Reinvigorated collaborations to strengthen food security, natural resource management and sustainable mountain development

In early 2022, the Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO), Ankara University (AU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) renewed their efforts to strengthen capacities, raise awareness and provide technical support in the areas of food security and natural resource management.

Through the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding, initially signed in 2019, FAO and UNITO extended their collaboration for an additional period of five years with the objective to promote the development of capacities and dissemination of knowledge on topics related to sustainable mountain development.

According to Tiina Vahanen, Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry Division, “The collaboration with UNITO has been providing excellent results since the establishment of this international post-graduate training programme - called “IPROMO” - back in 2008. The activities we have been developing over the years are strategic for the Organization as they contribute to increase the national capacity to address sustainable mountain development, which are in line with FAO’s 2022-2031 Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”

Starting on 28 of February 2022, the new activities will focus on continuing the implementation of IPROMO courses, hopefully in presence again, that every year train about 35 mountain experts from both public sector and civil society. The activities will mainly contribute to achieving SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), SDG 15 (Life on land) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).

Formalized in 2016, the collaboration between FAO and AU was renewed in January 2022 through the development of a new set of activities aiming at strengthening food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.

With those goals in mind, the parties established that the collaboration should be implemented through diverse lines of action to provide technical support, develop capacities, enhance knowledge dissemination and raise awareness.

While the development of skills focuses in fields such as family farming, young farmers, women empowerment and sustainable food systems, supporting the development of university curricula, as well as providing material and personnel to conduct training sessions, play a crucial role for the creation and dissemination of new knowledge.

Furthermore, based on previous successful experiences, the parties established the need to continue implementing activities to raise awareness and provide technical support to projects on food security and safety, natural resource management and rural development.

“The partnership with AU is very well received at FAO Turkey. In fact, the high-quality technical expertise of this partner contributes to FAO’s work at national, sub-regional and regional levels” said Viorel Gutu, SEC Sub regional Coordinator and FAO Representative in Turkey. “Collaborations with academic institutions such as AU are strategic to enhance the development and dissemination of skills and knowledge in areas of interest to FAO”.  

The renewed collaboration with AU will principally contribute to SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).