A major dimension of the Medium Term Plan preparation process was in the first instance to foster the comprehensive application of the new programming approach endorsed by FAO Governing Bodies, to activities of the concerned technical units and associated regional teams. At the same time, it was imperative to give due attention to needed cooperation across departments, in order to respond adequately to the call in the Strategic Framework for enhanced multi-disciplinary approaches.

For this purpose, a two-pronged effort was launched to identify Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) over the medium-term, with the assistance of: a) the ad hoc working groups which had been active in the 1998-99 biennium in developing the five Corporate Strategies to address Members' needs, eventually included in the Strategic Framework 2000-2015; and b) existing inter-departmental working groups dealing with substantive areas of common interest.

The extensive discussions carried out have led to the proposal of 18 PAIAs which are presented under the corporate strategies on which they are largely focused, recognising that several also contribute to other strategies.

Other interdisciplinary areas:

• Small Island Developing States
• Participation in Development
• School Gardens