1. As stressed in the Director-General's Introduction, the formulation of this Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) was facilitated by the assessment of long-term trends and the attendant policy orientations set out in the Strategic Framework 2000-2015, and endorsed by the last session of the FAO Conference. The PWB, moreover, builds on the substance of the Medium Term Plan1 (MTP) 2002-2007, which translated the Strategic Framework into a six-year programme, defined in terms of constituent programme entities. These entities have a rationale, objectives, major outputs and indicators, as well as an indication of the timeframe and of overall resources required. The 119th session of the Council in November 2000, in effect, invited the Secretariat to prepare the PWB taking as a starting point, the substantive content of the MTP. Thus, the formulation of proposals for the next biennium became essentially a matter of fine-tuning of planned outputs and staffing requirements - in conformity with the revised programme budget process endorsed by the Conference.
2. This fine-tuning took place through the usual process of detailed submissions by all Headquarters departments and offices, as well as Regional and Sub-regional Offices in response to senior management's guidance. These submissions were reviewed, and key features discussed at policy level, during a series of "budget hearings". Due attention was paid to consultations with offices outside Headquarters through regional videoconferences, in addition to the day-to-day contacts between outposted teams and their counterpart departments and divisions.
3. Finally, the views and recommendations of the Technical Committees of the Council at their 2001 sessions, in particular those of the Committees on Agriculture (COAG), Fisheries (COFI) and Forestry (COFO) and, to a lesser extent, the Committees on World Food Security (CFS) and on Commodity Problems (CCP) were taken into account. These Committees called for strengthening of FAO's action in a large number of substantive areas, the Committees on Fisheries and Forestry in particular inviting "preferential" treatment to be given in relative terms to their respective sectors. To this recent inter-governmental guidance, must be added the deliberations of the FAO Regional Conferences held in 2000. The total sum of these recommendations would translate into a substantial additional workload, as was intimated to the 120th session of the Council in June 2001, through a specially-prepared information document2. Nevertheless, the real growth proposals presented in this PWB document, are expected to go a long way towards giving justice to the cumulative demands expressed by these Bodies.
4. The articulation of the PWB proposals under substantive programmes in terms of constituent entities is very similar to that indicated in the MTP 2002-2007 submitted to, and endorsed by the 119th session of the Council in November 2000, with rare exceptions to take account of developments since the latter document was formulated.
5. The principles of the enhanced programme approach approved by the FAO Conference are worth recalling below. Accordingly, the "building blocks" of FAO's substantive work fall under three categories:
6. As several important aspects in the design of the above entities, such as rationale, indicators and partnerships, were specified in the Medium Term Plan and associated database available on FAO's website, for the sake of brevity, the narratives for individual entities in the Programme Budget section are limited to statements of objective(s) and summaries of outputs planned for the next biennium labelled "Approach". While the objectives are generally "lifted" from the MTP, some rephrasing by the concerned units, has taken place to make them more concrete or understandable by non-specialist audiences. As recalled in the Director-General's Introduction, more detailed lists of biennial outputs are available on FAO's website at the address http://www.fao.org/pwb.
7. If comparison is made with the predecessor PWB 2000-2001, it may be noted that when the MTP was prepared during the year 2000 and subsequently, to take account of Programme Committee's comments, there were instances where programme entity numbers were changed, generally because a programme entity in the form of technical project or technical service agreement was converted to a continuing programme activity or vice versa. As a result, some programme entities have been renumbered in the base for PWB 2002-03, as follows:
PWB 2000-01 |
PWB 2002-03 | ||
Entity Number |
Title |
Entity Number |
Title |
221A1 |
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius) |
221P2 |
Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme (Codex Alimentarius) |
221P1 |
Food and Nutrition Assessment |
221A1 |
Human Nutrition Requirements |
221P2 |
Nutrition Policy at Country Level |
221A2 |
Nutrition Improvement for Sustainable Development |
221P3 |
Nutrition Programmes |
221A4 |
Community Action for Improved Household Food Security and Nutrition |
222P7 |
Virtual Library Support and Information Management |
222P9 |
Virtual Library Information Services |
244P2 |
Support to Initiatives in the Follow-up to UNCED |
244A1 |
Follow-up to UNCED and International Forestry Processes |
251P2 |
Cross-sectoral Mechanisms for Implementation of Agenda 21, International Environmental Conventions, Agreements and Obligations |
251A6 |
Support to Environmental Agreements and Promotion of Integrated Environmental Planning and Management |
256A1 |
SPFS Formulation |
256P2 |
SPFS Formulation |
256A2 |
SPFS Implementation |
256P3 |
SPFS Implementation |
311S1 |
Direct Support to Agricultural Policy Work in the Regions |
311P4 |
Coordination of Country Focus |
311S3 |
Support to Building In-house Capacity in Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis |
311A1 |
Development of On-line Training Capacity in Food, Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Planning |
312S2 |
Support and Training in Sector/Sub-sector and Specific Agricultural Policies |
312P3 |
Advice and Capacity Building in Agricultural Policies |
31900 |
Programme Management |
319S2 |
Divisional Direction |
8. There is no change at the "macro level" of chapter, major programme, programme or sub-programme (in non-substantive areas) headings, except for Programme 3.1.1, now entitled Coordination of Policy Assistance and Field Programme Development to better reflect its increasing emphasis on field programme development.
9. The following table describes the proposed distribution of resources at the level of the Programme of Work (i.e. the gross budget including resources from other income) prior to the addition of anticipated cost increases.
Major |
2000-01 |
2002-03 | ||||
Programme |
Description |
Programme |
Programme Change |
Programme | ||
and Chapter |
of Work |
of Work | ||||
US$ 000 |
US$ 000 |
% |
US$ 000 | |||
11 |
Governing Bodies |
17,671 |
41 |
0.2% |
17,712 | |
12 |
Policy, Direction and Planning |
22,479 |
1,533 |
6.8% |
24,012 | |
13 |
External Coordination and Liaison |
13,140 |
(9) |
(0.1%) |
13,131 | |
19 |
Programme Management |
789 |
29 |
3.7% |
818 | |
Chapter 1 |
General Policy and Direction |
54,079 |
1,594 |
2.9% |
55,673 | |
21 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
89,372 |
5,351 |
6.0% |
94,723 | |
22 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
87,047 |
4,229 |
4.9% |
91,276 | |
23 |
Fisheries |
39,231 |
2,605 |
6.6% |
41,836 | |
24 |
Forestry |
30,439 |
2,175 |
7.1% |
32,614 | |
25 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
52,575 |
2,145 |
4.1% |
54,720 | |
Chapter 2 |
Technical and Economic Programmes |
298,664 |
16,505 |
5.5% |
315,169 | |
31 |
Policy Assistance |
27,042 |
1,195 |
4.4% |
28,237 | |
32 |
Support to Investment |
46,546 |
12 |
0.0% |
46,558 | |
33 |
Field Operations |
23,879 |
(4,331) |
(18.1%) |
19,548 | |
34 |
FAO Representatives |
72,403 |
5,540 |
7.7% |
77,943 | |
35 |
Cooperation with External Partners |
8,786 |
1,243 |
14.1% |
10,029 | |
39 |
Programme Management |
882 |
1,042 |
118.1% |
1,924 | |
Chapter 3 |
Cooperation and Partnerships |
179,538 |
4,701 |
2.6% |
184,239 | |
41 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
89,118 |
10,318 |
11.6% |
99,436 | |
42 |
TCP Unit |
2,337 |
476 |
20.4% |
2,813 | |
Chapter 4 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
91,455 |
10,794 |
11.8% |
102,249 | |
51 |
Information and Publications Support |
16,560 |
674 |
4.1% |
17,234 | |
52 |
Administration |
48,767 |
916 |
1.9% |
49,683 | |
Chapter 5 |
Support Services |
65,327 |
1,590 |
2.4% |
66,917 | |
60 |
Common Services |
44,790 |
83 |
0.2% |
44,873 | |
Chapter 6 |
Common Services |
44,790 |
83 |
0.2% |
44,873 | |
70 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0.0% |
600 | |
Chapter 7 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0.0% |
600 | |
TOTAL |
734,453 |
35,267 |
4.8% |
769,720 |
10. In line with the decisions of the Joint Meeting of the Programme and Finance Committees to integrate "other" income into the PWB (adopted since the PWB 1998-99), tables throughout the document, especially in the section Programme Budget, deal with the Programme of Work. Resource changes over the PWB 2000-01 are explained in the latter section, as appropriate. The following summary covers the main programme changes at the level of the overall Programme of Work.
11. The major change under Major Programme 1.2, Policy, Direction and Planning, is attributable to the cost of rebuilding the Organization's Computerized Programme Planning and Budgeting System (PLANSYS). Amongst several offsetting changes, there is deliberate action to strengthen conference operations and to re-engineer language services to benefit from advanced technology, coupled with some required increases for the Offices of the Director-General and of the Inspector-General.
12. In line with the substantive content of the Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 and the pertinent recommendations of the Technical Committees of the Council, this chapter would benefit from a significant boost of resources, albeit at a lower level than that indicated for the biennium 2002-2003 in the MTP. Particular attention has been given to the major programmes on Fisheries and Forestry which show increases of 6.6% and 7.1% respectively. In effect, these have been reinforced in relative terms, even since the stage of the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, to respond to attendant requests. While Major Programme 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, shows an increase of 6.0%, this includes the effect of decisions taken at the last FAO Conference concerning the Rotterdam Convention and the Near East Desert Locust Commission (see details under programme entities 212P2 and 212A4 respectively) as well as the fact that this programme plays host to the amount of US$ 0.9 million set aside as central support to Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) under 210S5. If these exceptional entries are discounted, the underlying increase to Major Programme 2.1 is closer to 4.6%. At the same time, attention was paid to more balanced use of FAO languages in planned substantive outputs.
13. It is clearly not possible to provide here an exhaustive list of the substantive priorities embodied in these PWB proposals in response to expressed demands of the membership. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the following:
14. There are quite complex movements within this chapter, including net reduction in field operations services, especially in the Regional Offices, as well as further savings from the restructuring of the Technical Cooperation Department (TC), while additional resources are provided:
15. The additional resources aim to increase the share of this chapter to the budget at the same proportional level as indicated in the MTP for the 2002-2003 biennium, which reflected the need to respond to Conference Resolution 9/89.
16. The main change under Major Programme 5.1, Information and Publications Support, is attributable to the reinforcement of public information activities in the Liaison Office in Washington and at Headquarters, in accord with the strategy for Communicating FAO's messages. The increase under Major Programme 5.2, Administration, reflects additional resources for the restructured Finance Division (AFF) and further funding to meet development costs of FAO's administrative and financial systems. This is partially offset by staff reductions in the newly-established Management Support Service (MSS) and in the Personnel Division (AFP), as well as a transfer of the Administrative Services Division (AFS) direction's cost and Regional Offices' Management Support Unit (MSU) costs to other chapters.
17. Changes are principally on account of transfers from Chapter 5.
18. The following table examines the net impact on the Appropriation (i.e. consistent with the preceding Draft Resolution on Budgetary Appropriations for 2002-2003) including cost increases which have been calculated at 1 = US$ 0.880 (or US$ 1 = Lira 2,200). Calculation of cost increases is covered under the following section Budgetary Framework. The Appropriation is arrived at by deducting "Other Income" from the Programme of Work. While the movements under "Programme Change" are substantively the same in programme terms, the influence of changes in "Other Income" becomes apparent. The main variances between this and the previous table are explained below.
Major |
2000-01 |
Programme |
Cost |
2002-03 | |
Programme |
Description |
Budget |
Change |
Increases |
Budget |
and Chapter |
after Cost | ||||
Increases | |||||
11 |
Governing Bodies |
17,671 |
41 |
(682) |
17,030 |
12 |
Policy, Direction and Planning |
19,728 |
1,651 |
(344) |
21,035 |
13 |
External Coordination and Liaison |
12,703 |
(9) |
1,557 |
14,251 |
19 |
Programme Management |
789 |
29 |
(87) |
731 |
Chapter 1 |
General Policy and Direction |
50,891 |
1,712 |
444 |
53,047 |
21 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
88,093 |
5,348 |
887 |
94,328 |
22 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
85,560 |
4,212 |
(1,346) |
88,426 |
23 |
Fisheries |
38,556 |
2,657 |
(146) |
41,067 |
24 |
Forestry |
29,699 |
2,464 |
(82) |
32,081 |
25 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
47,261 |
3,057 |
319 |
50,637 |
Chapter 2 |
Technical and Economic Programmes |
289,169 |
17,738 |
(368) |
306,539 |
31 |
Policy Assistance |
26,201 |
1,313 |
696 |
28,210 |
32 |
Support to Investment |
18,839 |
(803) |
168 |
18,204 |
33 |
Field Operations |
4,955 |
(1,412) |
(105) |
3,438 |
34 |
FAO Representatives |
63,666 |
1,820 |
2,995 |
68,481 |
35 |
Cooperation with External Partners |
6,328 |
1,286 |
(233) |
7,381 |
39 |
Programme Management |
655 |
1,085 |
(147) |
1,593 |
Chapter 3 |
Cooperation and Partnerships |
120,644 |
3,289 |
3,374 |
127,307 |
41 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
89,118 |
10,318 |
3,680 |
103,116 |
42 |
TCP Unit |
2,337 |
476 |
(75) |
2,738 |
Chapter 4 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
91,455 |
10,794 |
3,605 |
105,854 |
51 |
Information and Publications Support |
16,560 |
674 |
(298) |
16,936 |
52 |
Administration |
40,759 |
903 |
(1,635) |
40,027 |
Chapter 5 |
Support Services |
57,319 |
1,577 |
(1,933) |
56,963 |
60 |
Common Services |
39,922 |
424 |
(1,951) |
38,395 |
Chapter 6 |
Common Services |
39,922 |
424 |
(1,951) |
38,395 |
70 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0 |
600 |
Chapter 7 |
Contingencies |
600 |
0 |
0 |
600 |
TOTAL |
650,000 |
35,534 |
3,171 |
688,705 |
19. Major reductions in income which have been reflected, can be explained as follows:
20. It is recalled that since the stage of the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, the allocations for Fisheries and Forestry as well as for the Technical Cooperation Programme have been further strengthened in relative terms (i.e. higher net programme changes).
21. Given the interest of some countries in seeing alternative proposals, a possible zero real growth (ZRG) "scenario" for 2002-03 was intimated to the 120th session of the Council in June 2001. While the Director-General makes clear in his Introduction the justifications for the real growth proposals embodied in this document, in similar vein, possible zero real growth levels are also indicated throughout the Programme Budget section, together with descriptions of the eventual impact of these levels, in text boxes at appropriate places.
22. The breakdown by budgetary chapter of both the Programme of Work and the Appropriation at ZRG levels are given below, set against the real growth proposals in this PWB.
Real Growth (RG) |
Zero Real Growth (ZRG) |
Reduction in | ||||||
Chapter |
Programme of |
Appropriation |
Programme of |
Appropriation |
Programme of | |||
Work |
Work |
Work from | ||||||
RG to ZRG | ||||||||
1 |
General Policy and Direction |
56,117 |
53,047 |
54,893 |
51,823 |
(1,224) | ||
2 |
Technical and Economic Programmes |
314,847 |
306,539 |
300,657 |
292,348 |
(14,190) | ||
3 |
Cooperation and Partnerships |
187,770 |
127,307 |
181,270 |
120,819 |
(6,500) | ||
4 |
Technical Cooperation Programme |
105,854 |
105,854 |
95,195 |
95,195 |
(10,659) | ||
5 |
Support Services |
64,996 |
56,963 |
60,611 |
52,578 |
(4,385) | ||
6 |
Common Services |
42,922 |
38,395 |
42,922 |
38,395 |
0 | ||
7 |
Contingencies |
600 |
600 |
600 |
600 |
0 | ||
Total |
773,106 |
688,705 |
736,148 |
651,758 |
(36,958) |
23. The Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 included information on the distribution of resources for substantive programmes (i.e. those under Chapter 2, Technical and Economic Programmes, and Major Programme 3.1, Policy Assistance) across the 12 objectives of the Strategic Framework (labelled A1 to E3 and listed on the back cover of this document).
24. The following table supplements the information provided in the MTP (adjusted to the first biennium 2002-2003 for comparative purposes) with similar breakdowns for the present Programme of Work and Budget proposals.
Major Programme |
A1 |
A2 |
A3 |
B1 |
B2 |
C1 |
C2 |
D1 |
D2 |
E1 |
E2 |
E3 | ||||
Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 | ||||||||||||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
|||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
|||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
|||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
|||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
|||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
|||||||||||||||
Programme of Work and Budget Proposals | ||||||||||||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
|||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
|||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
|||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
|||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
|||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
|||||||||||||||
Legend |
||||||||||||||||
Greater than zero, |
US$ 2 million to 4 |
US$ 4 million to 8 |
More than US$ 8 | |||||||||||||
*(see back cover for detail of each strategic objective) |
25. The resource breakdowns across strategic objectives are - not unexpectedly - broadly similar, although minor differences can be explained by the fact that lower resource levels characterise PWB proposals compared to the tentative resource distribution pattern in the MTP.
26. Individual tables showing the distribution of resources in relation to each of the twelve strategic objectives are provided at the beginning of each major programme in Chapter 2 and for Major Programme 3.1.
27. Specific biennial outputs are planned for implementation during 2002-03 under the technical and economic programmes. Outputs are defined as the goods and services which the Organization produces - always in the context of the objectives established in the Medium Term Plan and ultimately as a contribution to the achievement of the Strategic Objectives of the Organization, as approved by the Conference in the Strategic Framework 2000-2015. These outputs form the basis for programme implementation during the biennium, as well as subsequent reporting in the Programme Implementation Report. Details concerning the biennial outputs are provided in the 2002-03 Planned Outputs Database on the Internet at the address http://www.fao.org/pwb.
28. The analysis which follows is of a purely quantitative nature (numbers of ouputs) which is not necessarily a reflection of either resources or effort required. However, it provides a broad picture of the nature and volume of goods and services produced by the Organization.
29. Major Programme 2.2, Food and Agriculture Policy and Development, with 26 percent of the total has the largest number of planned outputs, followed closely by Major Programme 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, at 25 percent, as shown in the following chart. Headquarters technical divisions will be responsible for the implementation of 78 percent of the outputs, Regional Offices for 16 percent and Sub-regional Offices for the remaining 6 percent. The latter figures for decentralized offices are lower than might be expected, since they are based upon the lead division/office for individual outputs and, therefore, do not take into account the many contributions of the decentralized offices to outputs which are attributed to Headquarters' units.
30. The distribution of biennial outputs by type is shown in the following chart. Coordination and information exchange, with 25 percent of the total, accounts for the largest portion of the outputs, followed by Direct advice to Members and field programme support with 18 percent. Information products, systems and databases; Methodologies and guidelines; and Studies and analyses also account for a significant portion of outputs, each with between 14 and 17 percent of the total.
31. Networks, expert consultations, task forces and working groups are generally the main means by which coordination and information exchange is supported. Nearly all cooperation work with other UN organizations is included under this type of output. Major Programmes 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, 2.2, Food and Agriculture Policy and Development, and 2.4, Forestry, each account for about 20 percent of the coordination and information exchange outputs planned. However, this type of output is an important component of all major programmes, making up between 20 to 37 percent of the total outputs of each major programme. About 75 percent of these outputs will be undertaken by Headquarters divisions.
32. Direct advice to Members and field programme support are generally undertaken upon request and, therefore, specific outputs are difficult to plan in advance. Implementation has often diverged significantly from work planned, therefore, outputs of this type foreseen for 2002-03 should be considered as indicative. This category is an important component of all programmes and is particularly significant for Major Programme 3.1, Policy Assistance, which produces nearly 50 percent of the planned outputs. The decentralized offices also have a strong role in undertaking this type of outputs, accounting for about 50 percent of the total.
33. Information products, systems and databases are increasingly being made available on CD-ROM and over the Internet, in addition to more traditional publications. Major Programme 2.2, Food and Agriculture Policy and Development, accounts for over 35 percent of these outputs, and 25 percent of this major programme's outputs are of this type. This is explained, in particular, by the influence of WAICENT. Nearly 90 percent of the information products, systems and database outputs are planned to be carried out by Headquarters divisions.
34. Outputs of this type make up only 4 percent of the total planned for 2002-03. However, they are quite important, focusing on areas such as plant protection; the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides; plant and animal genetic resources; phytosanitary measures; Codex Alimentarius; and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and IPOAs on fisheries. Major Programme 2.2, Food and Agriculture Policy and Development, accounts for over 35 percent of the outputs related to international undertakings and agreements, followed by Major Programmes 2.1, Agricultural Production and Support Systems, with 28 percent and 2.3, Fisheries, with 18 percent. Over 90 percent of the outputs of this type will be carried out by Headquarters divisions.
35. Methodologies and guidelines generally involve initial formulation work, followed by expert panel reviews and pilot testing before they are ready for dissemination. In the past, the time and effort required for the production of methodologies and guidelines has often been underestimated resulting in relatively low levels of delivery of this type of output. For 2002-03, methodologies and guidelines, at 14 percent of the total, make up a smaller proportion than in the past, when they often accounted for over 20 percent of planned outputs. Major Programme 2.1 accounts for over 30 percent of the outputs related to methodologies and guidelines followed by Major Programme 2.3 with 22 percent. About 90 percent of these will be carried out by Headquarters divisions.
36. Studies and analyses encompass a broad range of activities, e.g. conceptualisation of issues, assessment of techniques and results, analytical work and case studies. Major Programme 2.1 accounts for 28 percent of the outputs of this type, followed by Major Programme 2.2 at 24 percent. This type of output is an important component of all major programmes, making up between 11 to 19 percent of the total outputs of each major programme. About 85 percent of the studies and analyses outputs will be undertaken by Headquarters divisions.
37. Training outputs include both the preparation of training materials and the delivery of training, directly or through distance-learning activities. Often individual training outputs include several discrete training courses. Therefore, the total training effort should not be perceived solely through counts of outputs of this type. Major Programme 2.1 accounts for over 38 percent, and decentralized offices have a important role, accounting for nearly 25 percent, of the biennial outputs of this type.
38. Attention to ensuring balanced use of FAO languages in all areas of work will continue in 2002-03. Significant efforts have already been made in the 2000-01 biennium towards improving language balance, in line with guidance provided by the Council at its June 1999 session and by the Conference. These efforts are reflected in the following chart and table. Publications in Arabic and Chinese have made strong gains in 2000 and 2001, while the proportion of publications in French and Spanish has remained at about the same level as in the recent past. However, the figures for 2001 should be treated with some caution, since they reflect only publications produced between January and June 2001.
39. Also, the figures for 2002-03 are based upon planned publications by FAO units and do not include additional language versions which may result from the special provision available through programme entity 222P5, Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage. Publications in Arabic and Chinese are, in particular, assisted by this provision. In the PWB 2000-01, Arabic publications were planned at 6.1% of the total, while actual achievement is expected to exceed 8%. For Chinese, planned publications were at 2.4% of the total, while actual achievement is expected to exceed 8% as well. Publications in Chinese are also enhanced through the standing arrangement for translation by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Language |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001* |
2002-03 |
Arabic |
5.1% |
5.2% |
4.4% |
5.1% |
6.7% |
10.8% |
10.3% |
Bilingual |
2.0% |
3.0% |
4.0% |
2.5% |
1.9% |
1.8% | |
Chinese |
5.9% |
2.2% |
2.0% |
2.2% |
6.7% |
10.0% |
5.6% |
English |
35.4% |
44.8% |
46.8% |
46.5% |
41.3% |
38.5% |
38.3% |
French |
23.8% |
18.8% |
17.8% |
19.3% |
17.3% |
16.9% |
19.2% |
Multilingual |
0.3% |
0.8% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
1.4% |
4.6% |
2.7% |
Spanish |
17.6% |
17.1% |
13.8% |
14.5% |
17.3% |
14.6% |
16.6% |
Trilingual |
8.8% |
7.3% |
9.8% |
8.7% |
6.7% |
4.6% |
4.8% |
Other |
1.1% |
0.8% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.5% |
0.7% | |
* January - June 2001 |
40. During 2002-03, publications in Arabic and Chinese are expected to consolidate the gains made in 2000-2001, whereas the share of English is expected to drop in proportion to the total publication programme towards the more appropriate level of 1996, when budget restrictions began and unduly led to lower volumes of translation into other languages. Publication production in French and Spanish is expected to remain close to the levels experienced over the past years.
41. The following graph and table illustrate similar efforts to improve language coverage as regards documentation for meetings (which mirrors closely the spread of interpretation services). Chinese language coverage in meetings documentation is expected to continue to improve, while the percentage share of English to all meetings documentation will continue to decline.
Language |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
Chinese |
7% |
10% |
6% |
12% |
7% |
15% |
10% |
15% |
Arabic |
10% |
13% |
11% |
15% |
11% |
17% |
11% |
17% |
Spanish |
19% |
18% |
23% |
20% |
20% |
20% |
21% |
21% |
French |
26% |
22% |
26% |
23% |
25% |
22% |
25% |
21% |
English |
38% |
36% |
35% |
29% |
37% |
27% |
34% |
26% |
42. Beyond the planned gradual improvements described above as regards documents and meetings, additional measures are included in the PWB 2002-03, as follows:
43. A provision of US$ 2.1 million is made under entity 222P5, Programme for the Improvement of Language Coverage. This amount will be administered by the General Affairs and Information Department (GI) under the policy guidance of the Corporate Communication Committee (CCC). These additional resources will be applied to, inter alia, filling gaps in language coverage for priority publications and interpretation for meetings; and the extension of language coverage in WAICENT.
44. The central management of multilingual editorial services in the Information Division (GII) was one of the actions approved in the PWB 2000-01. Since its introduction in 2000, it has helped FAO units to utilise more fully these services for publications, leading to improvements in the quality of the various language versions. Efforts in this regard will continue in 2002-03.
45. The two P-2 Translator posts approved in the PWB 2000-01 have allowed the French and Spanish teams to reduce the high ratio of translation work done by external contractors in these two languages, leading to improved quality of output without impact on costs.
46. Also the two posts (i.e. one Arabic Language Editor and one French Language Production Clerk) approved in the PWB 2000-01 have enhanced the capacity to produce the relevant language versions of Cerestronic, i.e. the current information material put on FAO's website, which had previously been handled on an ad hoc basis. A further new post of Arabic Editor is proposed for 2002-03. Measures to improve the language skills of staff, developed by the Personnel Division (AFP) during 2000-01, will be actively pursued.
47. The issue of language use in FAO will be kept under review by the CCC to ensure that all departments and offices pay due attention to improving language coverage in the substantive activities of the Organization. Progress will be reported regularly to the Governing Bodies through the Programme Implementation Report (PIR), as recommended by the 81st session of Programme Committee.
48. In summary, the Programme of Work and Budget proposals seek to pursue improved language coverage in the biennial programme of publications and meetings, continue the special provision to stimulate additional language coverage, and include appropriate staffing arrangements for translation and multilingual editorial work. By these means, further progress should be achieved in this important aspect of FAO's work.
Background
49. The Medium Term Plan 2002-2007 gave due emphasis to needed cooperation across departments, in order to respond to the call in the Strategic Framework for enhanced multi-disciplinary approaches. Sixteen Priority Areas for Inter-disciplinary Action (PAIAs) were singled out, and are recalled below under the corporate strategies on which they are largely focused, bearing in mind that several also contribute to other strategies.
50. The other two PAIAs are more thematic in nature, covering Gender Mainstreaming, and Ethics in Food and Agriculture (ETHI). As Gender Mainstreaming translates into a detailed Plan of Action on Gender and Development 2002-2007, also submitted to the FAO Conference at its request at its November 2001 session, this PAIA is not addressed below.
51. The substance under each PAIA was fully articulated in the Medium Term Plan, with description of the rationale and scope for enhanced inter-disciplinary work, the appropriate supervisory mechanism and the relevant programme entities or component activities. The following succinct narratives do not purport to repeat this extensive descriptive material, but aim at highlighting main expected achievements in the 2002-2003 biennium.
52. All concerned units have sought to identify the resources earmarked for the implementation of the above PAIAs under technical programmes in the 2002-2003 biennium. The resulting picture is given in the following table.
Major Programme |
AWTO |
BIOD |
BIOS |
BTEC |
CLIM |
ECOM |
ETHI |
FCIT |
GLOP |
LHOO |
ORGA |
PROD |
QINF |
REHA |
SPAT | ||||||
2.1 |
Agricultural Production and Support Systems |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.2 |
Food and Agriculture Policy and Development |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.3 |
Fisheries |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.4 |
Forestry |
||||||||||||||||||||
2.5 |
Contributions to Sustainable Development and Special Programme Thrusts |
||||||||||||||||||||
3.1 |
Policy Assistance |
||||||||||||||||||||
Legend |
Greater than zero, |
US$ 250 000 to 1 |
US$ 1 million to 3 |
More than US$ 3 | |||||||||||||||||
AWTO |
WTO Multilateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | ||||||||||||||||||||
BIOD |
Integrated Management of Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture | ||||||||||||||||||||
BIOS |
Biosecurity for Agriculture and Food Production | ||||||||||||||||||||
BTEC |
Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | ||||||||||||||||||||
CLIM |
Climate Change Issues in Agriculture | ||||||||||||||||||||
ECOM |
Strengthening Capacity for Integrated Ecosystem Management | ||||||||||||||||||||
ETHI |
Ethics in Food and Agriculture | ||||||||||||||||||||
FCIT |
Food for the Cities | ||||||||||||||||||||
GLOP |
Global Perspective Studies | ||||||||||||||||||||
LHOO |
Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods | ||||||||||||||||||||
ORGA |
Organic Agriculture | ||||||||||||||||||||
PROD |
Integrated Production Systems (SARD/SPFS) | ||||||||||||||||||||
QINF |
Definitions, Norms, Methodologies and Quality of Information | ||||||||||||||||||||
REHA |
Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness and Post-Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation | ||||||||||||||||||||
SPAT |
Spatial Information Management and Decision Support Tools |
53. It may be noted that provision has been made at central level (entity 210S5) for limited catalytic resources to be made available to the respective coordination mechanisms and Chairpersons depending on requirements, and on which some of the following planned achievements may depend. Some may also be subject to the availability of extra-budgetary support.
Local Institution Building to Improve Capacity for Achieving Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 14.1 million
54. The pertinent coordination mechanism will ensure that a sequential set of activities is carried out by all concerned technical units, so as to assist Member Nations in building local capacities related to sustainable rural livelihoods. National Thematic Groups affiliated to the ACC Network on Rural Development and Food Security will also be instrumental in this regard. Expected achievements will include:
Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness and Post-Emergency
Relief and Rehabilitation
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 4.3 million
55. This PAIA embodies strengthened coordination in dealing with the different phases of the emergency cycle from prevention, preparedness, early warning, impact and needs assessment, to relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and sustainable recovery measures in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors. Coordination will be ensured by the inter-departmental Emergency Coordination Group (ECG). The implementation of the PAIA will incorporate policy, planning, institutional and technical considerations. It will promote improved knowledge, capacity building and exchange of relevant regional and national experiences in order to raise the level of preparedness of countries and regions and to improve the post-crisis recovery and rehabilitation process.
56. Major achievements in the biennium 2002-03 will include:
Biosecurity for Agriculture and Food Production
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 10.8 million
57. Expected achievements include:
WTO Multilateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 3.0 million
58. This PAIA is to enhance FAO's support to Members, particularly developing and transition countries, for their effective participation in multilateral trade negotiations (MTN) on agriculture, as well as their integration into global trade in food, agricultural, fishery and forestry products.
59. It is focused, therefore, on capacity building for trade, and involves normative and operational field activities. The main planned achievements of a cross-sectoral nature include:
60. The PAIA will also benefit from a number of sectoral activities under various technical programmes which have clear trade-related dimensions.
Climate Change Issues in Agriculture
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 1.3 million
61. By the end of 2003, FAO is expected to have expanded its expertise in this complex area and strengthened its technical contributions to international initiatives linked to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Although the way and means by which the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) will become operational are still being developed, areas where FAO will be most active are:
Organic Agriculture
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 1.0 million
62. Expected achievements include:
Food for the Cities
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 2.6 million
63. In addressing a wide range of issues such as urban and peri-urban agriculture, assembling, handling, processing, transport, credit, information, marketing and distribution, as well as food security, nutrition and environmental aspects, expected achievements under this PAIA will include:
Integrated Production Systems (SARD3/SPFS)
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 10.1 million
64. During the biennium, thematic and regional working groups will be established to support work under this PAIA. Coordination will be operated through virtual means, the "PROD's" website and a discussion list. This will facilitate assembly of information and knowledge from Headquarters divisional and regional activities across disciplines. The PAIA will use entry-point thematic areas (which represent clusters of outputs in divisional programmes) as follows: conservation agriculture; good farming practices; crops-trees-livestock-fish systems; intensive forage production and use; livestock, environment and development; economics of production system intensification; vertical integration of production systems, products and marketing; integrated databases and information systems.
65. In addition, regional pilot projects will commence involving regional working groups and initial case studies and reports. The currently defined pilot projects are:
66. For each regional pilot project, the following activities will be undertaken in 2002-03: field-level assessment of current systems and farming methods (consultant's report); meetings with local institutions and stakeholders; project proposal; and development of action plans.
Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 4.5 million
67. This PAIA links up to a vast number of sectoral outputs, involving the pertinent technical divisions, the Legal Office and WAICENT. Building on these, the major achievements of a cross-sectoral nature are foreseen to include:
68. These activities should facilitate FAO's active engagement in the debates on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through science-based contributions, and enable it to keep abreast of current scientific developments.
Integrated Management of Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 4.2 million
69. This PAIA will contribute to the establishment of FAO's coordinated position on biological diversity for food and agriculture. Major achievements are expected to include:
Strengthening Capacity for Integrated Ecosystem Management
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 2.6 million
70. Bearing in mind the requirements for development of drylands and mountains, but also of other ecosystems, joint work is expected to focus on:
Definitions, Norms, Methodologies and Quality of Information
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 4.4 million
71. Target accomplishments include:
Spatial Information Management and Decision Support Tools
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 5.0 million
72. Expected achievements include:
Global Perspective Studies
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 3.3 million
73. Joint work under this PAIA is to improve coherence in analytical methods and databases used in global perspective studies. Expected achievements include:
Ethics in Food and Agriculture
Indicative resource allocation in 2002-03: US$ 1.0 million
74. Besides sectoral outputs, such as meetings, publications and other activities that are directly related to ethical issues, expected achievements as the result of joint efforts include:
1 CL 119/17
2 CL 120/INF/17
3 Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
4 Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
5 Southern African Development Community