Regional Programmes for Food Security (RPFS) support regional integration and agricultural economic development among neighbouring developing countries.
In almost all parts of the world, governments have formed regional economic organizations to address common concerns. These organizations are encouraged to formulate and implement regional Programmes, for:
- building public awareness of the critical importance of food and nutrition security;
- formulating regional food and agricultural trade strategies and policies;
- aligning border issues and safety standards that affect food and agricultural trade;
- promoting investment in regional communication infrastructure and market information;
- supporting national efforts to help small farmers become more efficient and find new markets for their produce; and
- including natural resource management, control of animal and pest diseases, trade.
By mid-2007, FAO had assisted in the formulation of over 20 Regional Programmes. The following 3 regional organizations have conducted the following activities:
- CARICOM/CARIFORUM (Caribbean Community/Forum).
A Regional Programme was prepared in 2002 in close collaboration with the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Secretariat and subsequently approved by the Council of Ministers responsible for Trade and Development. The US$26 Million RPFS benefits 15 Small Island Developing States. It is financed in part by the FAO Trust Fund for Food Security (resources amounting to US$5.3 million from Italy), supplemented by US$1 million from other trust funds and almost US$5 million from FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme. A second and expanded phase of the Programme has been approved. - Pacific Islands Forum
A Regional Programme supports 14 Small Island Developing States. It was prepared in February 2002 with a budget of US$11.47 million. It is partly financed by the FAO Trust Fund for Food Security (resources amounting to US$7.064 million from Italy) and supplemented by US$2.8 million from FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme. A second and expanded phase of the Programme has been formulated and approved. - UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union)
A Regional Programme, which covers 8 countries within the Union, is supported by a UEMOA trust fund (US$4 million) and 3 Technical Cooperation Programme projects (totalling US$1 million), covering phytosanitary control, zoosanitary control and food safety. A second and expanded phase of the Programme is being formulated.
The Community of the Sahel Saharan States (CEN-SAD) RPFS is in the development and formulation phase.
A Regional Programme was prepared in 2005 in collaboration with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), including 11 regional project outlines amounting to a total budget of US$210.76 million. Currently only one of these regional projects is being implemented, focussing on Central Asia.
The FAO Trust Fund for Food Security and grants from the Technical Cooperation Programme are used to fund Regional Programmes in the development, formulation and implementation stages.
