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iiiR E V I E W O F F A O / I T A L Y A G R I C U L T U R A L D E V E L O P M E N T P R O J E C T - 2 0 0 6

Table of contents

AFRICA

Sustainable food and agricultural systems GCP/GHA/029/ITA - Establishment of a Tomato Processing Promotion Centre in Ghana ............................................................27GCP/NER/044/ITA - Promotion of Decentralized Cooperation in Niger in the Field of Animal Products and

Livestock Industries ....................................................................................................................................................................................................29GTFS/RAF/387/ITA - Acacia Operation - Support to Food security, Poverty Alleviation and

Soil Degradation Control in the Gums and Resins Producer Countries ..............................................................................................31GDCP/RWA/014/MUL - Project of Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Kigali, Rwanda ..............................................................33

Knowledge exchange and policyGCPS/ERI/002/ITA - Strengthening and Expansion of the National Food Information System in Eritrea ..............................35GCP/ERI/006/ITA - Strengthening the Agricultural Research and Extension Division in Eritrea ................................................37

Food securityGCSP/ANG/005/ITA - Rehabilitation of Food Security in the Province of Bengo, Angola.

A joint FAO-IFAD-WFP Initiative ............................................................................................................................................................................39GCSP/ETH/057/ITA - Special Programme for Food Security in Ethiopia – Irrigation Component ..............................................41GTFS/ETH/067/ITA - Crop Diversification and Marketing Development Project in Ethiopia ........................................................43GCSP/GAM/021/ITA - Special Programme for Food security in The Gambia ......................................................................................45GCSP/GUI/015/ITA - Special Programme for Food security in Guinea....................................................................................................47GTFS/MAR/003/ITA - Preparation of a Feasibility Study for Cross-border Investments by Mauritian Operators to

Foster Agribusiness in the SADC Region............................................................................................................................................................49GTFS/MOZ/076/ITA - National Special Programme for Food security in Mozambique ..................................................................50GTFS/RAF/391/ITA - Improvement of Food Security in Cross-border Districts of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda in

Support of the Modernization of Agriculture under NEPAD Framework ............................................................................................51GTFS/RAF/394/ITA - Enhancing Food Security in Cassava-Based Farming Systems in Malawi and Zambia ........................52GDCP/SEN/001/ITA - Support to Decentralized Management for Food Security and the Fight against Poverty

in the District of Sedhiou, Senegal ......................................................................................................................................................................53GDCP/SEN/002/ITA - Consolidation of Micro-gardens for the Improvement of Food Security in Dakar, Senegal ............55

A partnership to address new challenges by Alain Giorgio Economides, Director General, DGCS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..................................................................vi

FAO/Italy: together against hunger by Tesfai Tecle, FAO Assistant Director-General..................................................................................................................................viii

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................................1

FAO/Government of Italy: an alliance rooted in the past ............................................................................................................3

Programme’s structure and size ..............................................................................................................................................................5

Programme’s thematic areas......................................................................................................................................................................9Distribution data of FAO/Government of Italy Development Projects ..................................................................................22

Project profiles

iv The FAO/Government of Italy Cooperative Programme

ASIA and the PACIF IC

Sustainable food and agricultural systems GCSP/CMB/009/ITA - Integrated Irrigation Development Project in Battambang Province

in Support of SPFS in Cambodia............................................................................................................................................................................57GTFS/INT/907/ITA - Controlling Transboundary Animal Diseases in Central Asian Countries......................................................59GCP/LAO/013/ITA - Improvement and Development of Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Lao PDR..................................................61GCP/NEP/056/ITA - Promotion of Olive Production and Consumption in Nepal ..............................................................................63GCP/PHI/050/ITA - Environmental Animal Health to Redress Emerging Insect-borne and

other Disease Constraints to Smallholders’ Livestock Production in the Philippines ....................................................................65GCP/VIE/027/ITA - Capacity Building, Extension, Demonstration and Support for the Development of

Market-Oriented Agroforestry in Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam ........................................................................................................67GCP/VIE/029/ITA - Integrated Management of Lagoon Activities in Thua Thien Hue Province, Viet Nam ............................69

Food securityGTFS/RAS/198/ITA - Support to the Regional Programme for Food Security in the Pacific Island Countries ......................71

EUROPE

Sustainable food and agricultural systems GCP/ALB/005/ITA - Agricultural Production Support in Albania ..............................................................................................................72GCP/BIH/002/ITA - Inventory of Post-War Situation of Land Resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina ......................................74GTFS/RER/017/ITA - Integrated Pest Management for Western Corn Rootworm in Central and Eastern Europe..............76

LATIN AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN

Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems GCP/BOL/037/ITA - Strengthening of the Germoplasm Banks within the National System of

Genetic Resources for Agriculture and Feeding in Bolivia ........................................................................................................................77GDCP/BRA/001/ITA - Support to the Water Control Component of the 'Fome Zero' Programme

in the Area of Dois Irmaos, Brazil..........................................................................................................................................................................79

Knowledge exchange and policyGCP/BOL/034/ITA - Information, Communication and Training for Natural Resource Management and

Sustainable Agriculture in Bolivia ........................................................................................................................................................................81

Food securityGDCP/BRA/002/ITA – Micro-garden Technologies for Improved Food Security in Selected Districts

of the City of Teresina in the State of Piaui, Brazil ......................................................................................................................................83GTFS/DOM/010/ITA - Promotion of Food Security in the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Region - Dominican Republic ..............85GCSP/GUA/011/ITA - Institutional Support to National Policies and Programmes for Food Security and

Poverty Alleviation in Guatemala ..........................................................................................................................................................................86GTFS/HAI/018/ITA - Promotion of Food Security in the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Region – Haiti ................................................88GTFS/RLA/141/ITA - Regional Programme for the Promotion of Food Security in

the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Region ......................................................................................................................................................................89

MEDITERRANEAN and NEAR EAST

Sustainable food and agricultural systems GTFS/REM/070/ITA - Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme in the Near East ..........................................91GCP/SYR/010/ITA - Participatory and Integrated Forest Fires Management Plan..............................................................................92GCP/TUN/028/ITA – Soil and Water Conservation Programme in the Governatorates of Kairouan,

Siliana and Zaghouan, Tunisia ................................................................................................................................................................................94GCP/TUN/030/ITA - Upgrade of Refrigeration Infrastructure in the Fishing Ports of Tunisia ......................................................96

Knowledge exchange and policyGCP/SYR/006/ITA - Agricultural Planning and Policy Analysis in Syria..................................................................................................98GCP/SYR/011/ITA - Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture in Syria................................................................................100

Food securityGTFS/PAL/022/ITA - West Bank and Gaza Strip: Agricultural Revitalization Programme............................................................102

[ Table of contents ]

vR E V I E W O F F A O / I T A L Y A G R I C U L T U R A L D E V E L O P M E N T P R O J E C T - 2 0 0 6

INTERREGIONAL and GLOBAL

Knowledge exchange and policyGCP/INT/825/ITA - Promoting, Coordinating and Implementing Observance of the International

Year of the Mountains - 2002..............................................................................................................................................................................104GCP/INT/847/ITA - Capacity Building in Education for Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security ......................106GCP/INT/927ITA - Assistance to the NEPAD Member Countries in the Review/Update of National Strategies for

Food Security and Agricultural Development, and the Preparation of Medium–term Investment Programmes and Bankable Projects in Support of the CAADP Implementation ......................................................................................................108

GTFS/INT/928/ITA - Support to Regional Economic Organizations (REOs) for the Implementation of their Regional Programmes for Food Security..........................................................................................................................................................110

GCP/INT/934/ITA - Topic Centre for the Global Land Cover Network (GLCN) – A Blueprint for Land Cover and Land Cover Dynamic ................................................................................................................................................................................................112

GCP/INT/938/ITA - Facility for Sustainable Development and Policy Implementation Assistance ..........................................114GCP/INT/944/ITA - Strengthening Partnership on Education for Rural People ................................................................................116GCP/INT/945/ITA - Information Products for Decisions on Water Policy and Water Resources Management

in the Nile Basin..........................................................................................................................................................................................................118GCP/INT/969/ITA - Development of a Methodology to Monitor Water Policies ..............................................................................120GTFS/INT/974/ITA - Strengthening Civil Society Involvement in Agricultural and Food Security Policies and

Programmes: Achieving Food Security and Food Sovereignty ..............................................................................................................122GCP/INT/981/ITA - Support to the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) - GTOS Secretariat – a Regular

Programme Support Mechanism for Improved Information on the State of the Environment ............................................124

vi The FAO/Government of Italy Cooperative Programme

mong internationalorganizations, FAO hastraditionally been a focalpoint for Italy when deciding

on implementing and promoting jointactivities against hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

The fact is underlined by theFAO/Government of Italy CooperativeProgramme which started in 1982 andcovers three traditional areas of activities:food security, sustainable ruraldevelopment and policy assistance todeveloping countries. Over the years theProgramme has become a model ofmultilateral collaboration, integrating andharmonizing the strategic priorities of FAO

and of Italian Development Cooperation ina joint commitment to achieving theMillennium development goals (MDGs).

I should like to stress that morerecently cooperation between the twosides has extended to emergency and foodsecurity activities with the aim ofresponding to natural disasters and othersituations of extreme need facingpopulations. Also worthy of mention isongoing decentralized cooperationbetween Italy and FAO, which aims toencourage the participation of Italianlocal government bodies in FAO projectsand promote synergies andcomplementarities between Italy andpartner countries at local level.

A

to address new challengesA partnership

viiR E V I E W O F F A O / I T A L Y A G R I C U L T U R A L D E V E L O P M E N T P R O J E C T - 2 0 0 6

This publication, the“White Book”,which comes out with a new look thisyear, not also evidences the well-established collaboration between FAO and Italian Cooperation but also provides asynthesis of the programmes implementedunder three different funding envelopes:voluntary annual multilateral contributions;special contributions to the Food SecurityFund; and bilateral contributions.

Constant attention from both parties to the needs of developing countries has translated into initiatives aimed atidentifying the structural causesresponsible for food insecurity and intoefforts at promoting participatory-baseddevelopment strategies.

Trusting that this cooperation will growstronger and benefit from past experiencein drawing up joint intervention thrusts, I hope that this publication will not onlyrepresent a useful instrument forreflection on what has been achieved butalso provide encouragement for the future.

Alain Giorgio Economides

Directorate General for Development Cooperation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

viii The FAO/Government of Italy Cooperative Programme

his ANNUAL REPORT for theyear 2006 continues anestablished tradition ofproviding a synthesis of

multilateral and multibilateral projectsvoluntarily funded by the Government ofItaly in its longstanding fight againsthunger and extreme poverty throughoutthe world.

This report is evidence of the closecollaboration between the Food andAgriculture Organization of the UnitedNations and the country that has been itshost for more than 50 years.

The Organization’s appreciation goes tothe Government of Italy for its long andenduring cooperation and support to FAO.

FAO and Italy are implementing acoherent and articulate programme of aidto development in more than 70 countries,either developing or in transition, the worldover. Projects focus on three priority areasof activity: food security, the environmentand sustainable development, and policyassistance and institutional support.

Since 1994, two hundred and tenprojects have been implemented, for atotal of 330 million US dollars.

T

together against hungerFAO/Italy:

ixR E V I E W O F F A O / I T A L Y A G R I C U L T U R A L D E V E L O P M E N T P R O J E C T - 2 0 0 6

The projects are directed at eliminatinghunger, reducing poverty, protectingnatural resources and giving support tocountries with fragile economies wherethe population is threatened by chronicundernutrition. Help is also provided tolocal communities enabling them todevelop their own capacities through the sharing of knowledge and expertise.

In the pages of this report it is hopedthat the reader will gain new insights intowhat has been achieved and also newstimuli for future action, not forgettingthat behind all the data and the numbers,

lies the hard work and personalcommitment of hundreds of women andmen who believe that building a fairerworld is not only possible but necessary.

May this common endeavour continueand the fruitful cooperation between FAOand Italy gain new momentum.

Tesfai Tecle

FAO Assistant Director-General

Technical Cooperation Department

x The FAO/Government of Italy Cooperative Programme

1R E V I E W O F F A O / I T A L Y A G R I C U L T U R A L D E V E L O P M E N T P R O J E C T - 2 0 0 6

Since 1988 an annual report is carriedout to comprehensively and concisely setout the activities of the FAO/Governmentof Italy Cooperative Programme. As in thepast, this year’s report covers projectsfinanced through extra-budgetaryresources received on an annual basisfrom the Government of Italy(multilateral scheme), specific projectsfinanced through an ad hoc agreement(multi-bilateral scheme), projectsimplemented within the FAO Trust Fundfor Food Security and Food Safety, andprojects under the FAO/ItalyDecentralized Cooperation Programme.

TheFAO/Italy Agricultural Development Projects

This issue of the report was prepared bythe Italian Directorate General forDevelopment Cooperation (DGCS) throughits Multilateral Service, ‘Ufficio II’, andFAO’s Field Programme DevelopmentService (TCAP).

Object of the review

FAO trainer talking to aclass of small farmers onthe way pesticides areabsorbed by the rootsystems of plants

Introduction

2 The FAO/Government of Italy Cooperative Programme

[ Introduction ]

The report is intended to provide generalinformation rather than to go into thetechnical details of projects. Such detailsare already available from FAO’s technicaland operations departments and may befound in individual project documents.This publication is meant to be used byofficers of the Italian Ministry of ForeignAffairs or of FAO who need a quick andconcise reference guide to ongoingprojects in the FAO/Government of ItalyCooperative Programme. Other potentialusers are research institutions, universitiesand the media.

As in previous issues, the report is dividedinto two parts: the first consists of anintroduction which contains updatedbackground information on the origins andscope of the FAO/Government of ItalyCooperative Programme, a description ofthe Programme’s development andmanagement and a brief summary of thevarious initiatives by thematic area.Reference to emergency activities and tothe APO programme is also provided.

The second part includes a collection ofproject profiles. Each profile provides abrief description of the initiative andincludes information on its location and itsfinancial commitment, together with arecord of the project’s objectives, activitiesand expected outputs. Only projects activein 2006 are included.

Profiles of completed projects, datingmostly from the early 1980s to 2005, arenot included in this report but areavailable in previous issues.

The Food and Agriculture Organizationof the United Nations would like toexpress its appreciation to the staff ofboth the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs(Bureau II/DGCS) and FAO.

AudienceStructure of the review

The White Bookas a referenceguide of the

FAO/Governmentof Italy

Programme


FAO/Government of Italy: an alliance rooted in the past

Since the establishment in 1979 of theDepartment General for DevelopmentCooperation (presently Directorate Generalfor Development Cooperation-DGCS) atthe Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, theItalian Government, through its extra-budgetary contributions, has become amajor source of funding for FAO’s fieldprogrammes and projects. This underlinesthe Italian Government’s commitment tosupporting development issues within amultilateral framework.

Extra-budgetary resources, which arechannelled through FAO’s Trust Fundsprogramme, embrace a range of fundingmodalities.

Origins and institutionalarrangements

They include:> Government Cooperative Programme

(GCP)> Food Security and Food Safety (GTFS) > Decentralized Cooperation Programme

(GDCP)> Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation

Operations Programme (OSRO)all financed by donor countries

> Unilateral Trust Funds (UTFs) financed by developing countries

> Associate Professional Officer (APO)Programme

> Programmes financed by other UnitedNations bodies

1979:DepartmentGeneral forDevelopmentCooperation created at the Ministry ofForeign Affairs

Above: "Sfera grande" byArnaldo Pomodoro locatedoutside the ItalianMinistry of Foreign AffairsBelow: view of FAOHeadquarters with, in the foreground, the Palatine ruins


[ FAO/Government of Italy: an alliance rooted in the past ]

Since 1982 the Italian Government hasplayed a major role in the FAO/GovernmentCooperative Programme, through an annualvoluntary financial contribution. TheGeneral Trust Fund Agreement, signed inApril 1982, together with the SupplementaryAgreement concluded in January 1985,provides the overall framework for theidentification, selection andimplementation of projects to be executedby FAO within the FAO/Government of ItalyCooperative Programme.

At the outset, the Italian contributionto FAO was intended to pay for technicalassistance missions, for the services ofindividual experts and the provision ofequipment. During the 1980s, theFAO/Government of Italy CooperativeProgramme gained momentum inimplementing projects and programmes indeveloping countries, not only in terms ofthe amount of the funds committed, but alsoas a result of the increased scope and qualityof the programme.

The programme thus evolved graduallyinto a more structured policy dialoguewhereby the development plans andpriorities of FAO and the ItalianGovernment came together in a moreintegrated and coherent manner. Thisprogramme presently covers three broadcooperation areas: Sustainable food andagricultural systems, Knowledge exchangeand policy and Food security.

The FAO/Italy Consultative Committeeon Development Cooperation, establishedin May 1984, has the broad mandate ofannually overseeing the activities of theFAO/Italy Cooperative Programme and ofproviding policy guidance on priority areas of intervention, as well as ofdiscussing technical and operationalissues connected with furthering the partnership.

A coordinated approach and constantdialogue on programming priorities withthe Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ismaintained.

During the 1980sItaly become a

major componentof FAO’s field

operations.Between 1982

and 1993 Italy’svoluntary

contribution toFAO’s Trust

FundsProgramme grewto a cumulative

figure of US$360 million

to finance about140 projects

Above:Pakistani farmerswinnowing grain

Below:rice farmers in the

Philippines take a pestdamage assessment test


Programme’s structureand size

Italy has maintained high its commitmentto FAO’s field development programme all throughout the 90s and into the new millenium.

Between 1994 and 2006 Italy’s voluntarycontribution amounted cumulatively toapproximately US$330 million for just over200 projects.

Over 50 percent of those projects are inAfrica and the Mediterranean/Near Eastregion.

In response to evolving priorities andneeds and to new opportunities ofpartnership the collaboration between FAOand Italian Development Cooperation hasconsiderably diversified in the last fewyears and now has five major components:

1. The FAO/Government ofItaly CooperativeProgramme (GCP)Also called the “Traditional Programme”, itis the oldest existing programme. Atpresent, 33 GCP projects in 26 countriesare being implemented with a total budgetof approximately US$70 million.

The projects are executed under twodifferent funding arrangements:multilateral and multibilateral. Multilateralprojects are financed directly through theannual voluntary Trust Fund contribution,which the Multilateral Service, within theDGCS, allocates to different internationalorganizations. Projects financed withmultibilateral funds consist of initiatives


[ Programme’s structure and present size ]

identified by the DGCS and developingcountries. Through the DGCS, the projectsare assigned to FAO for formulation,implementation and monitoring.

The Italian Government’s annualcontribution to this component in the lastfive years has averaged US$15 million. Atpresent the 2006 contribution stands atUS$13 million, of which US$800,000 foractivities to be implemented under themultibilateral agreement.

2. FAO’s Trust Fund forFood Security and FoodSafety (GTFS)FAO’s Trust Fund for Food Security andFood Safety (GTFS) was established at theWorld Food Summit held in November1996 to provide new impetus to the globalfight against hunger. Italy was among thefirst FAO member countries to commitEuro 100 million to this fund, of whichEuro 60 million has already been received.

In addition to developing sustainablemeans of increasing food availability andsecurity, this fund focuses on theemergency prevention of trasboundaryannual and plant pests and diseases. Thefund will also focus on the promotion ofincreased investment from national andinternational private sector in agriculture

and the rural sector. The programme’sstrategy is based on a regional/sub-regional approach aiming to promoteregional integration at both economic andpolicy level.

3. The FAO/Government ofItaly DecentralizedCooperation Programme(GDCP)In September 2002, FAO and the GeneralDirectorate for Development Cooperationof the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairssigned an agreement establishing theItaly-FAO Decentralized CooperationProgramme. The agreement aims atestablishing cooperative networks thatinclude local entities in developed anddeveloping countries and focuses onpractical objectives which often followprevious city-to-city arrangements.

Since the signature of the agreement,the Italian Government had contributedabout US$3 million. Resources were madeavailable to support FAO’s decentralizedcooperation activities and also to co-finance specific projects with Italian localadministrations. Cooperation agreementshave been signed with the Regions ofTuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, Marche andMolise, the Provinces of Bolzano andBologna, and the Municipalities of Rome,Milan, Florence and Reggio Emilia.

FAO’s Trust Fundfor Food

Security: toprovide new

impetus to theglobal fight

against hunger

Gums, resins and honeyproduction and marketingis an important aspect of

rural income


4. Emergency Relief andRehabilitation activitiesIn recent years, floods, droughts,earthquakes and other natural disastershave shattered the lives of millions ofpeople in the developing world. In manycountries, armed conflicts have alsocaused widespread destruction and forcedfamilies to abandon their homes andfarms. Assistance is required to restorelocal food production and this is whereFAO plays a vital role. In the aftermath ofnatural disasters and conflicts, FAO,through its Emergency Operations andRehabilitation Division, helps rural peoplenot only to survive, but rebuild their lives.

Since 1994, Italy has funded 49emergency relief and rehabilitationprojects for a total of over US$30 million.The majority of the projects, 37, are inAfrica and receive a total of US$20 millionin funding. Currently Italy is funding 13emergency projects, mostly in Africa butalso in Latin America and in the countriesaffected by the December 2004 IndianOcean tsunami. It is worth noting that in2005 the Italian Civil ProtectionDepartment contributed for the first timeto FAO’s emergency activities, allocating 3million to FAO’s post-tsunamirehabilitation activities in Sri Lanka.

5. The AssociateProfessional OfficersProgramme (APO)The Associate Professional OfficersProgramme offers young professionals anopportunity to gain experience indevelopment, international cooperationand the United Nations workingenvironment. The Programme is based onthe sponsorship of young professionals bytheir respective governments.

Since 1994, Italy has sponsored 33young professionals, with nine APOpositions currently funded. Thecoordination of new vacancies andassignments are the result of a constantdialogue on programming priorities withthe Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Most Italian APOs are assigned to fieldprojects to help enhance the relevance,efficiency and effectiveness of FAO’s fieldprogramme.

The participation of Italian Institutionsin the FAO/Government of ItalyCooperative Programme is considered asource of additional significance andprestige. It is important to underline theremarkable collaboration maintained witha number of Italian Institutions, such asthe Istituto per gli Studi di PoliticaInternazionale (ISPI) (Institute forInternational Political Studies) in Rome,the Istituto per le Relazioni tra l’Italia e iPaesi dell’Africa, America Latina e EstremoOriente (IPALMO) (Institute for Relationsbetween Italy and Africa, Latin Americaand the Far East) in Rome, the IstitutoAgronomico per l’Oltremare (OverseasAgronomic Institute) in Florence, theIstituto Agronomico per il Mediterraneo(Agronomic Institute for theMediterranean) in Bari, the IstitutoNazionale di Economia Agraria (INEA)(National Agricultural Economics Institute)in Rome and, among many others, theUniversities of Ancona, Turin and Viterbo.

Italian APOsassigned to fieldprojects toenhanceeffectiveness ofFAO fieldprogramme

Building barriers (fences)to prevent advance ofsand dunes

A woman farmer collectspests and predators in arice field


Working to promote the reduction ofhunger and poverty, and in addressingissues concerning agriculture and theenvironment, FAO is committed toresponding to immediate problems, suchas consumer concerns about food safety,the threats posed by transboundary animaland plant pests and diseases, forest lossand degradation, over fishing, and naturaland human-induced disasters. At the sametime, the Organization must watch overthe longer-term implications of issuessuch as climate change, the erosion ofbiodiversity, urbanization and changingconsumption patterns.

An important reformprocess to achieve theMillennium developmentgoals (MDGs)In early 2005, FAO re-examined all of itsdevelopment programmes and submitted apackage of reform proposals to theConference of FAO’s Members, which metin November 2005. ‘The aim of theseproposals is to equip the Organization toplay an increasingly effective role inassisting its Members in the areas of itsmandate, and in contributing to thebroader effort by the UN system toachieve all of the MDGs’.

FAO contributesto achieve all ofthe MDGs

Programme’s thematic areas


[ Programme’s thematic areas ]

FAO/Governmentof Italy: a joint

effort inaddressing

commonpriorities

To achieve these aims, the reform proposals,as approved by the Conference, will:> Redefine the Organization’s programmes

so that they reflect more closely theprincipal thrusts of its work, bringtogether activities that are mutuallyreinforcing

> Accentuate FAO’s role as a knowledge,learning and capacity buildingorganization with an important functionin identifying, disseminating andpromoting best practices

> Concentrate FAO’s global policy work onadvocating for greater priority tosustainable agricultural and ruraldevelopment and food security, andFAO’s resource mobilization activities onraising the level of investment, fromdomestic and international sources, inthe rural sector

> Strengthen FAO’s coordinating role inaddressing major threats to crop,livestock fish, forest production andconsumption

> Amplify the Organization’s impact byexpanding alliances, partnerships andjoint programmes with establishmentshaving similar goals

> Enhance responsiveness, transparencyand communication with Members andall stakeholders

Against this background and in a jointeffort in addressing common priorities theFAO/Government of Italy DevelopmentProgramme has three main areas ofactivities:

Sustainable food and agricultural systems

Knowledge exchange and policy

Food security

1

2

3

Woman watering acommunal garden. Home

and communal gardensgrow the quality

vegetables that, onceproperly prepared to local

taste, are the long-termsolution to the problem of

Vitamin A deficiency


customer protection. Examples includefollow up to the International Treaty onPlant Genetic Resources for Food andAgriculture, the prevention and eradicationof transboundary pests and livestock andcrops and the Codex AlimentariusCommission to name but a few.

It also emphasizes programmes thatcontribute to the responsible managementand conservation of natural resources suchas water, forests, fisheries, biodiversity andtheir sustainable use, as well as activitiespromoting research and technologydevelopment and dissemination and ruralinfrastructure.

FAO’s Framework ofSustainable food andagricultural systems

Agriculture, biosecurity,nutrition and consumerprotection> Crop and Livestock

production systemsmanagement

> Diseases and pests ofanimals and plants

> Nutrition and consumerprotection

Forestry> Forestry information,

statistics, economics andpolicy

> Forestry management,conservation andrehabilitation

> Forest products andindustry

Fisheries and aquaculture> information, statistics,

economics, policy,management andconservation, productsand industry

Natural resources,technology andsustainable development> Sustainable natural

resources management> Technology, research and

extension> Rural infrastructure and

agro-industries

1Accounting for 45 percent of the entireallocations, the Sustainable food andagricultural systems sector plays asignificant role in the FAO – Government ofItaly Cooperative Programme. The Italian-funded projects in this sector are linkingthe issue of environmental degradation tosustainable development within the widerobjective of enhanced food security.

The Sustainable food and agriculturalsystems, as foreseen in the reform, bringstogether many of the Organization’sactivities relating to the food chain – fromcrop, livestock and food production, throughinfrastructure and industries to ensuring

Sustainable food andagricultural systems



Water:a vital natural resourceWater is one of the most widely sharedresources on the planet. Its role covers thewhole range of human development andreaches across many borders: scientific,political, social, and cultural. Negotiatingthe allocation of transboundary waters hasproven beneficial in stimulating social andpolitical stability, economic prosperity andpoverty alleviation.

Since its creation, FAO has deliveredtechnical and advisory services to manyinternational river basin organisations andcontinues to advocate for clear recognitionof the role of agricultural watermanagement in socio-economicdevelopment across these basins

In order to promote efforts to fulfilinternational commitments made on waterand water-related issues by 2015, theUnited Nations General Assembly, inDecember 2003, proclaimed the years2005 to 2015 as the 'Water for Life”International Decade for Action.

UN-WaterUN-Water, the United Nations inter-agency mechanism grouping all relevantagencies, departments and programmesinvolved with water-related issues, iscoordinating the “Water for Life” Decade.Its main purpose is to complement and

add value to existing programmes andprojects by facilitating synergies and joint-efforts, so as to maximize coordinatedaction, coherence and effectiveness of thesupport provided to countries. After manyyears of extensive collaboration among theUN agencies water is presently to the topof the political agenda.

LivestockThe livestock sector is the fastest growingsector in agriculture. This is particularlytrue in developing countries (the so-called“livestock revolution”).

Livestock forms an essentialcomponent of the entire “agriculturalproduction systems approach” forsustainable agricultural and ruraldevelopment policies promoted by FAO.The approach is based on the principlethat the production of differentcommodities is often inter-linked andthat increased production may encompassother agricultural sectors and generateaggregated output for the benefit of thewhole agricultural system.

It also helps to meet rapidly increasingdemand for livestock products and forfood safety through good practices inproduction, processing and trade, whilesafeguarding the environment andminimizing risks to public health.

The UN GeneralAssembly, in

December 2003,proclaimed theyears 2005 to

2015 as the‘Water for Life’

InternationalDecade for

Action


Sust

aina

ble

food

and

agr

icul

tura

l sys

tem

sAgricultural pests and diseases oftenmigrate or spread across borders andcause major losses. Although controlmethods exist now against these pests anddiseases, inability to contain the problemat an early stage may lead to anemergencies developing. In 1994 FAOestablished an Emergency PreventionSystem (EMPRES) for TransboundaryAnimal and Plant Pests and Diseases inorder to minimize this risk.

Forestry, mountaindevelopment andbiodiversityForests now cover nearly four billionhectares or 30 percent of the world’s landarea.. Forests have multiple functions,including conservation of biologicaldiversity, soil and water, supplying woodand non-wood products. Forests areparticularly important as carbon sinks: theamount of carbon stored in forest biomassalone is about 283 Gigatonnes (Gt) ofcarbon, roughly 50 percent more than theamount of carbon in the atmosphere.However, due to deforestation each yearabout 13 million hectares of the world’sforests in particular in developing countriesare lost. South America suffered the largestnet loss of forests between 2000 and 2005- around 4.3 million hectares per year -followed by Africa, which lost 4.0 millionhectares annually. FAO is actively involvedin the safeguard of forest fully aware thecrucial role they have not only for theworld environment but also for the socio-economic welfare of millions of people.

Particularly important are mountainforests. Over 130 mountain ranges exist inthe world today. They provide most of itsfreshwater and because of its relative

Majortransboundarylivestock diseases,includingRinderpest andother epidemicanimal diseases areamong the mostcontagious andplace a seriousburden on theeconomies of thecountries in whichthey occur

A disproportionatenumber of theworld’sundernourishedpeople live inmountain areas



these stocks are capable of supporting.Strategies for rebuilding stocks includesignificantly decreasing or temporarilystopping fishing in overexploited fisheries,reducing degradation of underwaterenvironments and actively rehabilitatingdamaged habitats.

Considering the limited progress achievedin the last decade in this respect, restoringdepleted stocks to healthy biomass levels by2015, a goal set at the 2002 World Summiton Sustainable Development, represents "a high-order" challenge, according to FAO.

Aquaculture may help reduce pressureon capture fisheries by reducing demandfor wild fish and lowering prices, but that'sonly part of the solution.

Eleven years have passed since theadoption of the FAO Code of Conduct forResponsible Fisheries, a non-bindinginstrument that provides a blueprint forresponsible fishing practices. All 188 FAOMember states have committed to use theCode to strengthen their own fishingpolicies and improve internationalcooperation on fishing management. Overthe last ten years countries and regionalfisheries bodies around the world havedrawn on the Code to improve fisheriesmanagement. Much progress has beenmade, but more still needs to be done toensure a clear reversal of the negativetrend of marine fish stocks.

Restoringfish stocks a

high-orderchallenge

isolation and inaccessibility preserve one ofthe richest biodiversity on earth. Manyspecies have disappeared from lowlandareas, crowded out by human activities andexist nowhere else but on mountains. Onein ten people lives in mountainous areas,yet often mountain people are among theworld’s poorest and hungriest. Empoweringmountain people, providing greatereconomic opportunities and the means tosustainably manage their forest resourcesand biological diversity can help mountaincommunities alleviate poverty and achievefood security and promote peace andstability in mountain regions.

FisheriesThere has been a consistent downwardtrend since the 1950s in the proportion ofmarine fish stocks with potential forexpanded production, coupled with anincrease in the proportion classified asoverexploited or depleted.

Stock depletion has implications forfood security and economic development,reduces social welfare in countries aroundthe world, and undermines the wellbeing ofunderwater ecosystems.

While recovery of depleted stocks isurgent, it is just as important to avoiddepleting still-healthy stocks in the firstplace by matching fishing efforts to what


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sList of Projects in the field ofSustainable food and agricultural systems

GCP/ALB/005/ITA Agricultural Production Support in Albania

GCP/BIH/002/ITA Inventory of Post-War Situation of Land Resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina

GCP/BOL/037/ITA Strengthening of the Germoplasm Banks within the National System ofGenetic Resources for Agriculture and Feeding in Bolivia

GDCP/BRA/001/ITA Support to the Water Control Component of the 'Fome Zero' Programme inthe Area of Dois Irmaos, Brazil

GCSP/CMB/009/ITA Integrated Irrigation Development Project in Battambang Province inSupport of SPFS in Cambodia

GCP/GHA/029/ITA Establishment of a Tomato Processing Promotion Centre in Ghana

GTFS/INT/907/ITA Controlling Transboundary Animal Diseases in Central Asian Countries

GCP/LAO/013/ITA Improvement and Development of Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Lao PDR

GCP/NEP/056/ITA Promotion of Olive Production and Consumption in Nepal

GCP/NER/044/ITA Promotion of Decentralized Cooperation in Niger in the Field of AnimalProducts and Livestock Industries

GCP/PHI/050/ITA Environmental Animal Health to Redress Emerging Insect-borne and otherDisease Constraints to Smallholders’ Livestock Production in the Philippines

GTFS/RAF/387/ITA Acacia Operation - Support to Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and SoilDegradation Control in the Gums and Resins Producer Countries

GTFS/REM/070/ITA Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme in the Near East

GTFS/RER/017/ITA Integrated Pest Management for Western Corn Rootworm in Central and Eastern Europe

GDCP/RWA/014/MUL Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Kigali, Rwanda

GCP/SYR/010/ITA Participatory and Integrated Forest Fires Management Plan

GCP/TUN/028/ITA Soil and water Conservation Programme in the Governatorates of Kairouan,Siliana and Zaghouan, Tunisia

GCP/TUN/030/ITA Upgrade of Refrigeration Infrastructure in the Fishing Ports of Tunisia

GCP/VIE/027/ITA Capacity Building, Extension, Demonstration and Support for the Developmentof Market-Oriented Agroforestry in Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam

GCP/VIE/029/ITA Integrated Management of Lagoon Activities in Thua Thien Hue Province,Viet Nam



This main area of activity brings togethereconomic and social developmentprogrammes highlighting the importanceattached to enhancing the Organization'sactivities in support of knowledgeexchange and capacity building.Programmes in the area of Economic andsocial development will continue toprovide the analytical and statisticalunderpinning for policy assistance. Theywill encourage cooperation among centresof excellence to explore frontierknowledge as well as the lessons fromhistoric and geographic experiences ofagricultural development and the interfacebetween the primary sector and the othercomponents of the macro-economy.

Areas of work also include long-termperspective studies, reporting on the stateof food and agriculture and of foodinsecurity, trade and marketing issues, theeconomics of food and agriculturalsystems, and statistics, all of which will bedrawn upon to furnish policy advice andcapacity-building assistance. Support to

FAO’s framework ofknowledge exchange,policy and advocacy

Economic and socialdevelopment> Leveraging resources

and investment> Food and agriculture

policy> Trade and marketing> Agriculture information

and statistics

Alliances and rurallivelihoods> Alliances and advocacy

initiatives againsthunger and poverty

> Gender and equity inrural societies

> Rural livelihoods

Knowledge exchange,communication andcapacity building> Knowledge exchange

and capacity building> Information technology

systems> Communication and

public information

2Knowledge exchange and policy

member countries' participation in theinternational trading system will continueand will be reinforced, particularly throughcapacity-building and training initiatives.

The thematic focus of capacity-buildingactivities vary over time, but one of theunderlying objectives is to offer trainingopportunities related to themes of majorand emerging significance. The main areasof focus include:> fellowships - adopting a proactive

approach to identifying and fillingfellowship opportunities forpostgraduate and work-related training

> setting up learning programmes onpolicy, with some using distance-learning systems, targeted at seniorpolicy-makers and analysts

> extending the availability of adulteducation opportunities for rural people,including farmers' field schoolprogrammes and other extensionmethods

> theoretical and practical courses onproduction, conservation, storage andprocessing of agricultural products forextension staff, ensuring a multipliereffect through training of trainers.

The set of programmes under Alliancesand rural livelihoods responds to theimportance of engaging with a widespectrum of stakeholders, within membercountries as well as at international level, inorder to amplify the Organization's impact,recognizing that success in achieving theMDGs will depend not only on the actionsof governments but also on those of non-government actors and peoples'organizations. Work under this heading will


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involve mainstreaming attention to genderissues, equity in rural society, communityand child nutrition, as well as the specialneeds of indigenous peoples.

These important activities will beclosely associated with support to ruralpeoples' organizations and addressing theissues of rural employment. Partnershipsand joint programmes will be particularlycrucial in these areas, which addressvarious MDGs and cut across themandates of a number of UNorganizations.

The imperative for FAO of adopting amore proactive approach to creating andsharing knowledge and best practiceswithin the Organization and withMembers and other centres pervades all ofFAO's substantive programmes.

Rural women and girls usually have lessaccess than men to information and tonew technologies. Without equal access toinformation, they are at a disadvantage inmaking informed choices about what toproduce and when to sell their products.On the other hand, if women gain accessto information technologies, they willbenefit from increased educationalopportunities and channels for betternetworking. Information andCommunication Technologies (ICTs) are nolonger considered a luxury but an essentialinstrument for achieving sustainabledevelopment.

In the context of rural communities thechallenges faced here include access toinfrastructure, training and relevantcontent in local languages as well asensuring that the needs of rural areas arereflected in national ICT policy.

InformationCommunicationTechnologies(ICTs): a tool toshare anddisseminategood practices incross-cuttingissues



List of Projects in the field ofKnowledge exchange and policy

GCP/BOL/034/ITA Information, Communication and Training for Natural Resource Management andSustainable Agriculture in Bolivia

GCPS/ERI/002/ITA Strengthening and Expansion of the National Food Information System in Eritrea

GCP/ERI/006/ITA Strengthening the Agricultural Research and Extension Division in Eritrea

GCP/INT/825/ITA Promoting, Coordinating and Implementing Observance of the International Year ofthe Mountains - 2002

GCP/INT/847/ITA Capacity Building in Education for Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security

GCP/INT/927ITA Assistance to the NEPAD Member Countries in the Review/Update of NationalStrategies for Food Security and Agricultural Development, and the Preparation ofMedium–term Investment Programmes and Bankable Projects in Support of theCAADP Implementation

GTFS/INT/928/ITA Support to Regional Economic Organizations (REOs) for the Implementation of theirRegional Programmes for Food Security

GCP/INT/934/ITA Topic Centre for the Global Land Cover Network (GLCN) – A Blueprint for Land Coverand Land Cover Dynamic

GCP/INT/938/ITA Facility for Sustainable Development and Policy Implementation Assistance

GCP/INT/944/ITA Strengthening Partnership on Education for Rural People

GCP/INT/945/ITA Information Products for Decisions on Water Policy and Water ResourcesManagement in the Nile Basin

GCP/INT/969/ITA Development of a Methodology to Monitor Water Policies

GTFS/INT/974/ITA Strengthening Civil Society Involvement in Agricultural and Food Security Policiesand Programmes: Achieving Food Security and Food Sovereignty

GCP/INT/981/ITA Support to the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) - GTOS Secretariat – a Regular Programme Support Mechanism for Improved Information on the State ofthe Environment

GCP/SYR/006/ITA Agricultural Planning and Policy Analysis in Syria

GCP/SYR/011/ITA Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture in Syria


Food

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Further to the two World Food Summits ofNovember 1996 and June 2002, this mainarea of activity has become an importantpart of cooperation. WithinFAO/Government of Italy CooperativeProgramme, Food security projects accountfor 27 percent of the total budget. Due tothe diversified character of food securityits achievement depends on a number ofunderlying causes, like the empowermentof people, the equitable distribution ofincome, the support of research andextension. This sector is therefore stronglylinked to the other two thematic areascovered by the contribution of theGovernment of Italy.

In most low-income food-deficitcountries (LIFDCs) viable and sustainablemeans of increasing food availability existbut are not realized because of a range ofconstraints that prevent farmers frommeeting their basic needs and from seizingopportunities that arise. By working with

3Food security

During the two World FoodSummits of November 1996and June 2002, FAOmember-country Heads ofState and Governmentconfirmed the goal ofreducing the number ofhungry people by half by2015



farmers and other stakeholders to identifyand overcome such constraints - whetherthey are of a technical, economic, social,institutional or of a policy nature - FAO'saims at opening the way for improvedproductivity and broader access to food inLIFDcs and in small island states.

Projects to be funded under this areacover two interlinked approaches onefocusing on production gains and one onaccess to food. Significant agricultureproduction gains can be obtained throughthe introduction of simple, low-costchanges in technology such asintroduction of small-scale water control,use of organic and inorganic fertilizers,introduction of improved crop varieties,diversification in small animal production,artisanal fisheries and aquaculture andcontrol of post-harvest losses.

In addition an important aspect of foodsecurity is also finding ways to improvepoor people's access to food whichaddress the needs of a country as a wholein a more holistic and comprehensive way.New directions include locally suppliedschool meals, food for work schemes andcapacity-building activities to improve ina sustainable way agriculture production.

One fundamental aspect behind thisarea of activity is that it is not a stand-alone initiative but it is channelledthrough national governments, to developwell-planned National Food SecurityProgrammes and through regionaleconomic organizations to developRegional Programmes for Food Securitywhich optimize regional conditions forattaining food security in areas liketrade policy.


List of Projects in the field of Food security

GCSP/ANG/005/ITA Rehabilitation of Food Security in the Province of Bengo, Angola. A Joint FAO-IFAD-WFP Initiative

GDCP/BRA/002/ITA Micro-garden Technologies for Improved Food Security in Selected Districts ofthe City of Teresina in the State of Piaui, Brazil

GTFS/DOM/010/ITA Promotion of Food Security in the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Region - Dominican Republic

GCSP/ETH/057/ITA Special Programme for Food Security in Ethiopia – Irrigation Component

GTFS/ETH/067/ITA Crop Diversification and Marketing Development Project in Ethiopia

GCSP/GAM/021/ITA Special Programme for Food Security in The Gambia

GCSP/GUA/011/ITA Institutional Support to National Policies and Programmes for Food Securityand Poverty Alleviation in Guatemala

GCSP/GUI/015/ITA Special Programme for Food Security in Guinea

GTFS/HAI/018/ITA Promotion of Food Security in the CARICOM/CARIFORUM Region – Haiti

GTFS/MAR/003/ITA Preparation of a Feasibility Study for Cross-border Investments by MauritianOperators to Foster Agribusiness in the SADC Region

GTFS/MOZ/076/ITA National Special Programme for Food Security in Mozambique

GTFS/PAL/022/ITA West Bank and Gaza Strip: Agricultural Revitalization Programme

GTFS/RAF/391/ITA Improvement of Food Security in Cross-border Districts of Burundi, Rwandaand Uganda in Support of the Modernization of Agriculture under NEPADFramework

GTFS/RAF/394/ITA Enhancing Food Security in Cassava-Based Farming Systems in Malawi and Zambia

GTFS/RAS/198/ITA Support to the Regional Programme for Food Security in the Pacific Island Countries

GTFS/RLA/141/ITA Regional Programme for the Promotion of Food Security in theCARICOM/CARIFORUM Region

GDCP/SEN/001/ITA Support to Decentralized Management for Food Security and the Fight againstPoverty in the District of Sedhiou, Senegal

GDCP/SEN/002/ITA Consolidation of Micro-gardens for the Improvement of Food Security inDakar, Senegal

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Distribution data of FAO/Government of Italy Development Projects

TOTAL ONGOING PROJECTS BY COUNTRIES

Country N. of Projects Budget (in US$) Percentage

Regional and interregional/global 19 41 327 419 37,3%

Tunisia 2 13 435 242 12,1%

Syrian Arab Republic 3 11 112 120 10,0%

Albania 1 7 002 112 6,3%

Eritrea 2 5 549 229 5,0%

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 2 4 866 110 4,4%

Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 3 438 154 3,1%

Mozambique 1 3 396 700 3,1%

Kingdom of Cambodia 1 3 268 302 3,0%

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam 2 3 156 110 2,9%

Republic of Angola 1 1 771 450 1,6%

Palestinian Territories 1 1 500 000 1,4%

Bolivia 2 1 466 146 1,3%

Nepal 1 1 042 419 0,9%

Republic of the Philippines 1 1 006 830 0,9%

Republic of Guinea 1 999 965 0,9%

Senegal 2 900 000 0,8%

Republic of Ghana 1 899 598 0,8%

Rwanda 1 817 940 0,7%

Lao PDR 1 749 980 0,7%

Guatemala 1 727 551 0,7%

Republic of the Gambia 1 604 999 0,5%

Haiti 1 500 000 0,5%

Brazil 2 450 000 0,4%

Dominican Republic 1 300 000 0,3%

Republic of Niger 1 230 000 0,2%

Mauritius 1 217 900 0,2%

Total 54 110 736 276 100%

TOTAL ONGOING PROJECTS BY THEMATIC AREAS

Thematic area N. of Projects Budget (in US$) Percentage

Sustainable food and agricultural systems 20 50 169 275 45%

Knowledge exchange and policy 16 30 658 191 28%

Food security 18 29 908 811 27%

Total 54 110 736 276 100%

TOTAL ONGOING PROJECTS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

Geographic area N. of Projects Budget (in US$) Percentage

Africa 17 29 443 949 27%

Asia and the Pacific 8 16 565 767 15%

Europe 3 12 700 266 11%

Interregional and Global 11 14 578 466 13%

Latin America and the Caribbean 8 8 417 833 8%

Mediterranean and Near East 7 29 029 995 26%

Total 54 110 736 276 100%

Total ongoing projects byTHEMATIC AREAS

45% Sustainable foodand agriculturalsystems20 ProjectsUS$50 169 275

28% Knowledgeexchange andpolicy16 ProjectsUS$30 658 191

27% Food security18 ProjectsUS$29 908 811

Total ongoing projects byGEOGRAPHIC AREAS

27% Africa17 ProjectsUS$29 443 949

26% Mediterraneanand Near East7 ProjectsUS$29 029 995

15% Asia and thePacific8 ProjectsUS$16 565 767

13% Interregional andGlobal11 ProjectsUS$14 578 466

11% Europe3 ProjectsUS$12 700 266

8% Latin America andthe Caribbean8 ProjectsUS$8 417 833

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