In order to respond adequately to the call in the Strategic Framework 2000-2015 for enhanced multi-disciplinary approaches, Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) have been identified for the first time in the MTP 2002-07 and further refined in the MTP 2004-09.
According to the Director-General's reform initiatives of the 2005-06, the Revised PWB 2006-07 embodied a substantial effort to rationalise the handling of the 19 areas hitherto identified as PAIAs and consequently ten erstwhile PAIAs were recast as Multidisciplinary Activities, anchored more firmly to the most relevant programme(s).
Further modifications were introduced in the PWB 2008-09. Joint work under four remaining PAIAs continues to be carried out as heretofore, pursuing needed coordination within the Organization and, where relevant, ensuring a concerted interface with external instruments (conventions) or events, i.e.
- AIDS (Implications of HIV/AIDS on Food and Agriculture)
- BIOD (Integrated Management of Biodiversity in Food and Agriculture)
- BIOS (Biosecurity for Agriculture and Food Production)
- BTEC (Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
Recent changes to the organizational structure have also facilitated more coherent implementation of four important multidisciplinary thrusts (Interdepartmental Working Groups) singled out by the Council in June 2007: knowledge management and capacity building through the Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building Division (KCE); and, climate change and bioenergy through the Environment, Climate Change and Bioenergy Division (NRC). Explicit reflections of these important new subjects are provided below.
[extract from PWB 2008-09]
