Director-General thanks FAO Council for “strong solidarity”
Rome - Emphasizing the need to work together to achieve the targets of the 2030 Agenda, Director-General QU Dongyu of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) thanked Members for the “strong solidarity” shown by all during the week-long 172nd Session of Council.
Coordinated and joint responses are needed to face huge challenges facing the world today, he said in closing remarks. “We must act globally. No one can be left behind.”
The Director-General spoke shortly after delegates of the FAO Council agreed to adopt by consensus the document produced by the drafting committee.
“Let us preserve the trust we have built together over the last four years, and keep the focus on the professional aspects of our common agenda to fight poverty, hunger and all forms of malnutrition,” Qu said.
The Council will provide recommendations for the 43rd Session of FAO Conference in early July, where atop the agenda is a request to end 12 years of flat nominal budgets, which as Qu emphasized risks negatively affecting efficiency and effectiveness, especially given the growing load of projects that Members are funding with voluntary contributions. “A consensual approval of the proposed budget level will be a powerful sign that we are indeed ONE FAO,” the Director-General said.
“FAO is large, and it is poor,” Qu said. “But its riches lie in its greatest asset, its employees.”
Future work flows
The Director-General also thanked Council delegates for emphasizing the importance of integrated water resources management, assuring that FAO will continue working with partners to support development and implementation of national water plans.
Other FAO actions promoted by Members include contributing to the One Health approach, working to mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance, advancing the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the World Food Forum, digitalization, and the provision of timely data and market information through the G7 and G20 as well as key UN bodies in New York.
“FAO is your Organization,’” Qu told the diplomats participating in the Council. “We need your strong support. We try our best to deliver.”
The Director-General’s remarks
172nd Session of FAO Council