Online Briefing to Accredited Member States to FAO Liaison Office at Geneva

18/06/2020

18 June 2020, Geneva – Ahead of the 164^th Session of the FAO Council, the Director FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett invited Permanent Representatives to FAO based in Geneva to an informal briefing to update them on the Further Adjustments to the FAO Programme of Work and Budget for 2020-2021 biennium.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Rodrigues-Birkett emphasized that the briefing “forms part of our efforts to share major developments in FAO, in the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness, with the member countries accredited from Geneva.” Quoting the Director-General Qu Dongyu of the FAO, she underscored that these adjustments are guided by the vision of “creating an inclusive and agile FAO that serves its members to achieve the four betters, a better production, a better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life by a further transparent, open, innovative, responsible and effective reform.”

The changes are also part of the efforts to deliver on the Director-General’s promise for building a dynamic FAO for a better world, while remaining committed to the original aspirations, mandate and mission of the organization. The world has changed, and FAO must also adapt if it has to deliver on its mandate, especially in the context of negative impacts of the COVID-19. The informal briefing also served as an opportunity to brief Member States on the work of the newly established office on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).

Mr. Vasily Popov, Deputy Director OSP, explained in detail to the Permanent Representatives the further adjustments to the FAO Programme of Work and Budget for the 2020-2021 biennium. Mr. Popov highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant effect on a range of issues within FAO’s scope from “build to transform” to keep value chains alive; build food systems that are more equitable, inclusive, resilient and environmentally sustainable, while Ms. Angélica María Jácome Daza, Director, Office for SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, introduced the newly established office which has a cross-cutting and coordination nature to focus on this important category of member states of FAO.

For their part, Permanent Representatives expressed their appreciation for the briefing and for the information explained in detail. They engaged in a lively interaction with FAO colleagues with several interventions and questions very direct to the point as FAO prepares to implement reforms that will impact on the way the organization attends the needs of their countries.

H.E Kham-Inh Khitchadeth, Permanent Representative of LAO PDR underscored the need for capacity development, particularly the human resources development in LDCs that rely heavily on agriculture, Permanent Representative of Guyana, Ambassador Deep Ford, emphasized the value of FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) and the important role of South-South cooperation and the FAO Investment Center for countries; and Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, H. E Daniiar Mukashev reiterated that FAO is expected to play a major role during and after COVID-19 and welcomed the efforts for building a more transparent and effective FAO. Ambassador of Maldives H.E Hala Hameed, spoke of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the Maldives economy and sought continued support of the FAO to improve their fisheries and agriculture sector while Ambassador of Jamaica H.E Cheryl Spencer, sought details on the office of the Ombudsman and whether there were any budget adjustments, in light of the COVID-19. All Ambassadors welcomed the establishment of the SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs.

Ambassadors expressed their gratitude for the interactive discussion which provided the opportunity to seek clarity and offer support. As concluding remarks, Ms Rodrigues-Birkett expressed her gratitude for the very rich discussion held and underscored that “while COVID-19 poses huge challenges, FAO continues to mobilize additional resources in order to support the mitigation and recovery plans.”