FAO seeks to accelerate transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable as a mean to achieve the 2030 agenda. What and how can CSOs contribute to such transformation to boost impact on the ground? Please suggest concrete actions.
CSOs have been developing expertise in agroecology-related issues for the past decades. We know the small scale food producers, what they do and how they do. We can help to build links between them and all other components for the development of regenerative, efficient inclusive and resilient agriculture and food systems. Some examples are: developing local seed production systems which joins small scale producers on one hand, and academia on the other, the later ensuring quality of seeds; also helping to organise small scale food producers in cooperatives and linking them both to consumers and to HoReCa sector; lastly but not the least, we can help organise community agroecology schools which besides farmer to farmer knowledge sharing also include experts in related fields. To do all this, CSOs need to develop a sustainable financial model which will help to gradually move from donor-based functioning to self-sufficiency.
Climate change threatens our ability to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. What FAO and CSOs could maximize collective impact to adapt and/or mitigate climate change?
As a CSO we have been promoting regenerative landscaping for food production based on ecological principles. As mentioned above, agroecology schools involving local biologists and ecologists who help to design edible landscape that is in harmony with nature, including regenerating forests, rivers, ponds and all other elements that help to build climate resilience. Moreover, our work on agrobiodiversity with farmers seeds is helping farmers to select varieties which are more adapted to local climate, and helps to ensure food and nutrition security.
Based on your partnering experience, can you share a good example of meaningful engagement with FAO or another UN agency/development partner? Please highlight what/why it worked well in your opinion.
Our organization has been successfully collaborating with FAO both at national and regional scale on such subjects as agroecology, permaculture, farmers seeds and Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. We have co-organised conferences, consultations, raising awareness campaign and fostered collaboration of small scale food producers and academia. It has been working well because FAO sees us as a valuable and knowledgable partner who they can trust. Moreover, the priorities of FAO coincide with the ones of our NGO, and therefore our efforts become more effective in achieving common goals.
At present, what are the most significant challenges CSOs face in their engagement with FAO? What could FAO do to address some of those challenges? Please provide concrete examples.
FAO always reminds us that it is inter-governmental and therefore, the requests must come from our governments. The reality is, that our governments not always realise the importance and the added value of our (CSO) work unlike FAO which is well aware of it. For this reason, sometimes FAO could help us by raising awareness of the decision makers about the possibilities of collaboration with CSO and the potential of our organisations in doing a good work in the field.
Ms. Ana Coutinho