“The report points to many successes and strengths of FAO. It also points to shortcomings,” Dr. Noori said. “We asked it to do that. Most importantly for us the members, it is a forward looking report that will help us and FAO’s management to take a fundamental look at the Organization’s future strategy, ways of working and institutional arrangements.”
He went on to express surprise that the press had found the draft IEE report negative about the Organization. “We know only bad news makes headlines, but why turn good news into bad?” Dr. Noori said.
“The report concluded that, if FAO were to disappear, it would need to be reinvented. Member Country Governments as a whole commissioned the IEE and developing countries joined their developed country partners in paying for it. The member countries wanted to take a critical look at the FAO, our Organization, and determine how to make it more effective for the benefit of all.”
The IEE report will now be finalised and delivered to member countries in October. “We asked the IEE to advise on a way forward. The draft report has challenged us to strengthen the effectiveness of FAO. We will be taking up that challenge and we expect to work over the coming months to examine the evaluation’s analysis and implications in-depth, not just the positive or negative headlines,” Dr Noori said.
“The IEE has urged us to work together, countries from North and South, small and large, rich and poor, in the interests of all. We, the members of FAO, are determined to seize this opportunity to ensure that our Organization builds on its strengths to provide us the members and the world with a service in this new century that continues to be relevant, efficient and effective,” he concluded.
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