FAO employs the term partnership in the broad sense to relationships between groups characterized by mutual cooperation, responsibility and respect for autonomy to achieve specified goals. Relations can be formal from recognition of special status with the organization to various contractual arrangements, but and also includes collaboration and joint action on areas such as policy dialogue, project implementation and monitoring.

Individual organizations partner with FAO as well as networks, federations and associations which operate at the local, national and regional levels. The diversity and complexity of Civil Society Organizations is reflected in multiple partnerships with FAO Headquarters and its Decentralized Offices.