This section explains how the Internet is utilised at FAO. It provides references to key policy documents related to the Internet as a means for communicating FAO messages.

The FAO Web site falls within the scope of the FAO's Corporate Communication Policy and Strategy. FAO uses the Internet as a primary communication channel, in the context of its mandate to "collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information relating to nutrition, food and agriculture" (Article 1 of FAO Constitution).

The FAO Web site is a collection of Web sites, documents and databases designed for any of the following aims:

• outreach, advocacy and promotion of FAO messages;
• dissemination of technical and scientific materials; and
• dissemination of statistics, data and procedures.

Production and management are decentralised, i.e. rests with the originating Division or Organizational Unit. Therefore, an "FAO Web site" is usually a site devoted to a specific project or topic and hosted under the fao.org domain.

What is an FAO Web site?

FAO Web sites can be one of the following options:

1. Departmental, Divisional or Service-level Web sites published under the fao.org domain, with the name or acronym of the Department/Division/Service or the theme assigned to the Web site. For example Department of Fisheries, Animal Production and Health and HIV AIDS and Food Security);
2. Programme Web sites published under the fao.org domain. For example Special Programme for Food Security;
3. Decentralised offices published under the fao.org domain. For example FAO RAP and LONY);
4. Project Web sites developed in the context of a field project. For example Reducing Ochratoxin A in Coffee; and
5. Partnership-generated portals or Web sites involving FAO and partner organizations. These can be published under domains other than fao.org, although they may be hosted on FAO-managed servers. For example International Portal on Food Safety, Animal & Plant Health).

The Web Guide applies to options one to four above. Different guidelines or policies may apply for option five, depending on hosting and partnership arrangements.