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7 September 2016, Rome - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and FAO have signed a $15 million agreement aimed at boosting the capacity of developing countries to track key agricultural data -information that is essential to good policymaking and that will help track progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

7 July 2016, Rome – FAO and Norway have agreed to continue an already fruitful cooperation in the strategic areas of fisheries, the right to food, climate-smart agriculture, deforestation, gender equity and food loss and waste. An agreement signed today by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and Norway’s Ambassador to FAO, Inge Nordang, paves the way for the continuation of a longstanding successful collaboration. It also covers funding and joint work on emergencies and response to natural disasters. Norway is among FAO’s top 20 resource partners and has been the third largest donor country of voluntary contributions to the organization in...

The Republic of Singapore joined the FAO Associate Professionals Programme (APO) in January, becoming the fourth Asian country to enlist in the scheme. Other participants have included the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Singapore joined FAO as a member country in 2013. Candidates will be selected after completing written tests and interviews, as carried out by FAO. Qualification requirements include superior academic qualifications, fluency in one UN official language and knowledge of a second one, and a keen interest in a career in international development. Applicants must also be under 35 years of...

Last Wednesday 15 June 2016, the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, represented by the Ministry of Development Cooperation, and FAO signed a new Framework Arrangement that intends to reinforce FAO-Belgium collaboration across both humanitarian and development assistance, at the same time aligning Belgium’s strategies for sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition-related sectors with FAO’s Strategic Programmes.  The historic partnership between Belgium and FAO has provided a longstanding and substantial support to the Organization through assessed and voluntary contributions. Belgium is a key strategic partner, generously funding innovative and critical areas in support of food security and nutrition, inclusive economic growth,...

15 June 2016, Brussels - Sustainable rural development is key to addressing hunger, poverty and the other root causes of migration, a growing phenomenon which is undermining  many countries' ability to achieve their development goals, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today. "The migratory pressures causing major concern at a global level today result from war, conflict and political instability, but FAO also calls for adequate attention to be given to pressures associated with the very root causes of migration," Graziano da Silva told participants at the European Development Days 2016 in Brussels.

13 May 2016, Rome - The European Union (EU) and FAO have agreed to step up joint efforts to support tropical timber producing countries in curbing illegal logging, improving forest governance and promoting the trade of legally sourced timber. Doing so is expected to not only reduce the environmental impacts of illegal logging and mitigate climate change but will also boost the incomes and food security of forest communities by improving access to domestic and international wood markets.    A $30 million funding agreement was formalized here today by Veronique Lorenzo of the European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development,...

FAO has agreed to support Kuwait formulate a partnership programme for agricultural development aimed at enhancing the country’s aquaculture and water sectors, tackle livestock diseases and boost technical skills.

8 April 2016, Abidjan - Results achieved through Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF) financed projects are adding momentum to the vision of Africa- Africa cooperation to achieve food security across the continent.  The fund, which was set up in 2012, is widely seen as an innovative mechanism for mobilizing resources from one African country for the benefit of another, promoting intra-Africa collaboration, also known as South-South Cooperation.  Since 2013, contributions have reached $40 million, with Equatorial Guinea and Angola being the major financial contributors. To-date, the fund has allocated $ 34.5 million to 15 regional programmes and national projects which are being...

23 March 2016, Rome - The United Nations has called for a stronger response by governments, aid organizations and the private sector to address the devastating impact the El Niño climate event is having on the food security, livelihoods, nutrition and health of some 60 million people around the world.  The appeal came at a meeting organized in Rome by four UN agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).   

4 February 2016, Rome - As world leaders met in London today to raise funds in support of millions of people affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria, FAO stressed the urgent need to help farming families produce food to meet basic needs.  Within Syria, 8.7 million are in need of food security assistance, out of an estimated 13.5 million people who continue to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. "It is clear that imported food assistance alone cannot feed the country -- that's why maintaining food production amidst this conflict is so critical," said FAO Assistant Director-General Laurent Thomas today.  ...