MAJOR PROGRAMME 3.1: POLICY ASSISTANCE

748. This major programme is central to: the development of the field programme; the provision of sound policy advice to countries; and capacity building in the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies and programmes aimed at sustainable agricultural and rural development and food security. It ensures the interface between the normative work of technical departments at Headquarters and policy advocacy and assistance provided to countries, particularly through an enhanced field programme. Close links between country focussed policy advice and field programme development will be promoted in the work of the policy assistance branches and units at Regional and Sub-regional Offices. Programme 3.1.2 covers the work of the latter units, while Programme 3.1.1 covers the activities at Headquarters. No major changes were made to the programme structure since the previous MTP.

749. The complementary Programme 3.1.3, Legal Assistance to Member Nations, is designed to improve the legal and institutional framework for agricultural development and natural resources management in countries. It operates through three principal means: technical advice, information, and contributions to inter-departmental normative work.

Programme 3.1.1: Coordination of Policy Assistance
and Field Programme Development

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

311A1

TP

Development of FAO's Capacity to Provide On-line Training in Food, Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Planning

311P1

CP

Coordination of Policy Assistance

311P2

CP

Coordination of Field Programme Development Activities

311P3

CP

Development of Training Materials and Methods in Food and Agriculture Policy Analysis

311P4

CP

Coordination of Country Focus

311S2

TS

Technical Support to Capacity Building in Food, Agriculture and Rural Policy Development Planning and Policy Analysis

Legend

Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million

US$ 1.5 million to 3 million

US$ 3 million to 5 million

More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

750. Development problem to be addressed: Members need to identify, formulate, implement and monitor sound agricultural and rural development policies, including generation of investment in the sector. However, there are still vast requirements for trained personnel in all regions, which can be met in a cost-effective manner through access to distant-learning resources.

751. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: through the imparted training, the formulation of sound policies would be based on proven analytical work and knowledge, including other countries' experiences. This would fasten agriculture and rural development, and lead to more investment in these sectors, thereby contributing to poverty reduction.

752. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: policy makers in the public sector and other agents involved in national food, agriculture and rural development processes. Their enhanced skills should translate into improved policy frameworks.

Objective(s)

753. Wide availability to interested governments and academic or training institutions of electronic learning resources for enhancing policies in food, agriculture and rural development.

Indicator(s)

1. Frequency of access to electronic learning resources by intended users.
2. Adoption of learning content in policy making in countries.

Major Output(s)

1. Delivery of on-line training programmes.
2. Development of courseware for distance-learning.

Rationale

754. Development problem to be addressed: policy assistance work being largely decentralised, the regional and sub-regional teams should get adequate guidance and support from Headquarters, particularly as relates to new areas where countries are requesting policy assistance. It is also important that policy assistance to Members builds on the results of normative work conducted by the technical departments, with TCA ensuring the necessary interface between normative and operational policy work.

755. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: coordination of, and regularly updated guidance to the decentralized units would enhance their capacity to assist Members and to draw on all aspects of FAO's work having a bearing on policy formulation in food and agriculture.

756. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: by contributing to coherent action by the decentralized policy teams, this entity would ultimately lead to enhanced policy and institutional frameworks in countries.

Objective(s)

757. Coherent approach to FAO policy advisory services to the membership.

Indicator(s)

1. Number of regional and national strategies and programmes for food security and agricultural and rural development under implementation.
2. Effective use of policy formulation guidelines.
3. Use of thematic reports and technical notes prepared.

Major Output(s)

1. Policy formulation and implementation methods, tools and guidelines.
2. Coordination and support in preparation of national and regional strategies and programmes for food security.
3. Inter-departmental thematic work on priority policy issues.

Rationale

758. Development problem to be addressed: Members place increasingly diversified demands on FAO technical cooperation services. In a context of decentralized field operations, outposted policy units need to ensure that the field programme address the core issues of agricultural development and food security and builds on the programme approach. Their action in support of field programme development needs to be well coordinated.

759. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: the field programme is the principal instrument for direct action by FAO at national and regional levels. Well coordinated activities to ensure steady development of the field programme would contribute to making it fully responsive to demands, while remaining consistent with FAO's strategic objectives.

760. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: rural populations and agricultural producers would directly benefit from an enhanced field programme, as they are being encouraged to make sustainable innovations, diversify production and better market their produce, taking advantage of successful experiences and FAO's store of knowledge.

Objective(s)

761. Improved regional, national and local level conditions to achieve sustainable rural and agricultural development, through coordinated field programme development.

Indicator(s)

1. Number of regional strategies and action plans for field programme development supported.
2. Multi-disciplinary missions organised and supported.

Major Output(s)

1. Coordination and support to field programme development activities.
2. Country and regional level programming exercises.

Rationale

762. Development problem to be addressed: there are substantial requirements for capacity building in most developing countries and countries in transition, to improve decision making and policy formulation in agricultural and rural development and food security. This translates into a need for materials which can present and update concepts, supportive information and analytical methods at various levels.

763. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: the formulation of sound policies should be enhanced if based on proven analytical work and knowledge, including other countries' experiences, also leading to more investment and contributing to food security and poverty reduction in concerned countries.

764. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: high-level decision makers, policy analysts and professionals in public and non-statal organizations; leaders of rural and agricultural producers' organizations; local level development practitioners.

Objective(s)

765. Improved policy and institutional settings in countries for agricultural and rural development and greater national capacities for sector, sub-sector and local policy making.

Indicator(s)

1. Adoption of learning content in policy formulation in member countries.

Major Output(s)

1. Resource and training materials in policy and sector analysis.
2. Training materials in sub-sector policy and analysis.
3. Training materials in investment planning and local level development.

Rationale

766. Development problem to be addressed: Members face the challenges of globalization and trade liberalization, and should ensure that the state's principal role of providing policy and regulatory frameworks is conducive to sustainable development. This behoves FAO to enhance its knowledge of country conditions and collect and update information on trends in agricultural production, food security and technical cooperation requirements, i.e. the essential ingredients of an effective country focus. Decentralized activities in this respect need to be well orchestrated from Headquarters.

767. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: ensuring a common approach by the decentralised units which are directly engaged in policy assistance and field programme development, would greatly assist in the necessary collection of information for an adequate country focus.

768. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: policy assistance work would obviously benefit from an effective system of country focus, so that enabling environments are in place in countries for sustainable rural development and food security.

Objective(s)

769. Enhanced country knowledge in order to enable FAO to provide well-tailored technical assistance for agricultural development and food security.

Indicator(s)

1. Use of country information system supported by this entity.
2. Use of country briefs and related documents.

Major Output(s)

1. Country analytical database and up-to-date assessment of technical assistance requirements for sustainable food security, agriculture and rural development.
2. Country and regional groupings briefs.

770. This entity supports capacity building activities in policy areas of interest to countries (training courses, workshops, in-service training).

Programme 3.1.2: Policy Assistance to Various Regions

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

312P1

CP

Enhancement of Country Focus

312P2

CP

Field Programme Development

312P3

CP

Advice, Support and Training in Agricultural Policies

312S3

TS

Technical Support to Field Programmes

Legend

Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million

US$ 1.5 million to 3 million

US$ 3 million to 5 million

More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

771. Development problem to be addressed: as coordinated by entity 311P4, this entity covers country focus activities carried out by the TCA outposted units, especially the collection of information on situations and trends, including local specificities and opportunities for sustainable agriculture and rural development at the national level.

772. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: FAO cannot provide valuable policy advisory and technical cooperation services at country level, unless these are grounded in reliable and comprehensive information on country conditions and requirements.

773. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: the information collected under this entity will feed into policy assistance work and field programme development, ultimately benefiting national development and food security.

Objective(s)

774. Enhanced country knowledge in order to enable FAO to provide well-tailored technical assistance for agricultural development and food security.

Indicator(s)

1. Use of regional country information systems.
2. Effective inputs of country task forces.

Major Output(s)

1. Country task forces, analytical database and up-to-date assessments of technical assistance requirements.

Rationale

775. Development problem to be addressed: FAO needs to respond to increasingly diversified demands from Members for technical cooperation programmes and projects addressing their national (and regional) food security and agricultural and rural development objectives. This should translate into concerted and proactive efforts by the Organization to identify critical constraints and to design cost-effective projects. In this context, FAO needs to participate actively in country-level programming exercises to ensure the full reflection of agricultural development concerns and interests.

776. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: the entity covers the many activities of TCA decentralized teams, which are directly relevant to field programme development.

777. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: national authorities and the specific beneficiaries of the programmes and projects so formulated.

Objective(s)

778. Generation of a dynamic field programme, attuned to the requirements of recipient countries and the expectations of funding sources.

Indicator(s)

1. Regional strategies and biennial action plans for field programme development.
2. Multi-disciplinary programming missions.
3. Use of Project Identification Facility (PIF).

Major Output(s)

1. Development of field programme and projects in countries.

Rationale

779. Development problem to be addressed: Many Members need to address serious weaknesses in policies, or even redress the total absence of an enabling policy environment and appropriate institutional arrangements to ensure sustainable agriculture and rural development.

780. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: this entity groups important contributions from the TCA outposted units to country policy work, including direct support to policy formulation to meet specific requests, often in the form of discussion of options with national teams or through national workshops, thereby also contributing to strengthening of country capacities. Through these specialised policy related services provided by FAO, Members and regional economic groupings would be able to implement sound policies and institutional reforms needed for increased food security and sustainable rural and agricultural development.

781. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: policy makers in developing countries, and ultimately intended target beneficiaries of national policies.

Objective(s)

782. Enabling policy and institutional frameworks at national and regional levels, conducive to rural development and food security.

Indicator(s)

1. Effective contributions of policy advisory missions.
2. Use of sector/sub-sector policy studies.
3. Number of capacity building exercises supported.
4. Early rehabilitation strategies developed.

Major Output(s)

1. Policy advice to member countries and support in policy analysis and planning.
2. Support for the preparation of plans and strategies for rehabilitation and development following emergencies.

783. This entity deals in the first instance with backstopping of projects with policy dimensions.

Programme 3.1.3: Legal Assistance to Member Nations

Code

Type

Title

A1

A2

A3

B1

B2

C1

C2

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

313A1

TP

Support to the Development of a Regulatory Framework for Food and Agriculture

313P1

CP

Collection and Dissemination of Legal Information

313S1

TS

Provision of Technical Advice

Legend

Greater than zero, less than US$ 1.5 million

US$ 1.5 million to 3 million

US$ 3 million to 5 million

More than US$ 5 million

Rationale

784. Development problem to be addressed: regulation of agriculture is increasingly subject to principles of international law and non-binding instruments. Governments require assistance for the development of principles for national implementation. FAO is engaged in supporting regulatory frameworks in all areas of its mandate. It is necessary to place these sectoral efforts into a coherent whole.

785. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: the assistance to countries is specifically targeted at the application of international norms to national contexts.

786. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: by ensuring coherence of FAO' support, national authorities should be able to establish effective regulatory frameworks as relates to food and agriculture. Ultimately, this should serve sound policies and programmes in the concerned countries.

Objective(s)

787. Effective national implementation of international norms in priority areas.

Indicator(s)

1. Demands for information for preparation of national regulations in priority areas.
2. Evidence of national regulations adopted on the basis of guidelines, manuals, codes of conduct and action plans.

Major Output(s)

1. Assessment of food and agricultural regulations; guidelines, manuals, codes of conduct and action plans.

Rationale

788. Development problem to be addressed: as essential tools to assist countries in improving their legal and institutional frameworks for agricultural development and natural resources management, FAO's comprehensive legal database needs to be continuously updated and augmented, and publications issued on important legal dimensions of food and agriculture development.

789. Proposed contribution to problem resolution: practical legislation, reflecting appropriate policies, strengthens the impact of development programmes; enhances the security of rights of farmers, encouraging them to improve agriculture; facilitates agricultural investment and trade to the benefit of producers and consumers; and promotes sustainability in natural resource use.

790. Intended end beneficiaries and benefits: national authorities, and ultimately producers and users of natural resources.

Objective(s)

791. Improved legislation for food and agriculture and greater national capacity to frame such legislation.

Indicator(s)

1. Effective use of information in drafting national legislation.
2. Outreach of publications.

Major Output(s)

1. FAOLEX database.
2. Food and agriculture law publications.

792. This entity covers legal advisory services to countries, including backstopping of legal components of field projects.