The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and FAO Partners in food security, sustainable development and economic growth The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and FAO Partners in food security, sustainable development and economic growth

FAO works closely with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) to achieve shared development goals for improved food security and nutrition, increased agricultural production, disaster risk management and resilience, climate change adaptation, and sustain- able development. To date, the partnership has produced numerous successful joint projects, including several regional initiatives aimed at bolstering family farming, improving resilience to climate change vulnerabilities and natural disasters, and promoting food security through several regional Zero Hunger initiatives. FAO will continue to strengthen its partnership with ACP countries through its ongoing collaboration with Governments and the implementation of its individual Country Programming Frameworks.

Key areas of work

Family Farming Family and small-scale farming are inextricably linked to world food security by preserving traditional food products while contributing to a balanced diet, safe- guarding the world’s agro-biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. In many ACP countries, family farming represents a substantial por- tion of agricultural production—85 percent of farming land in Asia and 62 percent in Africa is used for family farming. When combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities, family farming represents a significant opportunity to boost local economies. FAO has devoted significant time, effort and funding to the promotion of family farming, and continues to work with governments to develop programmes and policies tailored to their specific needs. In addition to naming 2014 the Inter- national Year of Family Farming, FAO has launched regional initiatives dedicated to family farming in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and the Near East and North Africa.

Climate Change Climate change poses a fundamental threat to global Terraced hills used as part of FAO’s Transboundary Agro-ecosystems food security, sustainable development and poverty Management Programme (TAMP) to promote sustainable land eradication. Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food management and mitigate the effects of climate change in the systems must undergo fundamental transformations Kagera River basin. ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano in order to meet the related challenges of global

2 food security and climate change. Adaptation of the even seconds. Populations around the world are agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors, with a focus increasingly becoming exposed to natural hazards on improved resilience of production systems and (drought, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, disease the local communities depending upon them, is of epidemics, etc.), man-made crises (socio-economic paramount importance in coping with the expected shocks, conflicts, etc.) and protracted crises changes in climatic conditions. FAO’s work focuses on (complex, prolonged emergencies that combine two adaptation and mitigation of agricultural sectors and or more aspects of the above-mentioned crises). advocates for better management of the synergies and People who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods trade-offs among both. In the African, Caribbean and are often the worst affected when a crisis or a Pacific regions, FAO collaborates with governments disaster strikes, potentially putting their food and and partners to identify innovative technologies and nutrition security at serious risk. FAO is working appropriate practices in subregions for coping with towards increasing the resilience of people and the adverse impacts of climate change, while working their livelihoods to these threats by implementing a to reduce the contribution of agriculture, including resilience strategy based on four pillars: i) enable the livestock, aquaculture and deforestation, to greenhouse environment, ii) watch to safeguard; iii) apply risk gas emissions. and vulnerability; and iv) prepare and respond. The Organization has also launched regional initiatives Resilience centred on building resilience to disasters and crises in Africa’s drylands and building resilience for Natural disasters can destroy lives and wipe out enhanced food security and nutrition in the Near years of development in a matter of hours or East and North Africa.

FAO’s response to Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu with devastating force on 13 March 2015. The Category 5 storm brought 250 km/ hour winds, heavy rains and flooding that displaced thousands of people, flattened homes, destroyed critical infrastructure and caused extensive damage to agriculture. These losses have caused immense hardship, especially among the 80 percent of people in Vanuatu who rely on agriculture. In addition to the destruction of crops, existing food and seed stocks have also been destroyed by the cyclone. In all provinces, much of the population will be without local staple food supply from the end of March until at least mid-June, when fast-growing crops can be harvested if replanting starts immediately. Fish trap in Pango, FAO is working with the Vanuatu Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, which Efate, Vanuatu is leading an integrated response by the Government and the international ©Phillip Capper/ Flickr: flissphil community, to restore agricultural production and rebuild people’s livelihoods, as well as to increase the country’s resilience to extreme weather events. In the immediate term, FAO is garnering support to provide assistance for seeds, farming equipment and technical expertise, and working with the Government to get the agriculture sector back on its feet.

2 3 FAO’s work in ACP countries Belize Belize has been a member of FAO since 1983, and Angola FAO currently supports the country in four priority areas: i) sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and FAO collaborates extensively with the Government rural development policies; ii) innovations for food of Angola in several priority areas, including family security and nutrition; iii) national agricultural health, farming, South-South Cooperation and projects food safety and quality standards; iv) and climate that support rural women. The Organization is also change adaptation and risk reduction. Examples of currently providing targeted technical assistance recent activities include assisting the government for the implementation of the Government’s in the formulation of a national extension policy plan of action and roadmap for Africa’s Renewed and national irrigation policy and strategic plan; an Partnership to End Hunger by 2025. In the context input supply project to immediately boost local food of South-South Cooperation, FAO, together with the production as part of the FAO initiative on soaring Brazilian Cooperation, is working with the Ministry food prices; organic vegetable production; improving of Agriculture to establish a national programme for post-harvest storage; a coordinated citrus greening the development of family farming in the short and management programme; and assisting low income medium term, as well as implementing a project to farmers in adopting new sustainable farming systems. strengthen research programmes at the Agricultural FAO is also supporting a local NGO in its assessment Research Institute and the Veterinary Research and response to the illegal logging situation in the Institute. FAO has also been providing targeted Chiquibul Forest—Belize’s most prized forest due to its technical assistance in support of aquaculture—a size and rich reservoir of natural and cultural resources. growing sub-sector in the country with high potential for reducing both food insecurity and poverty. In partnership with the government and Bahamas the international NGO “People in Need”, FAO is The Bahamas has been a member of FAO since 1975, implementing a school feeding project in the province and currently their partnership focuses on three priority of Bie using local agricultural products, with plans areas: i) sustainable management of fisheries resources; to upscale nationally. FAO is also collaborating ii) sustainable forestry management; and iii) enhancing with several government ministries to disseminate agricultural trade. In the Bahamas, the Ministry of the information on nutrition education through both Environment sees the development of the forestry public and private communication channels. sector as a priority for the country. The natural pine forests are an untapped and important natural Antigua and Barbuda resource. Production and use of timber resources would not only make the Bahamas less dependent on imports, In pursuit of its own ambitious hunger eradication it would also retain financial resources in the country goals, Antigua and Barbuda has taken up the Zero and create job opportunities. Relevant legislation has Hunger Challenge which was launched in June 2012 been enacted and administrative arrangements and at the Rio+20 Conference. Pockets of undernutrition, financial commitment put in place to implement a with both stunting and wasting, have been reported forest management programme. FAO is implementing in the child population in Antigua and Barbuda. FAO a technical cooperation project on the island of Abaco is collaborating with the Government of Antigua and to pilot a sustainable management programme for the Barbuda to jointly design and implement a set of approximately 180 000 hectares of natural pine forests. coordinated, coherent and effective actions to achieve The project is building the capacity of field staff to zero hunger in two years. After the initial assessment effectively manage and monitor forest field operations, period, two programmes were identified for priority which will include sustainable logging practices. action: a home-based garden initiative and a school feeding programme. Significant progress has already been made towards building 500 family gardens Barbados and expanding the school meals programme to all Barbados has been a member nation of FAO since schools. The Zero Hunger initiative is implemented 1967, and FAO is currently working within the country in conjunction with the three broad thematic areas to strengthen rural communities. In collaboration previously identified by the government and FAO, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and which include: i) sustainable crop intensification in Water Resource Management, FAO has developed a support of food security and nutrition; ii) sustainable programming framework that will guide their actions in management of forest and trees; and iii) sustainable Barbados through the end of 2016, crafted in response management of land and water resources.

4 A woman carrying a sack of seeds home from an FAO distribution center in Burkina Faso. ©FAO/Issouf Sanogo

to the country’s National Medium-Term Development assistance also included raising awareness on the Strategy. The framework identifies four priority areas: principles of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and i) food security and food safety; ii) enhancement of workshops on resilience for community members and productivity and competitiveness in agriculture and local authorities. Trainings covered the use of resilience fisheries; iii) sustainable development of agriculture funds and structural reinforcements such as silos for and fisheries resources; and iv) agricultural health preparedness in the face of more frequent and severe and food safety. Among the numerous ongoing weather shocks due to the effects of climate change. projects within the country, there is an initiative to reduce post-harvest losses along the food chain in Botswana the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) sub‑region, which is being implemented by FAO plays a major role in the development of the strengthening the chain of actors and service providers, agricultural sector in Botswana through its country as well as increasing governmental awareness of programme, which includes emergencies, training, the region. Another effort is currently underway project and programme formulation and development to strengthen the small ruminant sector, thereby assistance. In the Botswana Agriculture Value Chain increasing food security and nutrition. The project Project (BAVC), FAO aims to promote sustainable is building farmers’ capacities in feeding, breeding, development and competitiveness of the country’s housing and general care for the animals, ultimately agro-food sub-sectors in national, regional and leading to long-term development of the sector. international markets by providing technical support to the design and execution of value chain studies for Benin selected agricultural products (e.g. beef). FAO has also assisted the country in assessing non-tariff barriers to After the Niger River overran its banks in August trade; assessing the needs of the fisheries sector; and 2013, FAO supported farming families in northern developing a strategic plan for the newly established Benin who lost crops, livestock and fishing grounds. Department of Agricultural Business Promotion. The emergency response programme focused on long term development in the area, beyond the Burkina Faso short timeframe of immediate emergencies. In addition to providing quality seed, fertilizers, farming Following the food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel, equipment, storage infrastructure and training on FAO helped vulnerable households in Burkina Faso new technologies and post-harvest activities, FAO’s improve resilience in vegetable production. FAO

4 5 distributed vegetable seeds, fertilizer, phytosanitary management activities, and supporting preparation equipment, sprinklers, moringa seedlings and papaya of the national strategy for REDD+; iii) information plants to 1 550 households. Approximately 1 325 and agricultural statistics management for improved farmers, nearly half of them women, were also decision-making, including analysis and monitoring trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), while of the food security early warning and monitoring of an additional 155 farmers including 92 females food security (SAP-SSA) system; and iv) support for were trained in nutrition education. The programme strategic planning and coordination of the sector, by increased vegetable production and generated supporting the development and consolidation of additional income through the sale of surplus crops. a legal framework, strengthening the coordination The training in nutrition education, in addition to capacity of the agricultural, environmental, and increasing the availability of vegetables, also improved subregional policy harmonization. dietary diversity in beneficiary households. Cabo Verde Burundi FAO is currently assisting Cabo Verde in developing Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Burundi agro-value chains in rural areas. The aim of this economy—practiced by more than 90 percent of the project is to reduce rural poverty levels by increasing population, with nearly one million family farms. The and maximizing employment opportunities in rural Government and FAO are collaborating to improve the areas and establishing a stronger economic base to performance of the agricultural sector by increasing sustain current rural livelihood systems with a focus productivity and production in a sustainable way. FAO’s on agriculture, livestock and fisheries. This will be programming in Burundi focuses on four strategic achieved by expanding the rural productive base and priorities: i) professionalization and intensification creating functional market linkages, thus offering of agriculture, including supporting producers local agroproducers broader access to the domestic associations and cooperatives, strengthening value market (e.g. integration into eco-tourism initiatives chains and high-value crops, livestock and fisheries and access to the quality niche market of fresh development, and farmer field schools; ii) sustainable produce for the tourism sector). management of natural resources, including mapping land degradation, promoting integrated watershed

A farmer field school in Central African Republic. ©FAO/Riccardo Gangale

6 Cameroon agriculture to assist Sudanese refugees and other vulnerable populations in the country’s Sahel region by The Far North region of Cameroon is densely increasing nutritious food consumption and providing populated and highly vulnerable to food and nutrition additional income. FAO also works on landscaping insecurity. Food production in this region barely meets of home gardening perimeters to give women access the needs of the population. The main objective of to land. In addition to responding to immediate food FAO’s resilience building intervention in the region is and nutrition needs, FAO has mobilized resources to improve food security and protect the livelihoods of to improve resilience, specifically through the vulnerable populations by boosting cereal production implementation of a new food security and early through the provision of improved seeds, tools and warning system. Other activities in country include the training. In the coastal regions of the country, FAO formulation of a development plan for aquaculture is working to protect mangrove ecosystems that are and the direct intervention to locust infestations that currently threatened by a number of development helped the country avert a major locust crisis. pressures as well as unsustainable management and harvesting practices of the local communities. These mangroves are valuable both for their contributions Comoros to local livelihoods and the globally important FAO’s contribution in Comoros focuses on providing biodiversity that they contain. FAO strengthened expertise on the recovery and revitalization of the protection and reduced degradation in the region by agricultural and rural sector. The Organization supporting inter-sectoral coordination and by helping is assisting in creating stable and remunerative local communities to redirect economic activities employment for rural people in order to increase towards those that both improve their livelihoods and income and improve food security. In addition, the assist with the conservation of mangroves. project will have a specific strategy for promoting efficient agricultural production and ensuring food Central African Republic security, as well as supporting the emergence of small and medium-sized agricultural production units. As a result of the ongoing political crisis in Central African Republic, the rural population is now particularly vulnerable. FAO is focusing on building resilience to Congo crises, giving special attention to women and gender it FAO is working with the Government of the its programmes. The four priority areas identified are: Republic of Congo to diversify and industrialize i) institutional, operational, organizational, and its economy and to improve food security and individual support for the coordination, planning, nutrition conditions in the country. Development management and administration of rural development of the agricultural sector is a high priority in this actors and food and nutrition security; ii) the collaboration. Congo’s programming framework development, promotion, upgrading and servicing focuses on three priority areas: i) modernization of of rural development and food and nutrition security smallholder agriculture, livestock and aquaculture; sector; iii) the prevention and management of food ii) strengthening support to sustainable development crises, vulnerability to natural disasters and humanitarian change climate mitigation; and iii) promotion of emergencies (early warning, HIV-AIDS, disaster risk civil society organisations (CSOs) and producer reduction, etc.); and iv) the development of sub‑regional organizations. Recent initiatives include the launch and regional cooperation to ensure continued recovery of the preparatory phase of the general census of of agricultural development. Specific projects range agriculture and livestock, the formulation of the from the implementation of income-generating National Programme for Agricultural Investment activities and self-employment in the agricultural and Food and Nutrition Security (PNIASAN), a sector in conflict zones to sustainable management of joint project with WFP to support small farmers, non‑timber forest products to developing food security and ongoing support for irrigation and cassava monitoring systems. cultivation development programmes. FAO technical experts have also contributed to the formulation of Chad the national forest policy and the implementation of the REDD+ programme, including monitoring Many households in Chad are suffering from and Measurement Reporting and Verification malnutrition, which is the combined result of food for integrated, participatory and community unavailability and inaccessibility due to chronic management of mangroves. Under the guidance of poverty and a limited understanding of nutrition. FAO FAO, an overview of the status of CSOs/producer is supporting the promotion of off-season garden organizations was made, and on that basis, capacity

6 7 building actions are being examined to allow these organizations to contribute effectively to national development process.

Democratic Republic of the Congo FAO is involved in a five-year programme (2012-2016) with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the goal of raising the country to the ranks of middle-income countries. Together they have drafted a programming framework that focuses on three priority areas: i) improving the governance of agriculture, rural development, renewable energy resources and crisis management; ii) developing plant, animal and fish industries through value chains and agri-business; and iii) environmental protection and the fight against climate change. Even before the current initiative, FAO was an active partner in helping DRC reach its food security goals. In 2011, a FAO urban horticulture programme reduced malnutrition in the country’s five main cities. The programme, which started as response to urban migration following a five-year conflict in the eastern DRC, helped increase vegetable and fruit production 122 percent over a period of five years. In addition, FAO’s presence in DRC was crucial in 2012 when an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants, a virulent livestock disease of goats and sheep, devastated the country. FAO mobilized emergency support with a project that vaccinated 500 000 sheep and goats, limited animal movements, raised awareness to educate farmers on prevention, increased active surveillance and trained field veterinarians and para-veterinarians.

Cook Islands In the Cook Islands, the current annual agricultural commodities export value is very minimal at around NZ$ 800 000, while annual imports of fresh fruits and vegetables are valued at close to NZ$ 3 000 000. For the past 20-25 years, following increased fresh produce demands mainly due to increased visitor influx into the country, farming saw a shift towards a part-time activity. FAO is enhancing the capacity of commercial agricultural production in the southern islands by providing the necessary inputs such as fertilisers, spray chemicals, seeds, planting materials. The Organization also supports capacity building programmes to strengthen farmers’ knowledge and skills on sustainable/modern commercial agricultural production and soil resources management practices. The objective is to improve small farm households’ livelihoods in the Cook Islands with increased local production of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals in order to reduce food imports. A worker at a periurban agriculture cooperative in Cuba. ©FAO

8 Côte d’Ivoire Agriculture is a major driver of economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire–two-thirds of Ivorian households earn a living from it. On the heels of a political crisis and rising food prices, the country is now working to rebuild its agricultural sector. FAO is helping returnees and communities that hosted refugees and the displaced to kick-start agricultural production and, in turn, help lower the country’s alarming malnutrition rates. Specific initiatives include providing agricultural kits for maize, upland and lowland rice and vegetables so that farming families, particularly returnees and host families, do not miss any planting seasons. FAO is also supporting community-based seed growers to produce quality seed so that farmers nationwide have a reliable source of inputs. There is a strong push to create new opportunities for people without land to make a living in agriculture, whether from agricultural processing and marketing or livestock rearing. Likewise, FAO is supporting mothers with malnourished children through village-based nutrition centres.

Cuba Cuba was one of 19 Latin American countries who participated in FAO’s founding meeting in 1945. Since then, they have contributed to numerous causes in support of the Organization’s mandate of eradicating hunger and establishing food security. The activities implemented by FAO within the country cater specifically to the demands presented by the Cuban Government for the solution of problems related to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries A farmer in the Cook Islands tends his bananas. ©FAO/Sue Price sector. Together, FAO and the Cuban Government have determined four main areas in which the Djibouti Organization’s efforts will be concentrated. First and foremost is the issue of sustainable food production, In a recently completed project, FAO helped improve seeds and animal feed. FAO is working to help Cuba food and nutrition security and restore livelihoods reduce food imports through the efficient use of land for drought-affected households and smallholders and the increase of domestic agricultural production. in Djibouti. The initiative involved rehabilitating/ The second is adapting to climate change and the constructing a total of four water points and five sustainable management of natural resources. The underground cisterns in Dikhil and Obock regions; third is the health, quality and safety of food. Finally, distributing 465 plastic containers to enable 400 support is given to Cuba’s role in the South-South livestock-dependent households to stock water; and Cooperation Programme. Cuba has worked directly holding four workshops on community management with developing countries in Africa, Latin America and household water treatment. The project and the Caribbean in the fields of agriculture, successfully increased water accessibility in Djibouti, forestry and food, with good results. FAO organizes thereby slightly decreasing livestock mortality as well arrangements for technicians and experts in Cuba to as increasing food production in beneficiary farmers’ work with the host countries. As of 2013, Cuba was gardens and enabling them to generate income one of 16 countries to have reached the 1996 World from the sale of surplus. It also strengthened coping Food Summit’s goal of halving the total number of mechanisms among project beneficiaries, especially their undernourished. during the lean seasons.

8 9 internationally. FAO assistance will help to create a Plan of Action to support implementation of the Strategic Plan, taking into account the local environment and the relevant experiences and best practices of other organic movements in the Caribbean. FAO’s Food Security through Commercialization of Agriculture (FSCA) programme has also helped develop pineapple value chains in the country.

Dominican Republic FAO works with the Government of the Dominican Republic in three priority areas: i) food security and nutrition and poverty reduction; ii) family farming; and iii) integrated watershed management, efficient use of natural resources, risk management and climate change. To prepare for and address the crippling impact of floods, landslides, droughts and hurricanes on agricultural production in the Caribbean, FAO launched a disaster management project with six communities from the southern region of the country. The project increased the resilience of farming and fishing communities through the implementation of community Agricultural Disaster Risk Management (ADRM) plans, location-specific good practices and technology and knowledge sharing of good practices and experiences, making the communities better prepared and more resilient to disasters. FAO is also providing technical support to strengthen the capacity of National Council for the Regulation and Development of Dairy Industry (CONALECHE) to develop, implement, and validate a model to increase productivity in the country’s family dairy sector. By using technologies adapted specifically for small producers in A farmer and beneficiary of the FAO project in Ethiopia promoting the tropics, as well as properly implementing the rules fruit and cactus pear production managing seedlings. and regulations, the family dairy sector will be able to ©FAO/Astrid Randen significantly increase its level of productivity. Dominica Equatorial Guinea FAO and the Government of Dominica continue to work together to achieve the shared goals of FAO works with the Government of Equatorial eradicating hunger and developing a sustainable Guinea on three identified priority areas i) increased agriculture sector, focusing particularly on food production, food diversification and natural resources security and nutrition, rural development, plant and management; ii) marketing, processing and rural animal health/food safety, and risk management/ finance; and iii) strengthening institutional capacity. In climate change. Dominica is currently known as the coordination with several experts from the Ministries Nature Isle, but has made it a stated intention to of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Health, also lay claim to the title “the Organic Island”. FAO Social Affairs and Gender Equality, FAO recently is helping the country to move closer to that goal by assisted in the development of a National Food assisting the Dominica Organic Agricultural Movement Security Programme (NASP). Other ongoing projects (DOAM), an NGO formed by a cross section of farmers include the development of family poultry farms and and traders in the organic food production industry. a project to formulate an agricultural census as a joint DOAM coordinates programmes and activities for the programme with the country’s general census of the development of the local organic industry and ensures population. FAO is also providing technical support to that foods grown under certifiable organic conditions the Ministry of Fisheries and Environment for a new are marketed effectively locally, regionally and project to generate scientific information on the state

10 Camel herders in Fada, Chad, where FAO conducted control operations against populations of desert locusts. ©FAO/Carl de Souza

of fish stocks from the maritime territory of Equatorial of natural resources; and vi) policy and legislative Guinea. This four-year, US$ 4 million initiative covers frameworks reviewed and updated in order to meet sea areas of Bioko, the Mainland region and Annobon, sector requirements. FAO’s ongoing initiatives in the setting a milestone in the history of the development country include integrating temperate fruit crops into of the fisheries sector in the country. The results of the irrigated production units of the Eritrean highlands; research will be used to develop an investment plan restoring livelihoods and enhancing food security for the sustainable use of national fisheries. through backyard poultry production units in drought affected households in Northern and Southern Red Sea regions; establishing a dairy training centre at Eritrea Hamelmalo Agricultural College; and the formulation The FAO programme in Eritrea dates back to of an urban and periurban horticulture project. 1992, with the country’s full FAO office becoming operational in 1995. Eritrea has a chronic food Ethiopia insecurity problem which is worsened by frequent droughts. FAO is working with the Government on FAO and other development partners have been several projects to directly respond to emergencies as supporting the Government’s efforts in the fight well as build resilience and economic empowerment against poverty and in combating hunger and through agriculture. Priority areas include: malnutrition. FAO’s work is aimed at creating i) increase agricultural output by expanding land an environment where agriculture significantly under cultivation, increasing yields and encouraging contributes to the improvement of the livelihood production of high-value crops for export and of all Ethiopians, particularly the poorest and domestic consumption; ii) improve and increase most vulnerable groups. Three priority areas for production of livestock and livestock products through intervention are i) agricultural productivity and accurate and prompt diagnosis and control of animal competitiveness; ii) sustainable natural resources diseases; iii) increase productivity and profitability and development and management; and iii) improved competitiveness of marine and fisheries sector in order food and nutrition security. Over the past 10 years, to earn foreign exchange from exports of fish and FAO has implemented more than 100 projects, marine products; iv) strengthened institutional capacity focusing particularly on moisture deficit and for disaster risk reduction and management; v) ensure pastoral areas at the request of the government. proper management, conservation and utilization FAO has helped Ethiopia improve crop productivity

10 11 A fisherman with his net standing at the shore in Grenada. ©FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarri and competitiveness by helping smallholders established farmer field schools to train farmers on engage in improved seed production, supporting increasing production, and helped farmers generate the government in securing improved seeds, and additional income through sale of excess cassava. rehabilitating small scale irrigation. In the greater central African region, FAO helped formulate a strategic plan to define the priority areas of intervention for FAO from 2012-2017. Priority Fiji actions will include creating a coherent agricultural An estimated 54 000 farmers were directly affected policy supported by effective investments to increase and some 200 000 farmers were indirectly affected agricultural production, as well as promoting in the locations devastated by cyclone Evan. FAO is sustainable forest management practices. supporting the Government to re-establish agriculture production in the cyclone-affected areas and rebuild Gambia agriculture livelihoods by strengthening the resilience and self-reliance of affected people and rural FAO continues to support the Government of communities. FAO will provide planting materials The Gambia in addressing the challenges of for root crops, fertilizer and chemicals to boost low the agricultural sector and has facilitated the food crop production, and vegetable seeds for quick formulation of broad policies and measures to income and improved nutrition. In addition, FAO will accelerate agricultural production, boost overall prepare an assessment tool for the agricultural sector sector performance and strengthen exports to be used in times of emergency. and trade. FAO spearheaded the formulation of Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) to strengthen competitiveness in the sector through Gabon commercialization. FAO also assisted the government From 2011, FAO helped Gabon restore cassava yields in the formulation of The Gambia National by reinforcing the capacity of the most food insecure Agricultural Investment Plan (GNAIP 2011-2015) subsistence farmers to prevent, mitigate, prepare that translates the country’s agricultural priorities for and respond to cassava-related diseases in the into concrete fundable investment programmes. region. In addition to providing improved cassava To address some very specific challenges to the varieties to farmers, FAO also trained extension agricultural sector, FAO supported the government workers in cassava disease and pest identification, through the formulation and implementation

12 of Technical Cooperation programmes. These the town of Grenville. The abattoir has been built programmes included introducing the technology of on the grounds of the School for Agriculture and is metallic silos, setting up of aquaculture pilot projects, expected to have the capacity to slaughter up to 55 and promoting nutrition education by incorporating small and large ruminants each day. It was designed nutrition issues into the school curricula. according to FAO guidelines for the construction of small abattoirs. FAO’s assistance contributes to the sustainable production of meat which meets the Ghana highest international standards and can also be sold Over the last two decades, Ghana has evolved into in the domestic market for consumption by locals and a stable and mature democracy, and FAO is proud tourists alike. With the development of this market, to have been (and continue to be) a part of its more producers will be encouraged to intensify their development. In collaboration with the country’s livestock operations, contributing to an eventual ministries, departments and agencies, FAO has reduction in imported meat and meat products. formulated a framework to guide its support to the Government in achieving its goals in the agriculture Guinea sector. The framework identifies three priority areas in which their efforts will be concentrated until Food security remains a top priority for FAO 2016: food security and nutrition; environment and and the Government of Guinea. The Ministry of sustainable natural resource management; and rural Agriculture has requested support from FAO for the development and resilient livelihoods. Numerous formulation of a country programming framework projects have been implemented to achieve goals in for the period of 2013 through 2017. During its those areas. For example, Block Farming for Change development, three priority areas of cooperation were was developed to assist 315 women to block cultivate highlighted: strengthening food and nutrition security; beans, groundnut and upland rice. A National Forest strengthening the governance of the agricultural Programme Facility was conceived. The Larabanga sector; and prevention and risk management of food Youth Association was developed to instruct and assist crises, disasters and climate change adaptation. FAO small scale rabbit production. Even before the current has also provided aquaculture training for Guinean framework, FAO played an active role in Ghana’s fish farmers by organizing technical workshops. The journey towards national food security. In 2009, FAO training, which was conducted in the classroom and and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) the field, contributed substantially to the improved joined forces to enhance food security and nutritional ability of local fish farmers. Apart from local farmers, well-being in Ghana’s three northern regions participants included feed producers and extension through the UN Trust Fund For Human Security. The staff from each part of Forest Guinea and the initiative included safety-net projects supporting land newly‑established Direction Nationale de la Pisciculture. reforestation and the construction of irrigation systems and small dams. Also, in 2010, Ghana was one of Guinea-Bissau three countries selected for a joint-effort by Finland and FAO to develop open-source land registration FAO is supporting the fight against food insecurity software. The Open Source Cadastre and Registration and malnutrition in Guinea-Bissau through the (OSCAR) project was the first serious initiative applying establishment of a Coordinating Agency for Food open source solutions in developing countries. and Nutrition Security and the promotion of the right to food in the country. In this context, FAO provided technical assistance for the implementation Grenada of two local projects aimed at increasing the The Government of Grenada partners with FAO sustainable production of aquaculture and the on several strategic priority areas, including i) the promotion of family farming in Guinea-Bissau. FAO development of a risk management apparatus for also guided the government in its development of a the agricultural sector; ii) improving food security and National Nutrition Policy, adopted in February 2014, nutrition; iii) increasing the availability of certified and a Multisectoral Strategic Plan for Nutrition, now and quality seeds in the country; iv) enhancing in progress. In addition, FAO has provided technical agricultural health and food safety; v) support to and financial support for the revision of laws and risk reduction and climate change; and vi) reducing regulations to promote responsible governance of transboundary diseases. In one project in the country, tenure in the country. Achievements thus far include FAO provided equipment and assisted with the the review of the National Agricultural Investment tendering process for an abattoir the government Program (PNIA), approved in December 2013, built as part of a redevelopment programme for which now examines new issues such as gender in

12 13 agriculture, climate change, nutrition, resilience and the stage for much stronger coordination between disaster risk management. countries in the region providing assistance to Haiti.

Guyana Jamaica Good working relationships with the Ministries Jamaica has been a member of FAO since 1963, of Agriculture, Education and Health have helped and FAO representation in the country works closely FAO and Guyana work together to achieve shared with the government to support national efforts to development goals in the country. Their partnership promote food security and sustainable development, is guided by the four priority areas of: i) nutrition and with a focus on four priority areas: i) value chain food security; ii) agriculture and rural development; development; ii) creation of an enabling framework for iii) sustainable natural resources and climate change; the transformation of the agriculture sector; and iv) agriculture health and food safety. In an effort iii) sustainable management of resources; and to enhance the capacity of Guyana to collect, manage iv) national food security. FAO has provided technical and access agricultural market data and information, support to assist the government to respond to FAO has been providing technical assistance to develop repeated outbreaks of the beet armyworm, which a comprehensive Agriculture Market Information threatens to destroy the livelihood of small vegetable System. This system is aimed at improving domestic farmers in the southern part of the country, as well and regional trade in agricultural commodities and as erase productive gains in the cultivation of onions. enhancing the lives of rural populations. Achievements The project is ongoing and will help to establish a thus far include a website showcasing the work and comprehensive monitoring and forecasting programme services provided by Guyana Marketing Corporation, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. as well as enhanced staff capacity within the Ministry Additionally, to support a farmer field school (FFS) of Agriculture to implement a crop production data approach to on-farm crop and pest management, collection system to allow for better crop forecasting 20 extension officers and ten farmers are currently and production planning. receiving intensive training in FFS methodologies and crop management techniques. The trained extension officers and farmers will then train approximately 150 Haiti other farmers. FAO is also helping in the development FAO’s assistance to the Government of Haiti focuses of a disaster preparedness and emergency response on four key priority areas: i) capacity building for plan for the local agriculture sector. policies and strategies for food security and nutrition; ii) promoting agricultural sectors through private and Kenya public investment and agricultural support services; iii) increasing natural resource management capacity and FAO’s partnership with Kenya focuses on building resilience to climate change; and iv) strengthening resilience, closing the gender gap and improving risk management capacity for natural disasters and the linkage between food production and adequate food crises. FAO’s Road to Recovery programme nutrition through four key priority areas: i) fostering in the country has contributed significantly to the agriculture-based livelihoods by supporting an reduction of food insecurity levels by rebuilding enabling policy and investment environment; ii) the irrigation systems and access roads, reinforcing increasing and diversifying agricultural productivity of the banks of rivers and streams, and relaunching medium- and small-scale farmers to align to markets; activities associated with watershed management, iii) improving natural resources through climate-smart particularly tree planting, in order to prevent flooding. agriculture, sustainable land management, sustainable More recently, the emphasis of FAO’s programme fisheries production, integrated pest management has shifted towards development operations. The and pesticide cycle management; iv) and improving Haiti Resilience Initiative was developed for the livelihood resilience of vulnerable populations by 2014/15 biennium, to increase resilience of family enhancing their productive capacity, increasing farmers, contribute to the eradication of hunger and availability of livelihood options, and improving their malnutrition and reduce rural poverty. Particularly ability to prepare for and respond to shocks through significant is the Government’s request for FAO disaster risk management initiatives. Long before assistance in support of its Agricultural Recovery this current framework, FAO was an active agent in Plan. In November 2013, FAO convened a Regional Kenya’s development. Following a food price crisis Technical Meeting (in Panama) with South-South in 2008, FAO provided inputs to farmers in Ahero to Cooperation partner countries to garner increased jumpstart rice production. This, combined with FAO’s support for the Agricultural Recovery Plan. This set earlier investment of two new water bumps, resulted

14 in a bountiful harvest, with farmers earning seven to eight times what they’d made the previous year. In October 2011, FAO helped over 5 000 vulnerable farmers in Mwingi terrace their fields to conserve rain water for crop use and prevent the soils from being washed away. More recently, in 2013 FAO and partnering organizations began to utilize the growing use of mobile phones in Kenya and developed EpiCollect, a mobile application which allows veterinary technicians to send first alerts for livestock diseases, thereby increasing the speed and efficiency of disease control.

Kiribati Agriculture and fisheries constitute the mainstay of the everyday life of the people in Kiribati. Effective planning, policy formulation and monitoring require quality and timely food security and nutrition information for evidence based strategies and actions. The Government clearly recognizes the need for reliable and consistent information and is in the process of establishing dedicated staff and computer resources to collect, store, manage and analyse agricultural and food data. Nonetheless, there is still limited capacity to process and analyse the collected data meaningfully as a basis for policy formulation and monitoring. FAO is providing technical support to collate, systematize and analyze the available food and agriculture data as a precursor for a national food security policy framework. The project will help the government gain a better understanding of the status of food security and nutrition in order to formulate appropriate policy options as a next step. A Haitian farmer inspecting an improved variety of guava (goiaba) plant introduced by a cuban technical expert working under an FAO Lesotho South-South Cooperation programme. ©FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarri The performance and output of the agriculture economic and financial viability of the poultry, piggery sector in Lesotho continues to be a major focus and horticulture agri-food value chains, as well as area for FAO and the Government. FAO centres its establishing building blocks for a comprehensive programming on four key priorities: i) enhancing natural resources management programme. sustainable food security and nutrition; ii) building an enabling environment for sustainable agri-business development; iii) strengthening management of Liberia natural resources; and iv) strengthening capacity for FAO’s presence in Liberia is active and dynamic. In better agricultural service delivery. With the broad 2012, FAO and the Government of Liberia launched menu of climate smart agriculture technologies, three Technical Cooperation Programmes in fishery, FAO has paid special attention to conservation poultry and forestry, supported Ivorian refugees agriculture in the country, providing technical and host populations, initiated the FAO Liberia leadership and mentorship to both government youth internship programme and provided critically and NGO partners. FAO has also been very active in needed coordination and technical support to sector supporting vulnerable farming households under its partners. Shortly thereafter, in collaboration with emergency and resilience programme. Over 18 000 the Government, FAO developed a framework that vulnerable farming households have benefited from will guide their activities in the country through the agricultural input distribution programmes. Other end of 2015, highlighting four key priority areas: projects include conducting studies to determine the

14 15 Madagascar The agricultural sector is a key area for growth in Madagascar, with 70 to 80 percent of people in the country relying on agriculture for their livelihoods. FAO is collaborating with the Government on three priority areas: i) sustainable and profitable agricultural production intensification and education/nutrition promotion; ii) governance and sustainable management of natural resources; and iii) strengthening household resilience to shocks and hazards in the context of climate change adaptation. In recent years, FAO has helped increase production capacity of more than 700 producers, the majority of whom are women, in the Atsimo, Andrefana Atsimo, and Atsinanana regions. The initiative focused on improvements to rice and vegetable production, processing (fruits and vegetables, fish), conservation production and breeding techniques (chickens) by using plots demonstration, farmer field schools, supply points in livestock production and processing units with the necessary equipment. FAO has also helped extensively with response and prevention for the ongoing locust crisis in the country by providing technical assistance in the management and use of pesticides, and supporting ground control operations.

Malawi FAO supports the Government of Malawi in the design and implementation of policies and A group of children standing in a swarm of locusts flying over development of programmes and emergency projects Soatana village in southern Madagascar. ©FAO/Yasuyoshi Chiba to improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries and ensure food security and good nutrition for all. Its sector and sub-sector policy assistance and advocacy; key priority areas are governance, coordination production, productivity and competitiveness; and implementation capacity for food security; sustainable natural resource management and strengthening data and information sharing for utilization; and strengthening human and institutional evidence-based decision making; sustainable capacities in the public and private sectors. Even resource management and climate change; land before the current framework, FAO was an active rights and land use planning; and disaster risk partner in Liberia’s development. In 2009 the country reduction and resilience. Over the last few years, was devastated by a plague of caterpillars, devouring FAO has implemented a number of key programmes all vegetation in their path and polluting wells and including an integrated food security and nutrition streams with their excrement. An international team programme and a programme that provides policy of scientists lead by experts from FAO visited seven support on rural employment and decent work for affected areas to determine the species of the insect. the promotion of equitable and sustainable livelihoods Their findings helped the Government better contain under conditions of climate change. FAO has also the infestation and prepare for a secondary outbreak. provided technical assistance and resources in a In 2010 FAO participated in a joint-effort with the number of areas, including food security, post‑harvest European Union to revive areas in Liberia with high technology, small-scale irrigation schemes, agricultural potential, thereby decreasing the country’s conservation agriculture, agriculture diversification, dependence on rice imports and improving the education in nutrition, promotion of decent rural livelihoods of vulnerable farming families. Under the employment and improvement of rural livelihoods. European Union Food Facility (EUFF), FAO distributed certified rice seeds, fertilizers and pest management supplies to 10 000 households.

16 A botanist and plant breeder with the Coconut Industry Board examines healthy coconuts at an experimental grove in Jamaica. ©FAO/P.Johnson

Mali vulnerability and prepare a policy to address food insecurity. The formulation of the Food Security and Agriculture and pasture are the most important sectors Nutrition Policy provides a multidisciplinary strategy for Malian’s livelihoods, representing 80 percent of and operational workplan to improve food security the workforce. FAO is providing quality seeds, small and strategically address priorities identified in light ruminants and veterinary support to vulnerable families of the country’s limited and potentially decreasing that have lost their assets in the Sahel crisis, in order financial and technical resources. to reinforce food and nutritional security and quickly increase the resilience of the vulnerable population. In response to both immediate needs of the population Mauritania and structural vulnerabilities, FAO is setting up Mauritania experiences structural food deficits, market gardens with fences, as well as rehabilitating recurrent drought and environmental degradation, water points and irrigation infrastructure. Increasing making access to food difficult for vulnerable rehabilitation and resilience is of the utmost importance, households. The current Sahel Crisis has put many and with this objective in mind, FAO is distributing agropastoral households at serious risk of food seeds, restoring vegetable production, increasing access insecurity, and FAO’s work is imperative in order to to credit and supporting livestock breeders. Additionally, ensure they can better access food and safeguard FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal their livestock. The main focus of FAO’s programme Diseases (ECTAD) is based in Mali and covers the 23 in Mauritania is support to the livestock sector. countries of West and Central Africa. Its main objective Specific projects have involved: supporting veterinary is to prevent and control transboundary animal diseases, services and camel breeding modalities; natural as well as to assist governments in better responding to resource management, including management of animal health emergencies. watersheds areas and climate-smart agriculture; seed and crop production and improvement of small Marshall Islands irrigation schemes; improved fish management; and strengthening resilience to shocks, including The Marshall Islands lack an evidence-based Food food shortage and drought consequences, through Security and Nutrition Policy to provide a basis for improved food and nutrition monitoring systems. coordinated and focused planning. Following the spike in global food prices, the Government requested FAO’s technical support to assess the food supply

16 17 Mauritius FAO is assisting the Government of Mauritius in reorganizing and bolstering its agriculture development plan so it can build capacity to fulfil the government’s objectives for agricultural development and food security. The project will reinforce the government’s plan to modernise the agricultural sector and to reconvert it into a flourishing pillar of the economy, allowing the whole of the population to draw benefits. The project will promote farmer participation in its analyses, in identifying solutions for conditions, and in performance improvements for their production systems.

Micronesia FAO is assisting the Government of Micronesia in policy action planning for improved food security. This project will provide a clear set of policy recommendations and a timeframe for increasing supply of local foods to the domestic and tourism markets. In coordination with the Government, the project staff will develop and execute an action plan to ensure the transfer of technical skills. In addition, an action plan review group will be established to review the draft plan and ensure local ownership of the process. It is expected that the project will improve the capacity of Ministry staff members, as well as providing Government with a clear plan for introducing the policies necessary to improve opportunities for local food production fish and vegetables. Relative to imports, this increased local production would help to improve food security and nutrition rates. The use of taxation to introduce pricing signals to discourage the consumption of unhealthy food, coupled with additional investment in improving the price competitiveness of local agricultural production will also be assessed.

Mozambique FAO is helping to establish a Food Security and Nutrition Agenda (FSN) in Mozambique. Achievements thus far include the creation of the Organic Statute of the Technical Secretariat for Food Security and Nutrition (TSFSN) at national and regional levels, as well as efforts to create a Parliamentary coalition for FSN in the country, as part of the larger efforts to establish an African and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) coalition for food security and FSN in the coming years. FAO has also supported the creation of the Women Peasant Movement in Mozambique (MMMR) to promote the participation A cattle herder in Niger shaking loose nuts from a tree for the herd of women on the national agenda of FSN and within to eat. ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano the CPLP. Other key initiatives were the preparation

18 of a workshop to promote dialogue on the family farm sector, which employs 80 percent of the labor force of the country, along with the establishment of a platform for the private sector Movement “Scaling Up Nutrition” and the organization of 500 farmer field schools in several provinces.

Namibia FAO collaborates with the Government of Namibia on four priority areas: i) enabling policy, legal and institutional environment for food and nutrition security and agricultural development; ii) sustainable agricultural production; iii) linking farmers to markets; and iv) improved preparedness for agricultural threats and crises. FAO’s current initiatives include supporting the government in its review of dated policy and legal frameworks, development of new policy and legal frameworks (e.g. the Horticulture Policy) and preparation of policy implementation plans by providing technical assistance for agricultural policy development. In a separate initiative, FAO and the government are assisting medium- and small-scale producers in the crop, horticulture, aquaculture and livestock sub-sectors to enhance their productive capacity. This is being achieved through the implementation of the Comprehensive Programme on Conservation Agriculture, strengthening of the National Seed Production System, promoting up-scaling of small-scale horticulture production, strengthening capacities in animal production and health and fish farm management, and integration of aquaculture with other on-farm activities.

A woman winnowing rice in Nigeria.©FAO/Pius Ekepi Nauru The Government of Nauru has requested FAO assistance to increase its crop and livestock production crises and reduce poverty through agricultural and productivity in order to improve food security reform. The programme centres on improving and livelihoods of its population. There is scant smallholders’ access to water, inputs, information information on past and current efforts to increase and training. FAO has supported the initiative by agricultural production in the country, and what providing quality high-yielding seeds and fertilizers the most appropriate strategies might be for such to farmers through seed fairs and direct distribution. effort. A study will be needed to review past and FAO has also trained farmers and agricultural current agricultural policy, development plans extension workers on technical specifications for and sector strategic plans relating to agriculture seed use, distribution, certification and quality development. It should also assess impacts of past control. The project contributed to significant efforts at agriculture development and, if necessary, production increases in both rain-fed and irrigation draft appropriate proposals for increased agriculture farms, increased household food availability and production in Nauru. dietary diversity, and improved incomes for farmers who sold their products in markets. Niger Niger introduced its 3N (Les Nigeriens Nourissent les Nigeriens – Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens) Initiative in 2011 to increase the country’s resilience to food

18 19 Farmer members of a Cooperative for processing maize in Rwanda.©FAO/Rik Moors

Nigeria inputs required, the most logical provider of those inputs, the duration of any support, an estimate of FAO’s major initiative for food security in Nigeria covers the quantitative and qualitative changes that might a wide range of food and agriculture projects, from be expected, and pathways for the young people increasing the vitamin content of eggs to improving to obtain further vocational training in agriculture. water management in rice fields, building floating Finally, possible sources of finance and in-kind support fish cages and introducing beekeeping. A group will be identified. of Chinese experts and technicians are working in the country through a South-South Cooperation arrangement launched by FAO. The two-phase effort Palau supports Nigeria’s National Programme for Food FAO is supporting the Government of Palau in Security. In the first phase, approximately 500 Chinese promoting giant clam farm development to ensure technicians completed 4 000 field visits, conducted sustainable livelihoods. Giant clam farms will conserve more than 500 demonstrations and carried out more the coastal and inshore resources by providing a than 200 microprojects. This led not only to improved supplementary source of income and subsistence to yields and livelihoods, but also to replication by the men and women in the community. Furthermore, farmers’ organizations that had been supported by the project continuity is important in order to meet the initiative. Due to the success of the first phase, the demands for seafood by the local population and the project’s reputation grew, allowing the second the influx of eighty thousand tourists visiting Palau phase to be more demand driven. It now responds to annually. A measurable objective is to supply at least individual states’ requests for specific types of support. 20 clam farmers with protective clam cages or pen enclosures to improve protection from predators and Niue poaching, and to improve clam inventory procedures. A second objective is to conduct site surveys for new FAO is providing technical support and expertise to farmers to establish their farms in the best possible close the knowledge gap and improve the agricultural areas. This will require locating areas with the right curriculum in schools in order to educate and prepare physical and biological characteristics for the farms. agricultural workers. This project will provide an analysis of the current situation and proposals to improve the agricultural curriculum. The proposal for future actions will include: the nature of the

20 Unloading of tuna fish in the Seychelles.©FAO/H. Wagner

Papua New Guinea include integrated pest management to control pests and diseases, farmer field schools to disseminate Papua New Guinea is host to a remarkably diverse recommended agricultural extension services, farmer number of species and ecosystems. The islands field and life schools to extend productivity enhancing of New Guinea comprise the third largest tropical technologies to the most vulnerable community rainforest estate in the world. Increasingly, the members as a recommended agricultural extension sustainable capacity of much of the country’s forests methodology. Other initiatives include providing to support the products, services, biodiversity and technical expertise to develop and review policies/ ecological integrity they produce has come under strategies on food security and nutrition, improved threat. FAO has been requested to provide support livelihood resilience of vulnerable groups, and develop in reversing the trend of forest degradation, which regulatory framework for natural resources. requires robust institutional capacity to appropriately ensure sustainable forest management. The project seeks to build the capacity of the national forest Saint Kitts and Nevis agency by strengthening the Logging Code of Practice FAO’s partnership with the Government of Saint Kitts and providing training to relevant Government staff and Nevis focuses on three priority areas: i) capacity and forest industry operators on improved forest building for groups and cooperatives with an aim practice guidelines, monitoring and enforcement. to foster the development of viable livelihoods and competitive agribusiness; ii) aquaculture development; Rwanda and iii) the creation of sustainable food production systems for food security and nutrition, sustainable In Rwanda, challenges that need further attention use and adaptation of agricultural biodiversity. In in the agriculture sector and food security the country’s aquaculture sector, most fisheries are areas include: i) strengthening of production artisanal, but they make an important contribution to and productivity enhancing technologies; ii) food security. Around 460 small-scale fishing vessels development of agricultural skills; iii) development make up the fishing industry, with 2 000 fisherfolk of processing capacity and value addition facilities; representing 14 percent of those employed on the and iv) development of post-harvest facilities. FAO is islands. Local catches contribute 500 tonnes of fish currently supporting the government in scaling up for local consumption. Local catches contribute 500 innovative approaches to agricultural productivity tonnes of fish for local consumption. The government enhancement piloted in Rwanda. These approaches

20 21 is aiming to transform the industry through improved assisting the country through the development of technology to increase fisheries production. In general operating and management plans for the addition to co-managing the sector and implementing operation of the facility. the ecosystem approach to fisheries, FAO is helping to strengthen fisherfolk organizations on the islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as they need to be organized if they are to be equal partners with the Ministry. Strong fisherfolk FAO’s support to St. Vincent and the Grenadines over organizations may also take a leading role in the the past decade has focused on capacity building, efforts to reduce praedial larceny of fish and fisheries assistance in policy formulation, agriculture planning gear and equipment. and agriculture legislation development. Its three main objectives, as agreed upon with the government, are i) fostering agricultural entrepreneurship; Saint Lucia ii) boosting production in crops, livestock, forestry and The Government of Saint Lucia and FAO work fisheries; and iii) conserving the natural environment/ together to achieve development goals with a increasing biodiversity. In an income generation focus on three main priority areas: i) agriculture and initiative, FAO assisted the community in Georgetown, natural resources sustainability and the potential on the Northeast coast of St. Vincent, after losing impact of climate variation; ii) food security and its traditional sources of income due to the closure nutrition; and iii) enhanced institutional capacities, of the local sugar factory and the decline of banana policy formulation and investment promotion. FAO is production. Decades ago the people of Georgetown currently supporting the government in a programme were well known for their skills in using bamboo to to modernize meat production in the country through build baskets and other household items. With the the construction of a modern slaughterhouse/meat increased use of plastic, the tradition of bamboo processing facility. It will enhance food safety, build weaving was almost lost. The Georgetown Craft consumer confidence in meat 15 and meat products, Makers Association decided to revive traditional stimulate livestock production and help locally bamboo craft to generate income opportunities for produced meats to reach high-end market segments, local youth. With the assistance of FAO, the community including the lucrative tourist industry, which currently group registered as a non-profit organisation and imports all of its meats and meat products. FAO is employed two local trainers and a facilitator.

Cabbage growing in a Farmer Field School garden in Senegal benefiting from an FAO project on Integrated Production and Pest Management. ©FAO/Olivier Asselin

22 Samoa agricultural sector to mitigate the negative impact of the reform and enhance food and nutrition security FAO’s technical support in Samoa is designed to in Seychelles. Within this general scenario, the role identify and address gaps and constraints in food of agricultural institutions and Ministry of Natural and agriculture (including fisheries) governance Resources and Industry is revisited with a focus on food frameworks. The specific objective of a current project security and agricultural policies, provision of rules is to review and revise the Agriculture, Forests and and regulation, monitoring and evaluation, capacity Fisheries Ordinance of 1959 with a view to produce building, contribution to technical backstopping and a modern and comprehensive draft legal framework the sustainability of agricultural growth. that will support Samoa’s food and nutrition security and national development goals. Sierra Leone Sao Tome and Principe The Government of Sierra Leone, with support from FAO, is helping the country’s smallholder farmers In 2013, Sao Tome and Principe joined the Rotterdam make the transition from subsistence to commercial Convention. The Ministry of Natural Resources and farming. The five-year, US$ 403 million plan known Environment has sent a request to support the initiation as the smallholder commercialisation programme of the activities of the Convention in Sao Tome and seeks to help farmers grow more and varied crops, Principe. The overall objective of FAO’s assistance is process more of what they produce and market their to initiate a proper implementation of the Rotterdam goods more effectively. Around 3.5 million people, Convention in the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. or roughly two-thirds of the country, depend on The activities include training the actors involved in the agriculture, while some 70 percent of the population management of chemicals based on the requirements lives below the poverty line. By encouraging farmers of the Rotterdam Convention, the inventory and to farm for business, Sierra Leone hopes to lift annual localization of pesticides and other obsolete chemicals, agricultural growth to the 7.7 percent needed to halve and carrying out a survey on the effects of pesticides poverty and hunger by 2015. To achieve this, FAO and on human health and environment. other partners are working with the government to make sure farmers have better access to quality seeds, Senegal fertilizers and machinery as well as training—from improved cropping techniques and group governance The agriculture sector, including livestock, forestry to financial management and marketing skills. It is and fisheries, is the main source of employment and also making a big push to develop irrigation systems, revenue for about 60 percent of Senegal’s population. improve feeder roads so that farmers can get their Irregular rainfall, declining soil fertility and relatively goods to the market and make it easier for them to low levels of investment in the sector have led to access financial services. a decline in production. FAO is distributing rice, millet, maize, cowpeas and watermelon seeds, as well as fertilizer to vulnerable farmers in an effort to Solomon Islands increase their production capacity and diversify the FAO is working with the Government of the Solomon food available. FAO is also investing in agriculture Islands on a project to improve the management by providing important tools for production and of forests by integrating biodiversity conservation, processing and supplying good quality seeds to be land degradation, sustainable forest management stored in stocks. Disparities in agricultural production and climate change issues into policymaking at the are localized across the country, and FAO focuses its national level, as well as livelihood activities for local response in the worst affected areas, particularly in communities living in and around forests. It includes the regions of Diourbel, Kaffrine, Kédougou, Kolda, activities targeted at existing and new protected Saint Louis, Sédhiou, Louga, Matam, Tambacounda areas that will be the focus of the project, as well as and Ziguinchor, including the pastoral zones for capacity building and institutional development at the livestock interventions. national level.

Seychelles Somalia FAO is assisting the Seychelles in strengthening the Most people in Somalia rely on farming and livestock governance framework and capacity of its agricultural for their food and income, but drought, conflict, institutions. The objective is to conduct an institutional displacement, disease and environmental degradation assessment in order to strengthen the capacity of the have wiped out many Somalis’ ability to earn a living.

22 23 One missed planting season or the loss of livestock Ex-combatants, IDPs and women are learning will push most families deeper into poverty and food processing techniques (cheese-making, fish hunger. In light of these challenges, FAO Somalia is preservation), business techniques and other skills using cash transfer initiatives in the country’s most to improve their incomes. At the same time, FAO is vulnerable communities while working to help Somali supporting community-based conflict management farmers prepare and sow their fields ahead of the and negotiation through improved natural resource rains, providing them with improved seeds, fertilizers sharing, such as fuel-efficient stoves, which use less and technical support to boost yields. Likewise, FAO coal and provide a source of income for women who is vaccinating livestock and ramping up animal health make and sell the stoves. Other ongoing activities services and disease surveillance and monitoring. FAO include improved crop production, animal health and is also working to restore incomes and build stronger production, environmental restoration and protection, local economies through cash-for-work schemes, livelihood diversification (including improved access which provide vulnerable families with daily wages in to markets through market oriented production and exchange for work on community infrastructure. value-chain linkages), capacity building for food security policy and strategy and sectoral coordination. South Africa Suriname FAO remains a central and strategic partner in ensuring that Government priorities in agriculture and FAO assisted the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal food security are achieved. FAO provides technical Husbandry and Fisheries in formulating seven agriculture assistance to relevant Ministries and Departments subsector white papers on rice, bananas, horticulture within the agriculture and rural development sector (vegetable, fruit, root crops), livestock, fisheries, and the programmes being implemented are mainly interior development and agribusiness to support funded by the Government of South Africa. FAO’s the government in achieving food security targets. A engagement in South Africa focuses on high-end National Stakeholder Consultative Exercise has been value-added activities that generate knowledge and completed and the Ministry is utilizing the subsector information for policies and programmes, as well documents in various national planning exercises. as activities that promote South-South Cooperation and foster development at the grassroots level. Swaziland Currently, the most important challenge in the South African agricultural sector is the existence of a dual Since FAO established its representation in Swaziland agricultural economy, comprising a well-developed over a decade ago, it has provided technical assistance commercial sector and a predominantly subsistence to improve food security, sustainable agricultural and agriculture sector in the rural areas. Improving food rural development. Specific projects have included and nutrition security is an important development technical assistance for the formulation of sector and objective of the Government, particularly addressing sub-sector policy and strategies; technical assistance household food insecurity. In the years to come, FAO for the improved sustainable management of forest and the Government will focus on the strategic goals and land resources, increasing smallholder access of the Food Security and Nutrition Policy to ensure to improved technologies as well as improving their the availability, accessibility, and affordability and knowledge and skills for enhanced food security, and consumption of safe and nutritious food at national improved institutional capacities including for the safe and household levels. The aim of this Policy will be to handling of obsolete pesticides; improved food safety; reduce the incidents of acute and chronic hunger to and increased resilience of food security systems to zero by 2030 and thereby contribute towards overall climatic shock through strengthened early warning poverty eradication. systems. In the future, FAO and the Government of Swaziland will focus on four key priority areas: i) agricultural support systems and strengthening Sudan institutions; ii) agricultural productivity, market access In Sudan, FAO is helping vulnerable rural people, and competitiveness; iii) sustainable management of including herding, fishing and farming communities, natural resources; and iv) mitigation of food insecurity Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and returnees, to by improving livelihoods, reducing vulnerability and the regain their livelihoods and strengthen their food impact of HIV and AIDS. security. FAO’s focus is on sustainable solutions to strengthen local systems and reduce aid dependency, expand livelihood opportunities, facilitate early recovery and improve preparedness on the ground.

24 Tanzania FAO’s partnership with Tanzania centres on three main priority areas: i) group economic growth and economic governance; ii) environment and climate change; and iii) emergency preparedness/response and refugees response. The first element promotes poverty alleviation among small-scale farmers through the introduction of improved agricultural practices and rural employment creation. The second element focuses on ensuring sustainable use of natural resources and adapting to/mitigating the impact of climate change. The third provides a twin-track approach to improved disaster risk reduction and management by the Government and supporting communities to reduce the negative impact of large scale refugees influx. In a recent project, FAO developed a selection of climate-smart agricultural practices for smallholder farmers based on participatory assessments and consultative processes at multiple levels. Some 2 500 farmers in Tanzania and Kenya—46 percent of whom were women—received training on climate-smart agricultural techniques specific to their region’s given agro-ecological and socio-economic situation. Additional recent projects in Tanzania include: transboundary agro-ecosystem management for the Kagera River Basin; monitoring African food and agricultural policies; FAO-USDA joint effort to strengthen agricultural statistics in Tanzania; various SmartFish workshops and meetings organised in the country; the Regional Cassava Initiative; the Regional Lake Tanganyika Authority support programme and various emergency related activities.

Timor-Leste Since the January 2014 launch of Timor-Leste’s Zero Hunger Challenge by the Prime Minister, FAO has been working with the Government to formulate a National Action Plan (NAP) to Achieve Zero Hunger in East Timor until 2025. FAO provided technical assistance to support family agriculture and aquaculture development, in strengthening food and nutrition security through the promotion of conservation agriculture, and other measures to adapt to climate change. Additionally, FAO assisted in raising awareness and capacity building to reduce post-harvest losses in horticultural chains; in formulation of a project to promote climate smart agriculture for disaster risk reduction and food security; in identifying and developing practices to adapt to climate change in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; and in the implementation of a project for the development of the coconut industry as a source of livelihood for the rural sector. A boy carries a jackfruit on his head at the Kiroka market in Tanzania. ©FAO/Daniel Hayduk

24 25 Tonga FAO is providing technical assistance for the development of commercially viable and environmentally-friendly milkfish aquaculture systems in Nomuka Island and Tonga’s Tapu Island that will result in a sustainable source of food and income for the island communities. The immediate objectives of the project are to: demonstrate the commercial viability of milkfish pens and pond farming systems; develop cost-effective technologies and techniques for input production and supply (seed production and farm-made feed production); grow-out management, post harvest and marketing; utilize local manpower to produce continuous harvests of milkfish for the communities; and to train interested community members in the management and operations of milkfish pens and pond culture systems.

Trinidad and Tobago FAO and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago focus their partnership on three priority areas: i) food security and nutrition; ii) agriculture and rural productivity and business development; and iii) the modernization of food and agriculture sector. An important aspect of agriculture sector development and food security is the ability to collect and review information and to use the data to develop future strategies. FAO is working with the government to strengthen agricultural data and information, specifically by helping to develop a one-year plan to establish a National Agricultural Data and A crop voucher beneficiary farmer in Zimbabwe prepares her Information Division, operational guidelines for the sorghum for storage. ©FAO/Believe Nyakudjara division’s systems, processes, programme planning and protocols, as well as a strategic plan and work programme for the division. Other ongoing projects Togo include improving food security in the region, expanding a cocoa drying facility for the Tobago After devastating floods and sharp increases in food Cocoa Farmers Association, and improving forest and prices from 2007-2008, Togo’s farmers suffered losses protected area management. and malnutrition in rural populations was exacerbated. FAO, with funding from the EU, responded by providing seeds and fertilizer to some 15 000 farmers Tuvalu to grow staple crops such as maize, rice and sorghum. FAO is currently collaborating with the Government An additional 5 500 more farmers received inputs for of Tuvalu on the development of a community- market gardening. FAO estimates that the total value based aquaculture system and management of of what they produced is nearly double the amount inshore fisheries. This project will support the invested by the EU. In addition, the EU-funded FAO development of small-scale aquaculture by up- efforts also delivered structural support to Togo’s skilling traditional aqua-farmer’s knowledge, agriculture, in particular to its seed sector and the providing new fishing techniques, attracting offshore market information system. More recently, FAO started fisheries resources, and managing inshore/offshore a project in Togo to promote the right to food and fisheries resources for food security and sustainable good governance around food security, with the livelihoods in Tuvalu. primary aim of empowering stakeholders for their effective involvement in the management of processes related to the right to food and food security.

26 Uganda security through increased shelf life of products, and value addition through processing. FAO is also helping Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the government promote climate smart agriculture roughly 77 percent of Ugandans. Climate change by developing and implementing practices, policies and environmental challenges, such as erratic and investments for climate smart agriculture, and rainfall, prolonged dry spells and flooding, pose a subsequently formulating strategic frameworks threat to crop and livestock productivity. To help and investment proposals. Zambia has an immense farmers face these challenges, FAO is supporting the resource base for livestock production, so protecting production of drought-tolerant crops, constructing animal health is a priority area. FAO successfully infrastructure for water and soil conservation, facilitated several livestock disease control training training farmers on sustainable farming and animal workshops for veterinarians, lab technicians and husbandry practices and facilitating community veterinary assistants, led by veterinary epidemiologists planning. Specifically, the farmer field school and other experts in the field. approach, widely adopted by FAO Uganda, is very effective for farmers to improve production and learn about post-harvest handling and farming-as-a- Zimbabwe business—from processing their goods to marketing Agriculture continues to be one of the key drivers them more effectively. The schools also encourage of the Zimbabwean economy, contributing about farmers to join village loan and savings schemes to 14-18 percent to GDP. To help improve agricultural increase their access to credit. The approach places development and food and nutrition security in particular emphasis on women and youth; it also the country, FAO has implemented several projects serves as an excellent way to raise awareness on in conjunction with the government and other nutrition, gender, HIV/AIDS and climate change. strategic partners. Recent achievements include: providing technical assistance for the preparation of Vanuatu the Zimbabwe Agricultural Investment Programme and supporting preparation of the Irrigation policy Compared to other countries like Fiji and Tonga, document and Contract Farming Framework; training Vanuatu is lagging in terms of vegetable production on input handling and business management of and the necessary networks to support marketing and 164 agro-dealers participating in the FAO inputs trade of these crops. While a large range of vegetable programme; supporting 47 800 farmers with crops varieties are indigenous and can be grown in the and livestock input vouchers; supporting 2 400 farmers local conditions, production is usually concentrated in contract farming resulting in an average yield of on a narrow range of varieties. The Government of 4mt/ha for maize compared to the national average Vanuatu has requested FAO’s technical assistance of 0.6mt/ha; providing 260 000 Foot and Mouth in strengthening rural farmers’ knowledge through (FMD) and 475 000 Anthrax doses to assist livestock training/up-skilling to narrow this knowledge gap in farmers; conducting Training of Trainers (TOTs) on vegetable production for rural farmers in Vanuatu. crop & livestock production, and production of The project will set up on-farm demonstration technical guidelines; and rehabilitated 365 boreholes trials and on-site training on seed selection, seed for livestock water points in nine districts. In the years quality, open pollination varieties and other relevant ahead, FAO will continue to pursue opportunities topics. The project will also collaborate with other to provide support to the agricultural, forestry and stakeholders such as different government agencies, fisheries sectors, especially in strengthening research the private sector and NGOs. and extension institutions and improved irrigation infrastructure, which should contribute positively to Zambia improved production and productivity. FAO works extensively with the Government of Zambia on several priority areas, including crop diversification, processing/value added, irrigation, livestock disease control, agricultural statistics, fisheries, forestry and natural resources management. FAO’s programmes in the country focus on creating more efficient and sustainable food systems. A recent project on the promotion of agro-food processing among small scale farmers focuses on Cover photographs (from left to right): the reduction of postharvest losses, assuring food ©FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarri, ©FAO/J. Ciganovic, ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano, ©FAO/A.K. Kimoto

26 27 FAO’s partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) addresses a number of salient issues in the respective regions, with the overall goal of achieving the ACP Group’s objectives on sustainable development, economic growth, peace and stability, and consolidating unity and solidarity in its member states.

This collaboration has resulted in a number of successful initiatives, including the Action Against Desertification programme. The initiative was launched in 2014 and aims to fight hunger and poverty by fostering stability and building resilience to climate change in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas. The 4.5 year, €41 million programme is bolstering sustainable land management practices to benefit the more than 70 percent of people living in drylands and other fragile ecosystems across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific who derive their livelihoods from natural resources.

“The ACP Group is a powerful ally for FAO in our unified mission to achieve food security, sustainable development and economic growth in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions.” José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome, Italy Tel: (+39) 06 57051 Fax: (+39) 06 570 53152 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.fao.org © FAO 2015 © FAO I4506E/1/04.15