Since its founding in 1945, FAO’s core work supporting food security, nutrition, poverty reduction and sustainable agriculture has helped to reduce the economic, political, social and environmental drivers of conflict.

The UN Secretary-General has made sustaining peace a priority focus across the UN system, building on the differing scope and focus of each organization’s mandate and work. At the same time, Agenda 2030 explicitly links sustainable development and peace and calls for improved collaboration on conflict prevention, mitigation, resolution and recovery.

Sustaining peace encompasses activities aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict, including by addressing root causes and moving towards recovery, reconstruction and development. Opportunities therefore exist for interventions in support of food security, nutrition and agricultural livelihoods to contribute to conflict prevention and sustaining peace, in order to address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of conflict. Major investments in rural development and agriculture should therefore be an integral part of peacebuilding efforts.

Through its work, FAO fosters social cohesion, generates peace dividends, reduces conflict drivers and builds the legitimacy and capacity of governments. For example, facilitating inter-community dialogue on land access in the contested Abyei Administrative Area between South Sudan and the Sudan.