Based on your partnering experience, can you share a good example of meaningful engagement with FAO or another UN agency/development partner? Please highlight what/why it worked well in your opinion.
Example: Sustainable Agricultural Development Project with FAO
Context: A non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on sustainable agriculture wants to collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to improve food security and livelihoods in a rural community in a developing country.
What/why does is work?
Key Elements that Make this Engagement Meaningful:
Needs Assessment: The NGO conducts a thorough needs assessment in the target community to understand the specific challenges, local agricultural practices, and socio-economic conditions. This data collection phase ensures that interventions are tailored to the community's actual needs.
Alignment with FAO Goals: The NGO's project aligns closely with FAO's mission and priorities related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and poverty reduction. This alignment is crucial for gaining FAO's support and endorsement.
Capacity Building: The partnership focuses on building the capacity of local farmers and communities. Training programs are developed to empower farmers with modern, sustainable agricultural techniques that improve crop yields and resilience to climate change.
Local Ownership and Participation: The project actively involves the local community in decision-making and implementation. Local farmers are encouraged to participate in designing and managing the agricultural initiatives, ensuring their ownership of the process.
Sustainability: The partnership promotes sustainable practices, such as crop diversification, organic farming, and water conservation, to ensure long-term food security and environmental stewardship.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Both partners establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and measure the impact of their interventions. Regular assessments help in making necessary adjustments and ensuring accountability.
Resource Mobilization: The NGO collaborates with FAO not only for technical expertise but also for resource mobilization. FAO can help attract additional funding or resources from other development partners or donors.
Knowledge Sharing: Knowledge and best practices are shared not only within the community but also with other similar projects and organizations. This promotes learning and replicability.
Advocacy and Policy Influence: The partnership engages in policy dialogues at local and national levels to advocate for favorable policies that support sustainable agriculture and food security.
Long-Term Commitment: Both partners commit to a long-term engagement rather than short-term interventions. This allows for sustained impact and the cultivation of strong relationships with the community.
In summary, a meaningful engagement with a UN agency or development partner, such as FAO, involves careful planning, alignment of goals, community involvement, capacity building, sustainability, and a commitment to monitoring and evaluation. Such partnerships work well when they are based on shared values and a clear understanding of the local context and needs.
Mr. Benjamin D.B. Barkollie, Jr