By joining forces, FAO and its partners can more effectively support the achievement internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals commit the international community to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.

FAO can more effectively assist global efforts to eradicate chronic hunger and poverty and improve food access for the poor and vulnerable by working together with its partners. Partnerships also make it possible to mobilize the best knowledge and capacities available and provide the most effective services in working toward common goals.

As a knowledge organization, FAO brings to these partnerships its expertise and technical capacity in agricultural development, food security and natural resource management, including forestry and fisheries, early warning of food emergencies, disaster recovery, food safety and bioenergy; its presence in many countries and special relationship with governments and other partners; its ability to network globally; and its leadership in facilitating policy dialogue and exchange.

Partnerships include those with UN agencies, research institutions, international financing institutions (IFIs) and other inter-governmental entities. FAO also partners with Governments, civil society including both people’s organizations and NGOs, and the private sector. The Organization also engages in many less formalized networking arrangements.

FAO partners to:

• enhance its technical performance
• establish horizontal collaboration in strategic or operational programming, funding or advocacy
• better reach out to the end users of its services

Guiding Principles

1. A partnership should lead to a clear and mutual added value in terms of results relevant to shared goals and objectives.

2. A partnership should serve as a means for greater effectiveness in supporting international governance of agriculture and agricultural development.

3. New partnerships should be based on the comparative advantages of each partner.

4. The role of FAO should be determined by the nature and relevance of inputs and services to be provided.

5. FAO must at all times preserve its neutral and impartial role in partnerships and act in a transparent manner and avoid any conflict of interest.

6. The implementation of global partnerships should take into account conditions and requirements at regional and country levels.