The importance of partnerships with non-governmental and civil society organizations was underscored by Member Governments in the World Food Summit Plan of Action and is confirmed in FAO's Strategic Framework.

At the Director-General's request, the Unit for Cooperation with the Private Sector and NGOs (TCDN) coordinated an FAO-wide review of policy and strategy for NGO/CSO cooperation in consultation with the technical departments, which undertook their own assessments, and with decentralized offices and NGOs. In the resulting paper, categories of relevant partners for different purposes are identified, based on their areas of activity and their organizational characteristics. Priority partners are membership organizations representing constituencies such as farmers and consumers, and technically competent NGOs committed to ongoing cooperation.