Recognizing the considerable strategic value of stake-holder collaboration and shared decision making in the implementation of Technical Cooperation pro-grams, the FAO Country Office in Guyana convened its first Accountability Seminar on January 25, 2012 since the reopening of the Country Office in July 2009. The seminar, which sought to evaluate FAO's delivery of Work Programme over the 2010 2011 biennium and discuss the Draft Biennial Work Plan for the 2012-2013, was attended by Minister of Agricul-ture, Heads of Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, representatives of other line Ministries, representatives of UN Agencies, other Development Partners and other stakeholders within the agriculture sector in Guyana. A total of twenty sevenpersons participated in the event.

The seminar process centered on four presentations: (i) FAO's Planning Process and the Country Programme Framework for 2012-2015; (ii) FAO's Modalities of Funding and Procurement Process; (iii) FAO's Biennial Work Plan (BWP) 2010-2011 Achievements, lessons learnt and challenges; and (iv) the proposed BWP 2012- 2013. Each presentation was followed by questions and comments. There was also a short plenary session where participants shared information on current programmes and projects within their respective agencies, in an effort to develop a matrix of possible partnerships with FAO for the biennium 2012-2013.

Areas for collaboration and for improved implementation and delivery of FAO's work in the field were identified. As a follow up to the seminar, FAO will be convening meetings with the heads of department of the Ministry as well as other line Ministries, UN Agencies and other Development Partners to develop the detailed work programme for 2012-2013. The Accountability Seminar will now be convened as an annual event on the Country Office's calendar.