International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The Funding Strategy

The Funding Strategy

A new Funding Strategy for the International Treaty was adopted by the Governing Body in November 2019 for the period 2020–2025.

It aims to ensure that sufficient financial resources are mobilized through a range of channels for implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (International Treaty) in a long-term, coordinated and effective way. 

The target of the Funding Strategy is approximately USD 1 billion per year, aimed at ensuring that adequate financing is available at a range of levels, including at national level, where International Treaty implementation is key, as well as to generate funding to different International Treaty mechanisms, including the Benefit-sharing Fund.

The Funding Strategy covers the entire International Treaty system and its many diverse components, mechanisms and partners, aiming to leverage support of partners and strengthen linkages between different funding sources. 

It takes into account the global trends and realities of the financial environment, and the need for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). The Funding Strategy has been designed to be reviewed on a regular basis and integrates a process for monitoring, evaluating and learning and for structuring new funding opportunities and identifying and filling gaps. 

Funding Strategy vision

The vision of the Funding Strategy is to enable the Governing Body, Contracting Parties, funding agencies, farmers and other relevant actors to secure funding and other resources for the programmatic implementation of the International Treaty in a long-term, coordinated, synergistic and effective manner. 

Strategic objective

The objective of the Funding Strategy is to enhance the availability, predictability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of financial resources to implement activities under the International Treaty, in accordance with its Article 18.

The Funding Strategy gives priority to implementation of agreed plans and programmes for farmers in developing countries who conserve and sustainably utilize PGRFA.

Funding Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals 

The Funding Strategy supports implementation of the International Treaty and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDGs 1 (No poverty)2 (Zero hunger)12 (Responsible production and consumption)13 (Climate action)15 (Life on land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Results Framework

Implementation of the International Treaty is achieved through support from a wide range of financial resources provided via various channels that connect enabling partners of the International Treaty. A Results Framework for the Funding Strategy has been developed which further details this process, setting out the various aims, mechanisms, enabling partners and stakeholders of the International Treaty.  

Target

Given the critical role that PGRFA play in food security and sustainable agriculture, the target for the Funding Strategy is necessarily ambitious. The Governing Body has established a target range for the Funding Strategy of USD 0.9–1.1 billion per year over a period of 10 years, with a milestone of 40 percent to be achieved by 2026. The target is informed by FAO’s Second Global Plan of Action (GPA) for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture by 2030 and aims for a high level of implementation for all GPA priority actions to be achieved by 2030.

How funding targets will be achieved

The funding target is to be met through multiple channels and by multiple International Treaty enabling partners. Contracting Parties provide financial resources to support national activities for PGRFA conservation and use. The private sector invests in breeding and wider PGRFA research and development. Donors support the International Treaty through bilateral, regional and multilateral channels. The Global Crop Diversity Trust supports ex-situ conservation. Philanthropic organizations and new and innovative funding sources and mechanisms will also contribute to reaching the target.

Several key measures are proposed to achieve the Funding Strategy targets. These include: 

  • Increased integration and prioritizing of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture within national development plans, budgets and priorities, bilateral and multilateral donor programmes and international mechanisms, funds and bodies, including FAO and the Global Environment Facility.  
  • Targeted strategies developed and implemented for new, innovative sources and mechanisms, including for the food processing industry. 
  • Mainstreaming and mobilizing funds for International Treaty implementation through the development of tools that national focal points and others can use to leverage new resources.
  • Capacity, tools and products developed for leveraging and mobilizing resources, and communicating better about the International Treaty at national, global and regional levels.  
  • Increased visibility and recognition of International Treaty donors.
  • Progress monitored, including by undertaking periodic reviews of finance flows to areas of International Treaty implementation.

Funding Strategy 2020–2027 - Relevant documents

To learn more about the International Treaty’s new Funding Strategy 2020–2025, four short presentations with audio narration are available. They provide introductory and background information on the different components of Governing Body Resolution 3/2019: 

Share this page