International Symposium on Agroecology: Scaling Up agroecology to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

03/04/2018 - 05/04/2018
FAO HQ, Rome, Italy

In 2014, the 1st International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition provided an opportunity to share experiences and build the evidence base on agroecology, as well as reaching a consensus on the priorities for achieving more sustainable food systems through agroecology. It also endorsed FAO’s role in supporting further implementation and promotion of agroecological approaches.

Following the international symposium, FAO facilitated a Global Dialogue that involved approximately 1,350 multi-stakeholder participants from 162 member countries, taking part in a series of regional meetings in 2015 and 2016.

The 2nd International Symposium will synthesize and build on the outcomes of the regional meetings, and provide an opportunity to share and discuss policies that can help scale-up and scale-out agroecology in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Symposium will also move the topic of agroecology in FAO from dialogue to activities at the regional and country level by complementing on-going initiatives to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services in agriculture, identifying opportunities for synergies with FAO’s Strategic Programmes and Regional Initiatives, and facilitating South-South cooperation.

A new forward looking and action-oriented “Scaling-up Agroecology Initiative” will be launched in cooperation with major partners, including IFAD and others.

If you would like to express your interest in attending the Symposium, please read the information below:

•The deadline for expression of interest is 23:59PM Central European Time (CET) 25 February 2018.

•Only those applicants whose expression of interest is accepted will be contacted by email.

•FAO will not provide funds for the participation in the event. 

Criteria for participation

The scope and focus of the Second International Symposium on Agroecology:

•Takes a multisectoral and multistakeholder approach.

•The objective of the Symposium will be to move the topic of agroecology in FAO from dialogue to activities at the regional and country level.

•It provides a platform for relevant stakeholder to share experiences, reflect on accomplishments and challenges, and identify the next steps for further promotion and implementation of agroecological approaches.

Common criteria for participation of representatives of the different groups of non-state actors should be that their work and/or mandate is relevant to the scope and focus of the Symposium and that they are able to cover their travel and lodging costs and take care of related arrangements.

Specific criteria for the different groups of non-state actors include:

Academia and research institutions

•Type of actor (ensure that different organizations and research centers are represented).

•Geographic representation.

•Type of institution (preference will be given to those covering issues related to agroecology).

•Has recognized expertise in the areas concerned.

•Be an accredited institution of higher learning and research. Enjoy academic freedom, institutional autonomy and has transparency in its governance and funding.

Civil Society

•Relevance to FAO’s mandate and to the scope/focus of the Symposium: the civil society organization’s (CSO) mandate or work should be related to agroecology, food security and nutrition and is committed to FAO’s mandate to reduce poverty and eliminate food insecurity worldwide.

•Representativeness: The CSO is representative of one or more specific sectors of the population who share common interests, with particular reference to the most vulnerable and isolated groups.

•Independence: The work of the CSO is autonomous and not subject to external influence. Its sources of funding are transparent and free from any stringent condition that could weaken its action and undermine its legitimacy as an independent actor of change.

•Transparency: The CSO demonstrates a consistent pattern of making decisions and implementing actions in accordance with internal rules, norms and regulations that are known and understood by all concerned. Adequate information about decisions and actions is freely and constantly provided in accessible ways and in forms that are easily understood by all concerned.

•A balanced representation in terms of geography, gender, age and constituencies represented, in accordance with the “Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of civil society in FAO meetings and processes” will be sought.

•In general terms, priority will be given to people representing small-scale food producers (including farmers, fishers, artisans, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, landless, rural workers, with special attention to women and youth).

•In the case of cooperatives, diversity of sectors represented (crop, livestock, forestry, fisheries) and/or services provided (credit, processing, marketing, etc.)

Private Sector

•Type of actor (to ensure that private sector associations/multinational/national companies are represented).

•Geographic representation (to ensure that all regions are represented).

•Type of business (to ensure that all sectors are represented).

•Relevance to FAO’s mandate and to the scope/focus of the Symposium (only actors that are directly involved in agroecological activities or processes within the FAO’s 10 elements of agroecology framework).

If you are a representative of a civil society organization, academic/research institution or a private sector entity interested in attending the International Symposium, please follow the following instructions.

If you have an account

Click sign in and enter your username and password to submit your individual expression of interest as usual.

Please check the list of participants from your organization and select if this is the case. For the time being, you will still have to upload an ID picture and a passport copy again.

If you don’t have an account

1.    Please click on register to create an account.

2.    Make sure you remember both username and password chosen. 

3.    When you input the information and click “Save”, you will be redirected to the log-in page.

4.    Once you log-in, you will automatically go to the individual form in order to submit your registration. Valid ID picture and passport copies are requested (please read below the requirements).

5.    If you have problems or cannot submit the individual expression of interest, you can always come back to this page, and sign in with your username and password to submit the individual expression of interest.

6.    You will receive a final confirmation that you have successfully registered for the desired event within the indicated dates (please read above).

Photo ID requirements

•    Plain white background.

•    Full face frontal view with open eyes.

•    No shadows on the face or in the background.

•    Recent. Maximum 6 months old.

•    Size: 24 mm (width) x 32 mm (height) or 195 pixels (width) x 255 pixels (height).

•    Accepted formats: gif, jpg, jpeg

•    Weight: Maximum 100kb

Passport copy requirements

•    Accepted formats: pdf, gif, jpg, jpeg.

•    Weight: Maximum 500kb