The Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) is a mechanism through which FAO’s resource partners make unearmarked or lightly earmarked voluntary contributions to support achievement of FAO’s Strategic Objectives. OED conducted an evaluation of the current phase of FMM (2018–2021). The purpose of the evaluation was to inform FMM’s main stakeholders about the fund’s overall performance and also inform its next phase (2022–2025).

The evaluation assessed FMM’s strategic positioning; effectiveness of the revised governance and implementation arrangements; key contributions to the achievement of FAO’s Strategic Objectives; and the adaptability of FMM to respond to unplanned scenarios and changes.The evaluation found FMM to be of strategic relevance to FAO as a vehicle for financing innovation, under-funded or emerging areas with flexibility to allocate voluntary contributions to FAO priorities. The evaluation also found evidence of catalytic and transformative elements, primarily in past projects. However, there is considerable scope for improving the FMM so that it contributes to results under the new FAO Strategic Framework.

The year 2019 marked a time of growth and renewed commitments for FAO’s Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM), the main pooled funding mechanism for resource partners to contribute flexible, voluntary, annual, and multi-year resources to the Organization for the achievement of results under FAO’s Strategic Framework and the realization of catalytic impact. This annual report provides an overview of major improvements and transformational changes to the FMM since 2018, in addition to presenting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned thus far in the implementation of the Fund in 2019.

The FMM Annual Report for 2018 highlights the concrete results achieved through the continued support of key resource partners. This report details initiatives, innovations, impacts, outcomes and human-centred stories from the field. The report shows how deepening our engagement with resource partners and fostering new alliances is vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This report informs resource partners about the work carried out by FAO, through funding from the FAO Multipartner Mechanism Support (FMM), including results achieved, challenges faced, and key lessons learned during the reporting period (2014-17). The FMM was established in November 2010 as the first flexible multi-partnerinstrument to truly provide programmatic support to FAO’s Medium Term Plans (2010-2013)1 and (2014-2017), and related biennial programme of work and budgets.

This report, which presents just some of the highlights of the mechanism, shows the FMM has delivered concrete and transformational results. Be it empowering women in agriculture across Africa, restoring local production in the Cook Islands, or helping farmers build resilience to climate change in the Dry Corridor of Central America, funds channeled through the FMM have brought notable impact.