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G77 & CHINA – ROME CHAPTER 2020 PROGRAM OF WORK

I.INTRODUCTION

For the year 2020, the Republic of Indonesia is elected to be the Chair of the Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the Rome-Based Agencies (FAO, IFAD, and WFP), H.E. Ms. Esti Andayani assumed the role of Chairship at the handover plenary meeting of the Group on 15 May 2020.

The Bureau of the Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter for the year 2020 consists of the elected Vice-Chair, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Argentina, H.E. Mr. Carlos Bernardo Cherniak, and Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Regional Groups accredited to the UN Agencies based in Rome (Africa Group, Asia Group, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), and Near East Group).

The Chairship for the year 2020 comes at an unprecedented time of COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic causes significant impact to developing countries in terms of public health, social, and economic development. In this difficult time, it is important for the Group to demonstrate its resilience, solidarity, agility, and adaptability in dealing with the new normal in promoting the collective interests of the countries in the South.

II.PRIORITY ISSUES OF G77 & CHINA CHAIRSHIP FOR THE YEAR 2020

In line with the theme of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, "The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism", the 2020 Chairship emphasizes the need to promote the Group's unwavering commitment to multilateralism as well as to the founding principles of the Group, including unity, cooperation, and solidarity among the developing countries.

There are four priority issues that the 2020 Chairship will focus on:

1-Enhancing efforts to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 1 and 2;

Despite progress made in many places, the action to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) still needs to be accelerated. The year of 2020, therefore, is marked as the beginning of the Decade of Action to accelerate sustainable solutions to all global challenges in achieving the Agenda 2030.

Focusing on SDG 1 and 2, the Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter stresses the importance of the role of small-scale farmers and fishers, as well as financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building that are imperative to increase, not only their livelihood, but also national development. The Rome Chapter should also continue to push for the fulfilment of ODA commitments and other concessional finance, improved market access, and increased investment flow to developing countries.

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to roll back development progress, the SDGs could also be used as a framework both for COVID-19 response and recovery. In this regard, the Rome Chapter should promote stronger mobilization of the means of implementation and multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development in order for the global community to recover together and stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, to achieve the world we want. This priority issue also covers the promotion of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028, International Year of Plant Health 2020, International Year of Fruits and Vegetable 2021, as well as the discussion of cross-cutting issues, including, but not limited to, gender equality, youth, and climate change.

2-The preparation towards the Food Systems Summit 2021;

The Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter promotes an inclusive and transparent process and collaboration as well as meaningful outcome of the Food Systems Summit 2021, in the context of relations among food systems transformation, SDGs achievements, and post- pandemic global food systems.

3-Encouraging the active role of the Rome-Based Agencies (RBAs) in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

The Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter welcomes efforts made by the RBAs on assessing the threat of COVID-19 to food security and nutrition and providing evidence-based policy recommendations for countries and other relevant stakeholders. Various consultations and meetings have been held to encourage countries and all stakeholders to work together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. In this regard, the Rome Chapter will push for the RBAs to continue their efforts in providing space for inclusive dialogue as well as evidence-based analysis on the growing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the food systems and food supply chain of the developing countries. The Rome Chapter also promotes the RBAs to be the fora for countries in exchanging best practices and lessons learned in tackling the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

4-Promoting efforts to enhance South-South and Triangular Cooperation;

The Group of 77 and China – Rome Chapter reaffirms its commitment to enhance its collective self-reliance through South-South Cooperation as well as to promote partnership with developed countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, particularly to achieve sustainable food systems and safeguard global food supply chains. The Rome Chapter recalls the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action/BAPA+40 outcome document by the General Assembly which will be the basis for enhanced cooperation between countries towards achieving poverty eradication and eliminating hunger and malnutrition.

III. Plan of Action