FAO News; June 24 2021

The 42^nd Session of FAO Conference, the supreme decision-making body that brings together all FAO Members – 194 countries plus the European Union, concluded last week with an endorsement of the Strategic Framework 2022-31. The document sets out the roadmap of FAO for the next decade: to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind. 

The Conference, held virtually for the first time in FAO’s history, was the first one for Director-General QU Dongyu since his election at the last session of the Conference in June 2019. The Strategic Framework, formulated in full consultation with FAO Members, reflects the Director-General’s vision for the Organization as he leads it forward.  

In his opening remarks, Qu identified some of the most daunting challenges facing the world and outlined ways FAO had been supporting its Members responding to them. He also reflected on the work of the Organization under his stewardship, highlighting the fundamental overhaul of structure and internal governance, and the change toward a more dynamic organizational culture; the drive for agricultural and rural sustainable development through science, innovation and a digital FAO; building partnerships and mapping out a strategic vision to make FAO fit-for-purpose and better equipped to support its Members.

A dynamic and transparent FAO

Also speaking at the opening session was Khalid Mehboob, the Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council (ICC), the governing body that meets in regular sessions in-between the biennial Conference. Mehboob, who was stepping down as the ICC at the Conference having served two full terms, have been a witness of FAO history for over half a century, first as an employee, then representing his country, Pakistan, at FAO, and lately, charing the FAO governing Council. He shared some reflections in his opening address:   “The Director-General ……has been very busy since (his election at the 2019 session), introducing milestone reform and modernization at FAO, and setting out a new strategic vision for the Organization framed around the Four Betters… .You, Director-General, are the sixth DG (that I have worked with over my 52 years of serving the Organization) and are easily the most dynamic and energetic FAO leader I have witnessed. “

As the Independent Chairperson observed, the reform and modernization that the new Director-General has introduced are milestones – a modular and flexible structure that promotes collaboration, answers Members’ priorities and responds to emerging needs. The Offices in FAO now play a vital cross-cutting function and Divisions house FAO’s expertise, while Centres give full play to their strong collaborative function with other international organizations.

Among the structural changes that have taken place, a new Office for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Land-Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) has been created to help ensure that the special needs of these vulnerable populations and countries are met. A new Office of Sustainable Development Goals coordinates the corporate engagement in the 2030 Agenda follow-up and review. The FAO Investment Centre was strengthened in its catalytic role to support countries and enable financing at scale. A Joint FAO/WHO Centre was established to house two important joint efforts: Codex Alimentarius and on zoonotic diseases. Likewise, cooperation with the IAEA has been strengthened through the newly reconstituted Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

In his quest to improve transparency, enhance teamwork and accountability, FAO is now led by a Core Leadership Team comprising the Director-General, three Deputy Directors-General, the Chief Economist, the Chief Scientist – a new position - and the Director of Cabinet. All the Offices, Centres and Divisions now have a dual reporting line to the Core Leadership, with the aim to break down silos and foster collaboration and team work across the Organization.

A digital, innovative FAO

A geneticist by profession, Director-General Qu strongly believes that “the future of agriculture needs to be built on science, innovations and digital applications”. He said during his election campaign that “facing new situations and new challenges, FAO should apply modern science and technologies, and adopt innovative approaches: innovation of mindset, innovation of approaches, innovation of cooperation models, and innovation of application by digitalization”.

Addressing the opening of the 42^nd Session of the FAO Conference, Qu said farmers should be given more access to digital dividends in their fight against poverty, since “a smartphone in the hands of a smallholder farmer is his new farming tool” and  “innovations in technologies, policies, business models and mind-sets will be by people and for people.”

One of Qu’s first moves upon assuming office was the creation of a key leadership role of Chief Scientist – a first in FAO history, and an Office of Innovation, to help ensure the robustness, breadth and independence of scientific approaches in FAO work.

His signature initiative since day one has been Hand-in-Hand, an evidence-based, country-led and country-owned innovative business model which maximizes partnerships for greater impact by bringing together players across the public, private and multilateral sectors in order to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development. To date, about 40 countries have joined the Initiative and key support is provided to identify and channel funding to the areas where the biggest economic opportunities can be unlocked.

The Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform with Big Data analysis and advanced geo-spatial modelling has over 38 000 users from nearly all of FAO member countries. “Geospatial technologies and agriculture data represent an opportunity to find new ways of reducing hunger and poverty through more accessible and data-driven solutions,” said the Director-General at the launch of the Platform in July 2020.

In September 2020, together with Google, FAO launched Earth Map, another free-to-use Big Data tool for anyone with basic Internet access to tap critical climate, environmental and agricultural information, providing synergies with the Geospatial Platform. Earth Map has already played a critical role in pest control efforts. 

Following the initial success of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the Director-General launched the 1000 Digital Villages programme, which focuses on using digital technologies to improve production, agri-business management, access to market information and social services. Countries from different regions are already piloting the scheme, which provides a boost to national strategies and efforts. Meanwhile, following on another idea of the Director-General, FAO is developing a ‘One Country, One Commodity’ initiative, aiming at promoting high-quality specialty products from member countries on the digital platform of FAO.

While exploiting the potential benefits of new technologies including Artificial Intelligence, attention has also been given by Qu to the potential risks posed by their transformative power. Together with Microsoft and IBM, FAO was one of the first signatories of the Rome Call for AI Ethics, an initiative of the Pontifical Academy for Life endorsed by Pope Francis.

A people-centred FAO

Qu declared that he was “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” and that FAO would be a people-centred, cohesive Organization under his leadership. He spent his first day in office walking the floors and greeting and chatting with people in their offices.

It was a first in FAO history, followed soon by more ‘firsts”: the first meeting bringing all FAO representatives around the world together; and three virtual town hall meetings – one with all Rome-based colleagues and two with everyone in FAO around the world. Thousands zoomed in from across the times zones. The chat box was flooded with greetings and messages in different scripts. Many talked about feeling being part of the global FAO family for the first time.    

Another big “family moment” came at the end of 2020, when the all virtual Employee Recognition Awards ceremony – another initiative of the new Director-General – brought thousands of employees together from around the world for a culturally rich and artistically colourful year-end gala recognizing outstanding services to the Organization and celebrating a new FAO that engenders a strong sense of belonging.     

Qu also, soon upon assuming office, established FAO Youth Committee and Women’s Committee. Both volunteer-based, the two Committees brought together FAO colleagues from offices around the world for diverse programmes and initiatives. Innovation Wednesday, "powered by FAO Youth," encourages young colleagues to exchange and discuss new ideas. The Women’s Committee’s VirtualiTea has provided not only much needed online social gatherings during the pandemic lockdowns. While instrumental in bringing employees together and keeping people connected, the Committees have also become a new force contributing to delivering FAO’s mandate. For instance, the Youth Committee is now actively organizing the first World Food Forum, calling on young people around the world to take action for the transformation of agri-food systems and ultimately for the achievement of SDGs. 

 “Together we can accomplish the thinkable and the unthinkable!" as the Director-General often said at gatherings of employees.

A FAO works with all for all

“When everybody adds firewood, the flames of a bonfire rise high.” So said Qu when he was a candidate running for the position of Director-General of FAO.

Since taking office in August 2019, building partnership and working together to help advance FAO’s work has been central to his efforts. As he noted in his opening remarks to the 42^nd session of the Conference, no countries or organizations can tackle the global challenges alone, and the mission of FAO is to build transformative partnerships that address systemic change in a sustained manner.

Building alliances and partnerships go through every encounter the Director-General has had since day one, with governments, international organizations, academic and research institutes, foundations and private enterprises, and civil society entities.    

The traditionally strong collaboration with UN and other international organizations gathered further strength. FAO and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) co-lead the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, declared by the UN General Assembly and launched in June 2021. The relevance of the One-Health partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) has become more apparent, to more. FAO continues to consolidate its position as a leading implementation partner of both the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund, with a total portfolio from the two partners standing at US$860 million (about 200 projects in over 130 countries)  and  US$880 million (15 projects around the world) respectively, helping countries to conserve environment, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and improve people's lives.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, Director-General Qu immediately joined hand with his counterparts at the WHO and the World Trade Organization (WTO) urging countries around the world to ensure smooth functioning of food supply chains and not to turn a health crisis into a food crisis. He also addressed world leaders at a number of G20 meetings, including G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19 in March 2020.

Working with Italy, its host country, FAO established the Food Coalition, a voluntary alliance open to all stakeholders who are interested in supporting global, coordinated action to safeguard food security and nutrition and help countries to get back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic. FAO leads the alliance and facilitates exchanges of knowledge and expertise between countries which seek support of the Food Coalition, and acts as a neutral convener for open and transparent dialogues.

With Italy holding the G20 Presidency in 2021, FAO is engaged with Italy to put Food Coalition and the issue of food security high on the G20 agenda. Beyond summit venues and conference halls, a new G20 Green Garden, a brainchild of the Director-General, opened its door to the public in June. The Garden, situated in one of Rome’s historic sites, blends cultural heritage, nature and sustainable development goals in one beautiful space. It links the G20's priorities of "People, Planet, Prosperity," with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration which FAO co-leads, and FAO's Green Cities Initiative, which seeks to re-align urban policies, production capacities and supply chains to boost food security, strengthen livelihoods, and build resilience to shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the stewardship of Director-General Qu, FAO also adopted a new Strategy for Private Sector Engagement, to work better with the private sector supporting sustainable development. As part of the implementation of the strategy, FAO launched its CONNECT Portal, a digital one-stop shop for private sector engagement aimed at supporting agri-food systems transformation.

“I have no doubt FAO is a better place today than it was 52 years ago,” observed Khalid Mehboob, the outgoing Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council. “Its workforce is more diverse and inclusive; there is greater openness and transparency. Dialogue and exchange is more candid: among staff, between staff and managers, between the Secretariat and Members, and among Members themselves."

See: http://www.fao.org/director-general/news/news-article-2/en/c/1413339/