• Prosperity in the Countryside: Empowering Rural Women

FAO is committed to empowering rural women as agents of change for rural transformation. Through economic inclusion policies that recognize and enhance the role of women in agriculture and rural development, we aim to harvest a future of prosperity and well-being for all communities.

• Cultivating Sustainable Futures with Rural Women

To achieve sustainability in agrifood systems, we must all be part of the transformation. FAO is dedicated to cultivating sustainable futures by supporting policies that promote the economic inclusion of rural women, acknowledging their vital role in feeding and developing our societies.

• Rural Women Leading the Way: Transforming the Countryside

Rural women are key agents of change in rural areas. Committed to their empowerment, FAO promotes inclusive policies in family farming and digitalization that expand their economic opportunities and improve their quality of life. The goal is ensuring every rural woman has the tools to lead, innovate, and thrive.

• United for Rural Women: Partnerships for Empowerment

Empowering rural women is a collective effort that requires collaboration across all sectors. For this reason, FAO will continue to foster strategic interinstitutional, public-private, and cross-sectoral partnerships to promote economic inclusion policies aimed at rural women, strengthening their capacity to lead the sustainable development of their communities.

• Data and Information for Resilient Agrifood Systems

FAO is committed to enhancing the provision and access to essential data, information, and knowledge to support critical decision-making in risk management, planning, and investment in agrifood systems. By providing timely and appropriate tools and resources, we support Members in making informed decisions, contributing to building more resilient agrifood systems capable of facing future challenges.

• Reducing Vulnerabilities and Risks in Rural Areas

FAO works hand in hand with countries to expand measures for reducing vulnerabilities and risks in the agrifood sector. Through implementing sustainable agricultural practices, promoting technological innovations, and the economic and productive inclusion of vulnerable groups, we help strengthen the resilience of rural communities and family farmers against disasters, ensuring food security and sustainable development.

• Coherence in Sectoral Policies for Agrifood Resilience

FAO strives to improve coherence and coordination among social, economic, environmental, and climate policies, strategies, plans, and instruments. We recognize the importance of an integrated approach to address the complexity of agrifood systems' challenges. By promoting alignment across different sectors and levels of government, we facilitate more effective management of the multiple risks facing its various components.

• Strengthening Resilience in a Climate Change Context

Addressing climate change and its impacts on agrifood systems requires urgent and coordinated action. FAO supports countries in integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation measures into their agricultural practices and food policies. By enhancing climate resilience, we are committed to protecting the livelihoods of rural communities and ensuring food security for present and future generations.

• Capacities for Inclusion in Rural Development

FAO is committed to strengthening national technical capacities to design and implement policies and legal frameworks that effectively foster the inclusion of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendants in rural development strategies. Diversity is recognized as a strength, and efforts are made to ensure that all rural actors have the necessary tools to fully contribute to their communities and local economies.

• Policy Improvements for Rural Development

FAO actively supports the comprehensive analysis of rural development policies and legal frameworks to ensure their effectiveness in promoting inclusive rural transformation. This includes emphasizing the crucial role of family farming, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendants in achieving a sustainable future and promoting their explicit inclusion in development processes.

• Social Protection Systems in Rural Areas

In a complex context of multiple challenges, managing uncertainty is essential. FAO acknowledges the importance of providing safety nets and support to rural communities, particularly the most vulnerable, to promote resilience, food security, and inclusive rural development. Therefore, FAO strengthens the coverage and focus of national social protection systems and comprehensive insurance mechanisms in rural areas, ensuring these challenges do not become barriers.

• Inclusive Rural Governance for All

Promoting collective action mechanisms and cross-sectoral coordination is a priority for FAO, as participatory and transparent governance involving all rural actors is crucial. By fostering governance systems that listen and respond to the needs of all, especially those related to family farming, youth, rural women, Indigenous Peoples, and Afro-descendants, FAO advances toward a fairer and more sustainable future.

• Coordinated to Overcome Challenges

The complexity of agrifood systems demands integrated and coordinated strategies to tackle present and future challenges. FAO promotes joint efforts among various sectors and actors in the economic, environmental, and social spheres to generate comprehensive and effective actions, paving the way for a prosperous, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

• Rural Protection and Inclusion

Public spending on social protection has increased in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the challenges and limited resources, FAO emphasizes improving monitoring and evaluation systems to determine the effectiveness, efficiency, inclusiveness, and contribution to food security and nutrition, allowing for policy adjustments or reorientation if necessary.

• Joining Forces for Inclusive Rural Transformation

FAO promotes inclusive rural transformation through its Hand-in-Hand Initiative, a call to action to join forces and work together to eradicate hunger and poverty. By collaborating with countries, the initiative identifies and leverages the greatest agricultural and rural development opportunities, ensuring that no one is left behind. Together, we can build a sustainable future for all rural communities.

• Innovation and Collaboration for Rural Development

FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative drives innovation and collaboration to overcome rural development challenges. Through this initiative, access to innovative methodologies is promoted to identify investment opportunities and priorities to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems. This is a commitment to introducing innovations that enable sustainable and resilient development at the heart of rural areas.

• Context-Specific Strategies to Unleash Territorial Potential

With the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO adopts a context-specific approach to rural development, recognizing the diversity and specificity of each territory. The focus is on developing and implementing strategies that respond to the particular needs of each territory through holistic approaches that consider economic, environmental, and social aspects. This approach ensures that solutions are effective, inclusive, and capable of generating real and lasting impact on rural development.

• Strengthening Rural Territories through Cooperation

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative aims to strengthen rural communities through international cooperation and mutual support. By connecting countries with a network of technical and financial partners, FAO facilitates the exchange of experiences, best practices, and resources, thus accelerating the path toward inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

• Early Warning Systems for Proactive Response

FAO is committed to developing early warning systems specifically for agrifood systems, capable of detecting multiple threats and risks across their various components. Our goal is to establish standards for preparedness and adopt inclusive and effective anticipatory measures at national, local, and community levels. By anticipating crises, we can better protect rural livelihoods and the food security of populations.

• Post-Disaster Recovery and Restoration

FAO provides essential assistance to restore and recover rural livelihoods, food security, agricultural assets, and production in contexts of disasters, socioeconomic crises, and conflicts. This approach focuses on supporting communities and family farming to ensure that recovery processes are linked to better preparedness for future disasters.

• Integrated Approach to Humanitarian Assistance and Development

FAO supports governments in adopting an approach that bridges the gap between humanitarian aid and development, integrating the principle of 'building back better' into their emergency response strategies. This approach strengthens connections with climate change adaptation programs, ensuring that crisis responses address immediate needs and contribute to long-term sustainable development.

• Strengthening Community Preparedness for Emergencies

FAO strives to enhance the preparedness of agricultural and rural communities against disasters by promoting an inclusive approach in the development of anticipatory actions. By working hand in hand with governments and communities, we ensure that preparedness strategies consider needs and priorities tailored to their characteristics and contexts, protecting the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations.

• Investment Strategies for Lasting Impact

FAO is dedicated to assisting in developing high-impact investment strategies and agreements that drive sustainable development. Through our expertise and knowledge, we support countries in identifying investment opportunities that not only foster economic development but also promote food security, sustainable natural resource management, and social inclusion. Together, we can achieve a lasting impact in the agricultural world and beyond.

• Promoting Public and Private Investments in Agriculture

FAO is committed to supporting the assessment, definition, and implementation of public and private investments that strengthen agrifood systems. By collaborating with governments and the private sector, FAO facilitates the development of sustainable and inclusive investment plans. The goal is to ensure that the impact of investments in agriculture and rural development is far-reaching, improving the economic and productive inclusion of rural communities.

• Innovative Financial Solutions for Rural Development

Through collaboration with international and national financial institutions, FAO provides investments and solutions tailored to the needs of rural development. These strategic partnerships allow us to offer financial and technical support to projects that promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance the resilience of rural communities, and facilitate market access for family farmers. Our mission is to transform agricultural potential into prosperity for all.

• Partnerships for Scaling Up Agricultural Investments

FAO supports partnerships to expand investments in the agricultural sector through a wide range of stakeholders, including financial institutions and development partners, to mobilize resources and knowledge that support the transformation of agrifood systems. Through these collaborations, we aim to create an enabling environment for investment that fosters innovation, economic growth, inclusion, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.