.3 million in 2018–21, and USD 16.5 million for the current phase – totaling an equivalent of USD 67.6 million since the inception of the FVC.

According to Alex Jones, Director of Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships, “Sweden’s contributions to the FVC are critical, as they enable FAO to apply funds to its priorities and where they are most needed. These flexible funds enhance FAO’s capacity to address global development priorities in a cost-efficient and timely manner.” 

In its longstanding partnership with FAO, Sweden, through the FVC, has invested in critical areas, including food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, economic inclusion, social development, and the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, climate change and biodiversity.

Sweden has also boosted FAO’s efforts towards gender equality and women empowerment, migration and decent rural employment. Sweden’s support has helped forge new partnerships, in expanding new areas of work and designing bigger and more impactful projects. 

“FAO is one of Sida’s core partners in the global support for sustainable and inclusive economic development. With its goal to achieve food security, nutrition and ensure the world is free of hunger, especially under the current situation of crisis, FAO has a critical role to play to support sustainable food systems and increased resilience” says True Schedvin, Head of Unit, Global Sustainable Economic Development, Sida.

Since its establishment in 2010, the FVC has received over USD 190 million in flexible voluntary contributions and has supported about 65 projects that are improving the lives and livelihoods of male and female farmers and rural community dwellers in over 80 countries across five regions. In light of the ongoing food security crisis the new FVC phase (2022–2025) anticipates an expansion in the financial portfolio and resource partnership base. Therefore, more Resource Partners wishing to contribute to flexible funds, both non-earmarked and soft-earmarked windows, are important for the growth of the Fund and are most welcome.