The subprogram's goal is to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 (End poverty) and 2 (Zero hunger) in Guatemala, Timor-Leste and Zambia by improving capacities to effectively articulate agricultural and social protection interventions that target the rural poor in the context of COVID-19.   

The subprogramme has three specific outputs:

• Functioning information systems and procurement arrangements designed to improve targeting and implementation of social protection, livelihood support, and market access interventions for rural poor households.
• Increased capacities of government staff in the Ministries of State Administration and Territorial Management, Education, Agriculture, and Social Protection at the national and subnational levels to design and implement interventions that support the economic inclusion and resilience of the rural poor, including in the face of shocks and critical disruptions, such as COVID -19.
• Evidence and summary of lessons learned as a basis for inform policy and programme development and implementation are available, recorded and shared.

Status of the sub-programme
on going

SET- UP AND PLANNING 

The Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equity Division (ESP) in FAO headquarters oversees the project and the implementation at global level. FAO Representations are responsible for national activities, with the technical support from sub regional and regional offices. Each country has defined its work plan that includes a strategy for upscaling the achievements of the project.  

• Assessing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of rural people
• Key COVID-19 Lessons and Recommendations for Working Towards Universal Social Protection
• Harnessing the synergies between social protection and agriculture in Zambia: brochure and Brief
• Enhancing the impact of social protection programs on food security and nutrition
• Extending social protection to rural populations