Q: Ambassador, how did the Programme Committee in its recent session judge FAO's contribution to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition?

Ambassador Hoogeveen: I think the Programme Committee was more than clear about the crucial role of FAO when it comes to eradication of hunger food insecurity and malnutrition. It is clear that in the discussions of the Programme Committee we all shared the view that, more than ever, we are facing huge problems in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals especially in the field of food security. And in that respect the Programme Committee highlighted the crucial role of FAO within the UN to help countries to implement the SDGs and also work together with its partners in achieving the SDGs.

Q: How should hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition be addressed in the context of migration and conflict?

Ambassador Hoogeveen: When we were discussing the Programme Implementation Report of 2016 and 2017, all the members of the Programme Committee were clear about the message. The message is:  We have to step up our efforts in trying to achieve food security and some of the facts are against us because we last year we were confronted with an increasing number of people living in hunger - about 38 million people - and that the main causes of that increase are climate change and conflict.

I think the UN Security Council, with its unanimous adoption of the Resolution last week in New York, also gave a clear message:  That we have to see hunger in the framework of conflict and climate change. We have to fight hunger together with our efforts to find a solution for conflicts and climate change.

Of course, then the question is how to do it? When you speak about addressing migration the only way forward is to invest in sustainable agricultural practices and to invest in the resilience to climate change. And that means not only investing in small scale farmers - 550 million worldwide - but also investing in the value chains, investing in innovation, investing in access to financing and also working closely together with non-state actors, especially the private sector.

I think that the absolute positive outcome of the Programme Committee is that we all agreed by consensus and that it was a teamwork effort to reach the conclusions in a very open and good atmosphere. This is a crucial boost not only for the membership of FAO, but especially for those we need to support most.

Q: What are the Committee’s key regarding the application of the Country Programming Framework (CPF)?

Ambassador Hoogeveen: I think all the members underlined the crucial role of the CPF for supporting countries to implement the SDGs. The also underlined that we have to strengthen the CPF based on the lessons we have learnt - what is being done well at this moment, but also what can be improved. I think that in terms of what can be improved, we are looking at the monitoring aspects and the oversight mechanisms, so that we can get clear outcomes. Also I think that what was clearly highlighted by the Programme Committee is that we have to strengthen the role of the FAO regional representatives in supporting countries to come forward with strong country programming frameworks.

Q. What about the potential of CPFs as an instrument for resource mobilization?

Ambassador Hoogeveen: I think that if you have a strong CPF - and I think it's important that governments involve not only the minister of agriculture but other ministries as well and also non- state actors like the private sector and NGOs - and if you can prove, based on the CPF that not only do you have an excellent programme, but that you are also achieving results, then it’s one of the best instruments for resource mobilization. And not only resource mobilization within the membership of the FAO or donors, but I think also resource mobilization from the private sector, be this companies, or be this international foundations. As such the the CPF is an absolutely strong instrument for resource mobilization. And of course we need more resources, and from all parties, if we want to solve the pressing issues of conflict, hunger, climate change, and migration.