FAO launches new global project to scale-up One Country One Priority Product Initiative

Rome, 04 April 2024 – Key stakeholders, including government officials, non-governmental organizations and civil society representatives, project task force members, leading technical experts OCOP Focal Points and FAO staff from 11 project countries convened virtually to launch a new project aimed at expanding the FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative. The inception workshop, held on 3 April 2024, focused on discussing project objectives, expected outputs and major activities, as well as reviewing the detailed work plan and budget for the project implementation. 

The OCOP initiative, a flagship program of FAO, is designed to support Member Countries in transitioning to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems through strengthened value chains of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs). By promoting sustainable production, storage, processing, and marketing of selected SAPs, OCOP contributes to the development of smallholders and family farms, aligning with FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Funded by the FAO Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC), the global project will be implemented from March 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, with a total budget of USD 1 million.  

Eleven countries will benefit from the project to promote 11 different SAPs. The countries and their selected SAPs include: 

• South Sudan (sorghum), Togo (rice), and Zambia (onion) from Africa;  
• Bhutan (Quinoa) and Nepal (large cardamom) from Asia and the Pacific;  
• Kyrgyzstan (walnut) and Tajikistan (apricot) from Europe and Central Asia;  
• Belize (coconut) and Jamaica (ginger) from Latin America and the Caribbean; and 
• Algeria (fig) and Lebanon (pulse) from the Near East and North Africa.
  

A farmer in her sorghum field in the Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan. ©FAO/Akuot Mayak

The goal of this new project is to enhance food security, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and income generation for rural populations through the sustainable development of special agricultural product value chains. 

With over 110 participants in attendance, the inception workshop provided a platform to discuss project implementation and also exchange challenges and priorities for the implementation of the OCOP initiative at regional, and national levels. 

Mr Yurdi Yasmi, OCOP Deputy-Executive Secretary at FAO, underscored the pivotal role of OCOP in promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable value chains of SAPs. He emphasized that OCOP is inherently country-owned and country-led initiative, and national activities should reflect each country's specific needs, priorities, and comparative advantages. 

Mr Hafiz Muminjanov, the Global Coordinator of OCOP, presented the updates on the global implementation of the OCOP initiative. He shared that 85 OCOP members across all five FAO regions have committed to promoting 54 SAPs, and approximately 15 million have been mobilized to support 54 countries.  

Ms Shangchuan Jiang, OCOP Project Coordinator, presented the detailed project work plan, structured around three key outputs: Strong technical networks; Enabling policy environment; and Coordination, communication, partnership, and resource mobilization for strengthening value chains. 

Representatives from project countries shared their experiences in OCOP implementation at the national level. Presenters included Mr Joseph Okidi, Agricultural Officer from FAO South Sudan; Mr Shrawan Adhikary, Senior Programme Operation Specialist from FAO Nepal; Mr Ibrohim Ahmadov, National Technical Coordinator from FAO Tajikistan; Mr Silverio Marin, National Program Coordinator from FAO Belize; and Mr Elie Harfouch, National Agricultural Field Officer from FAO Lebanon.   

The workshop concluded with a general discussion followed by closing remarks by Mr Yasmi, calling for active engagement, collaboration, and collective efforts to achieve the successful implementation of the OCOP initiative.