| FAO is dedicated to promoting food
security and nutrition through agriculture, forestry,
fisheries and rural development, and to facilitating achievement
of the World Food Summit and Millennium Development Goal (MDG)
of reducing poverty and hunger by 50% by the year 2015.
FAO is emerging as a “Knowledge Organization”
for food and agricultural information, technical knowledge
and human resources, and a forum for policy dialogue. Its
work in these areas and on provision of global public goods
and regulatory standards setting, underpins and complements
the activities in Member Countries that directly target food
insecurity and raising the standards of living of their people.
In keeping with its mandate and expertise, FAO devotes over
half of its resources toward the achievement of MDG 1 of reducing
poverty and hunger. About one-fifth of the Organization’s
resources is directed to Goal 7 concerning environmental sustainability.
Significant resources are also directed toward the achievement
of other Goals. 
FAO provides the kind of behind-the-scenes assistance that
helps people and nations help themselves. If a community wants
to increase crop yields but lacks the technical skills, we
introduce simple, sustainable tools and techniques. When a
country shifts from state to private land ownership, we provide
the legal advice to smooth the way.
When drought pushes already vulnerable groups to the point
of famine, we mobilize action. And in a complex world of competing
needs, we provide a neutral meeting place and the background
knowledge needed to reach consensus.
Founded in 1945 in Quebec, Canada, FAO as the largest specialized
agency in the United Nations system, has played an active
role in increasing food production to meet the needs of a
global population that has tripled since its creation. The
Philippines was among the 34 founding member nations that
created FAO by signing its Constitution in Quebec City, Canada
on 16 October 1945.
A package of programme and organizational reforms which will
enable the Organization to play an increasing effective role
in hunger eradication, in the development of sustainable agriculture,
in food safety, in the control of transboundary plant and
animal pests and diseases, and in the negotiation of a more
equitable regime of trade for agricultural commodities, are
currently under consideration by member states.
FAO activities comprise four main areas:
Putting information within reach
FAO serves as a knowledge network. We use the expertise
of our staff – agronomists, foresters, fisheries and
livestock specialists, nutritionists, social scientists, economists,
statisticians and other professionals – to collect,
analyze and disseminate data that aid development.
Bringing knowledge to the field
Our breadth of knowledge is put to the test in thousands
of field projects throughout the world. FAO mobilizes and
manages millions of dollars provided by industrialized countries,
development banks and other sources to make sure the projects
achieve their goals. FAO provides the technical know-how and
in a few cases a limited source of funds.
Sharing policy expertise
FAO lends its years of experience to member countries
in devising agricultural policy, supporting planning, drafting
effective legislation and creating national strategies to
achieve rural development and hunger alleviation goals.
Providing a meeting place for nations
On any given day, dozens of policy-makers and experts
from around the globe convene at headquarters or in FAO’s
field offices to forge agreements on major food and agriculture
issues. As a neutral forum, FAO provides the setting where
rich and poor nations can come together to build common understanding.
FAO in the Philippines
FAO’s country programme consists of 14 national projects
with a total budget of US$10.9 million. Source of funding
for these national projects are Trust Funds (82%), FAO’s
Regular Programme (11%) and UNDP/Multi-donor (7%). Projects
being supported by FAO complement government programmes in
food security, poverty alleviation, agrarian reform and peace
building in Mindanao. FAO also supports 12 regional projects
participated in by the Philippines.
CONTACT US:
Address:
FAO/UN
29th Floor, Yuchengco Tower
RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City, Philippines
Tel. No.: (632) 9010-350
Fax No.: (632) 9010-361 / 9010-362
Web Site: www.fao.org
E-mail: FAO-PH@fao.org
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