The Government of Flanders (Belgium) has just contributed EUR 3 million with the signing of a new agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unted Nations (FAO) to bolster the implementation of the new phase (2022-2025) of FAO’s Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC), previously known as the Flexible Multi-partner Mechanism (FMM). 

In accordance with the Belgian Constitution, Flanders concludes treaties and acts internationally in all areas for which it has internal jurisdiction. Flanders’s contribution to FVC strongly complements Belgium’s long-term support to the FVC, and will increase the momentum for the Fund’s new phase. Flanders is a strong advocate of flexible funds, and with this new contribution of EUR 3 million, its cumulative support to the FVC totals EUR 7.8 million since its first contribution to the Fund in 2011. Half of Flanders’ new contribution is fully non-earmarked, while the other half is soft-earmarked to FAO’s work on Better Environment, including innovations that address climate change in the context of agrifood systems in Africa.

The FVC is FAO’s main pooled flexible Fund for supporting development work across the Organization at global, regional and country levels. With this new contribution, Flanders recognizes the vital role of flexible funding for financing critical programmes and development initiatives around the world. 

FAO appreciates Flanders’ ongoing efforts to fund projects on food security and nutrition, climate action in agriculture and efforts to achieve more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Africa and beyond. Specifically, Flanders’ contribution will enable FAO to support the Organization’s four aspirational impacts: a better production, a better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no-one behind. Through its support to the FVC, Flanders is joining hands with outher FVC resource partners to transform lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.

The contribution of non-earmarked funds to the FVC allows FAO to support innovation, strengthen capacities, build partnerships and create synergies through cross-sectoral integration, both within and outside the Organization.

Since its establishment in 2010, the FVC has received over USD 155 million in flexible voluntary contributions and has supported about 65 projects that are improving the lives and livelihoods of farmers and rural community dwellers in over 80 countries across five regions. The new FVC phase (2022–2025) anticipates an expanded 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.