In March 2011, in collaboration with FAO, IFAD, France and CIRAD, the World Agriculture Watch secretariat was established in FAO, as an International Initiative gathering different partners. Following two successful awareness building events (at the Committee on Food Security in October 2011 and at the Farmers’ Forum in February 2012 on agricultural transformations and their relevance to multiple global challenges), the first WAW stakeholders' workshop (gathering scientists, agricultural specialists, and representatives of civil society), was held in April 2012. This workshop confirmed WAW’s rationale, added value, strategy and recommended WAW to start implementation based on a modular and phased work plan organized along a common vision, revised logical framework and providing room to consolidate different partners’ collaborations. Priority was given to rapidly present illustrations of WAW added value based notably on application of its methodology over existing data set and support to pilot observatory centres.