This document presents FAO’s Vision, Global Goals and Strategic Objectives.

The strategy is designed to promote a more systematic use of partnerships and to provide practical guidance to FAO units and partners to facilitate the selection, prioritization, development and management of new or renewed partnerships.

Accumulated research and experience show that while small farmers acting alone did not benefit from higher food prices, those acting collectively in strong producer organizations and cooperatives were better able to take advantage of market opportunities and mitigate the negative effects of food and other crises.

Cooperatives play a crucial role in reducing poverty, improving food security and generating employment opportunities. Awareness must be raised on their important contribution to global socio-economic development and to promote the growth and strengthening of cooperatives all over the world.

More than a billion of the world’s poorest people rely on forests and trees on farms to provide food, energy and cash income. By forming producer groups and cooperatives, forest farmers can take collective action and enjoy economies of scale.