Providing policy advice to FAO Member Nations is one of the Division's key responsibilities. Policy advice includes reviewing and updating national strategies and policy frameworks and ensuring coherence with other national, regional and international processes such as the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). TCA also provides technical support and advice to foster regional economic integration.

A strong recent example of policy advice is FAO's work in the formulation of the FAO/NEPAD joint Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) report. The programme, drafted with the participation of African Ministers for Agriculture, Regional Economic Organizations and Financing Institutions, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and other regional and subregional stakeholders, and with the technical collaboration of FAO, seeks to respond to the immediate crisis situation facing African agriculture while building upon the long-term conditions for development.