JOINT HIGH-LEVEL GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EVALUATION FOR INFLUENCE AND TRANSFORMATION Opening Ceremony Keynote Address

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to welcome you to FAO headquarters for this key conference, co-organized by our global partners the Independent Evaluation Office of the New Development Bank and the International Development Evaluation Association.

Since I came to FAO, I launched the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which comprises a series of partners from governments, intergovernmental organizations, agencies, funds and programmes from across the UN family, as well as the private sector, civil society and farmers organizations, and all relevant organizations at regional and global level.

One of these partners, the New Development Bank, was formerly the BRICS Bank, so now we need to ask ourselves what is “new” about it, what makes it different from the previous one. I say this because we need to remember that we can learn from the past, from our predecessors, from our historical memory.

Yet, people forget the lessons learned from history and continue to make the same mistakes. Lessons are the sum of the struggles of our ancestors, but they are soon forgotten. We, ourselves, have little painful experience. The whole life cycle is the reflection of systemic genetics.

In China there is a proverb that says when you wake up in the morning you have to think of what you left behind yesterday first, and then at what you need to do today. You need to think of the lessons learned from yesterday.

Today, we need to think in a professional way about evaluations. You need to be professional in order to be independent, and to not be political or to have preconceived ideas aimed at influencing people.

Evaluation must be analytical of all the data available, to think systematically and to reach objective conclusions.

I always tell scientists that they should not pass judgement before all the data has been analyzed. You need to think critically, independently, and not be influenced by what you think people expect to hear.

Today, we gather as scientists, for data and evidence-based analysis, to think critically and to reflect together, as we examine how to improve and increase the impact of our work. Because we need to be forward looking with a package of solutions. We are not here merely to criticize managers through evaluations.

Evaluation is not just an accountability exercise; it is the cornerstone of learning, retreating and building solutions for the future, together with senior managers.

In a world faced with growing challenges such as increasing hunger, extreme weather events, conflicts, inequality, and limited resources, it is critical that every initiative, policy, and programme delivers concrete, coherent, sustainable, and effective results.

We do not have time to waste because we have an urgent need to do better with limited resources.

This conference provides an opportunity for us to share lessons, reflect on innovations, and identify areas where collective efforts and collaboration can drive significant progress.

FAO greatly values evaluation and since I took office as Director-General, the FAO Office of Evaluation was transformed to be more professional as this provides the foundation to be independent, and we developed a new strategy aimed at, among others, strengthening regional presence and aligning evaluations with country needs.

We are now more agile, delivering effective service to countries. We do not just need to provide a report, we need to be fit for the purpose of what is required by countries.

At FAO, we also value partnerships and I am pleased that this week we will launch the EvalforEarth partnership with the UN and other resource partners.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I always say, we need to turn challenges into opportunities.

During the pandemic I used the crisis to create an opportunity to revamp FAO headquarters, from the cafeteria down to the main entrance, and now we are even building a parking lot.

We do not need panic reactions, but agile action!

To do this we need to transform global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

We need to produce foods.

Over the past years, people have started speaking more and more about Artificial Intelligence (AI). We know that AI and Biotechnology (BT) are important, but remember we cannot eat AI or BT, we need to eat foods.

We need to produce the four levels of foods:  staple, nutritious, healthy and functional foods.

For this we need investments to lead the transformation of agrifood systems, to move from staple and nutritious foods to combat hunger, to more healthy and functional foods for a better life with improved nutrition and food diversity. But this requires even more future designed investments.

Evaluations of projects related to policies, investment and innovation (technologies) can support this process by generating and promoting the use of evidence to develop and strengthen programmes to sustain this transformation, and to ensure food security for everyone, everywhere.

Let us continue to work together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner across multilateral organizations, through hand in hand initiatives, getting all the partners to work together, to assess collective results on the ground, leveraging technology and innovations, and strengthening partnerships.

Together, we can build a stronger foundation for the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.

I wish you a productive conference and enjoy your stay at FAO and especially the FAO terrace and cafeteria with affordable, good foods!

Thank you.