Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAO Representations’ 40th anniversary highlights #ZeroHunger

16/10/2018

This year’s World Food Day (WFD) was once again a success, with many celebrations and events staged worldwide. Many decentralized offices contributed to promote both #ZeroHunger and the 40th Anniversary of Country Representations’ global initiative.  

FAO-Pakistan, among many other county offices, aligned its 40th anniversary activities with WFD 2018, whose official celebrations were held at the National Agriculture Research Council with the participation of the newly appointed Minister for National Food Security and Research, as well as other government representatives from various ministries and institutions, donor representatives, NGOs, the media and FAO staff. 

FAO Representative Ms Mina Dowlatchahi delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Director-General. She also promoted Pakistan’s Food-based Dietary Guidelines, prepared with FAO, and inaugurated a photo exhibition at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, showcasing the work of professional photographers who visited FAO’s beneficiaries across Pakistan. 

In a bid to raise awareness and engage Pakistani youth on #ZeroHunger, a parliamentary debate competition was also organized with Islamabad School Department. High school students from various schools of the capital presented their views on both developed and developing countries’ responsibilities in achieving #ZeroHunger by 2030.  Lastly, FAO-Pakistan and the Centre of Rural Economy of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, co-hosted an Expert Roundtable on the launch of the 2018 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, with two panel discussions focusing on Pakistan carried out with high-level diplomats from FAO’s Member States, academicians and civil society representatives.

FAO-Guyana’s 40th anniversary celebrations coincided with the 2018 WFD Annual Exhibition and Fair, jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO. This is the country’s largest food fair which takes place annually on 16 October in Guyana. This year’s event culminated with a celebratory cake in observance of the 40th Anniversary of the Guyana country office. It featured WFD cultural displays from children and artists, with the participation of Guyana’s major agricultural entities and enterprises which presented their work in contributing to a #ZeroHunger generation. 

The opening ceremony saw the attendance of the President of Guyana, government ministers, members of the diplomatic community and other UN agencies. Opening remarks were delivered by the Ministers of Agriculture and Health, with feature address by the FAO Representative, Mr. Reuben Robertson.

FAO-Viet Nam was joined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to celebrate both World Food Day (WFD) 2018 and the 40th anniversary of FAO Country Representation. The event in Ha Noi brought together a wide a range of partners including representatives from the government, UN organizations and donors to toast the 40th anniversary and the 38th WFD in the country. Speakers recalled the need to work collaboratively to achieve #ZeroHunger, through public and private investments, risk-informed policies and interventions, ensuring that the most vulnerable benefit from growth and employment opportunities. During the ceremony, the MARD also presented a medal for the Rural Development Cause awarded to FAO-Viet Nam current and former staff, who have been supporting field projects for more than 20 years. A seminar was also held at the Viet Nam Forestry University to mark this special day.

FAO-Nepal and the national World Food Day (WFD) Committee, chaired by the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, convened an official ceremony in November 2017. Participants included ministers, donors and UN partners, as well as 98 farmers and farmers’ organizations who were awarded by the Minister for Agricultural Development with special prizes and a letter of appreciation for their outstanding performance. Speaking at the ceremony, the FAOR Dr Somsak Pipoppinyo noted that hunger, poverty, disasters and extreme climate events are key drivers contributing to migration in many developing and least developed countries.

In 2018, FAO-Nepal capitalized again on its WFD activities to mark its 40th anniversary. Major activities were carried out such as a reception with 150 dignitaries hosted by the FAOR, a walkathon in the streets of Lalitpur, a radio message on Radio Nepal delivered by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, a cash prizes and certificates of appreciation ceremony to award 16 farmers for their work, as well as a film reflecting FAO-Nepal’s major achievements over the past 40 years.