Council

DECISION
 

IMPLEMENTATION

HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE COUNCIL
(Rome, 28 October - 1 November 2002)

WORLD FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SITUATION

THE STATE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2002

Undertake an analysis of the factors behind successes in reducing undernourishment, and continue monitoring the world food security situation (para. 6)

This work is ongoing and is reported annually in the publication The State of World Food Insecurity (SOFI) and at the Committee on World Food Security.

Continue to participate – within the framework of the work programme of the Brussels Programme of Action (PoA) adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – in the implementation of relevant sections therein (para. 11)

Action is being taken. See documents CL 124/INF/12 and CL 124/INF/19.

REPORT OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD SECURITY
(ROME, JUNE 2002)

Continue to support capacity-building in the area of international food safety standards and agricultural trade negotiations (para. 18)

FAO has continued with its activities aimed at assisting developing countries and countries in transition in strengthening their capacities in the field of food safety and quality. In this connection, it has emphasized these aspects in its field projects. It has also organized national and regional workshops and seminars on food-safety related matters, and has developed and disseminated manuals, guidelines, training materials and other tools needed to support food control programmes.

This technical assistance programme has also included policy advice, updating of food laws and regulations, strengthening of food inspection services, upgrading of food control laboratories, implementation of safety and quality assurance systems in food production, and enhancement of scientific and technical expertise, as well as of national participation in international standard-setting processes.

Preparations are ongoing for a Regional Conference in Food Safety jointly with the FAO Asia and Pacific Regional Conference. The Secretariat has begun preliminary preparations for the Second Global Forum, pending the Report of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the decision of the Hundred and Twenty-fourth Session of the Council (June 2003) on the matter.

A FAO/WHO Trust Fund was launched in February 2003, with a target 12-year budget of US$40 million to assist regulators and food experts from all areas of the world participate in international standard-setting work. The Trust Fund would also serve to enhance their capacity to develop effective food safety and quality standards in the framework of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to build national food safety systems in their own countries.

FAO has also formulated the “Umbrella II” Programme to provide immediate support to Member Nations for their multilateral negotiations and to promote capacity-building of institutions and human resources.

Have the thematic issue of the next session of the CFS be “The impact of disasters on long-term food security and poverty alleviation - policy implications”, and the topic for discussion at the next informal panel be “The impact of access to land on improving food security and alleviating poverty - a review of successful cases of land reform in selected countries” (para. 20)

The thematic issue document was prepared and discussed as an agenda item of the Twenty-ninth Session of CFS in May 2003.

The Informal Panel event was on the topic endorsed by the Council. Three external speakers participated in the event, in addition to the introductory and background presentation prepared by the Secretariat.

WORLD FOOD SUMMIT: FIVE YEARS LATER
(ROME, 10-13 JUNE 2002)

Support the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) through advocacy and promotion of partnerships at the country level, as well as by linking the Alliance with national Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) (para. 25)

A paper on initiatives undertaken by FAO and proposals for Members was considered at the recently-concluded Twenty-ninth Session of the Committee on World Food Security. The approach underlying the Anti Hunger Programme is being used in the ongoing assistance to Member Nations in developing national food security strategies.

Establishment of the Intergovernmental Working Group requested in Paragraph 10 of the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later

Establish an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) as a subsidiary body of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), with the mandate to elaborate, with the participation of stakeholders and within a period of two years, a set of voluntary guidelines to support Members in the progressive realization of the right to adequate food (para. 26)

The Intergovernmental Working Group was established and held its first meeting from 24 to 26 March 2003. A second meeting is scheduled from 22 to 24 September 2003.

Encourage donor countries to contribute to the budget of the IGWG, including in particular funds to facilitate the effective participation of developing countries (para. 27)

Action is being taken and several donors have participated positively to this request.

ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WFP

REVISION OF THE TEXT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF PESTICIDES

Implement operative paragraph of
Resolution 1/123 on Revised Version of the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides (para. 41)

The revised version of the Code with a preface by the Director-General was published in English in mid-April 2003 as ISBN 92-5-104914-9 and distributed through official channels. It was made available in the unedited version on the AGPP website as soon as it was approved. The printed version was also made available on display during COAG Session in April 2003. The Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish versions will be available in May 2003.

CONVENING OF GLOBAL AND REGIONAL MEETINGS OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATORS

Initiate the preparation of a second Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators on the understanding that a final decision on its convening will be taken at its next session in June 2003, taking also into consideration the outcome of the CAC discussion on the evaluation of Codex and the views of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) on this matter (para. 48)

The Preliminary Meeting convened by FAO and WHO with representatives of G-8 countries and of the European Community (Geneva, 12 February 2003) recommended that a second Global Forum (GF-2) be held in a developing country, tentatively during the fall of 2004, on the main theme of “Building effective food safety systems”. Several Member Nations expressed their readiness to contribute financially to the organization of GF-2.

The proposed main theme of GF-2 is consistent with the recommendations of the Twenty-fifth (Extra-ordinary) Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (February 2003) which discussed the evaluation of Codex. It is also in line with the emphasis given by FAO’s Committee on Agriculture (COAG) to the capacity-building of developing Member Nations and to the coordination of FAO and WHO actions related to food safety.

A Preparatory Meeting for GF-2 with the participation of representatives of all regions of the world and of donor countries is scheduled to be held on 8 July 2003 to discuss substantive content.

PROGRAMME, BUDGETARY, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION REPORT 2000-2001

Attempt to reach the target of 35 percent of Professional Staff being women by the end of the current biennium 2002-03, and for there to be a more balanced geographical representation (para. 50)

As at 31 December 2002 the percentage of women professionals had increased to 27 percent overall (as compared to 24 percent at 1 January 2000), with 31 percent of women professionals serving at Headquarters and 17 percent serving in the decentralized offices. A Gender Action Plan was discussed by the Human Resources Committee (HRC) in June 2003 in which several recommendations were made.

With regard to geographic representation, Vacancy Announcements are being posted on other websites visited by applicants, e.g. Monster.com. The Organization is also reaching out to applicants at professional gatherings and distributing information material to encourage applications from all geographic regions. Direct approaches are also being made along these lines to certain institutions/governments.

It is noted that the Conference decision to request the Council to review the geographic distribution methodology may impact on how results in this area are to be measured.

Have the Programme and Finance Committees consider changes to the format of the PIR to take account of the increased outcome orientation of the new programming model (para. 51)

Proposals were submitted to the Committees to seek their guidance on the format of future PIRs.

MEDIUM TERM PLAN
2004-2009

Promote further progress regarding improved quality of the Medium Term Plan 2004-2009, in particular in terms of sharper objectives and more explicit indicators under the proposed programme entities in Part II, consistent with the application of results-based budgeting principles (para. 56)

The vigorous application of results-based budgeting principles is an ongoing effort, not only in the context of successive MTP preparations, but also in the development of more detailed Programme of Work and Budget proposals currently underway for the 2004-05 biennium.

Pursue further discussion in the Programme Committee of the matter of the difficulties inherent in priority-setting in the context of international organizations such as FAO (para. 60)

A document to this effect was considered by the Programme Committee at its May 2003 session (see document CL 124/14).

Ensure adequate follow-up for the activities generated in connection with the International Year of the Mountains (IYM) through the establishment of an effective mechanism or focal point in FAO (para. 64)

The implementation of the International Year of the Mountains (IYM) was recognized to be a success. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002), the Director-General offered to host the Secretariat of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions. To follow-up on this offer, FAO has established a Unit to promote initiatives for plans and programmes developed during the IYM and to support the Partnership. It has also promoted the internal dialogue and existing cooperation endeavours on mountain issues through the Interdepartmental Working Group on Mountains and the PAIA on Integrated Eco-system Approach. Similarly, FAO has strengthened the programme on watershed management and on issues on forests and freshwater, and has continued and enhanced partnership initiatives on mountain issues.

Ensure a more equitable geographical representation and gender balance in future staff recruitment, particularly for senior positions (para. 67)

See input for paragraph 50 above.

REPORTS OF THE JOINT MEETINGS OF THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE (MAY 2002 AND SEPTEMBER 2002)

Savings and Efficiencies in Governance

Revitalize the General Debate and seek ways to increase the impact of statements delivered by Heads of Delegation (para. 70)

Action is being taken. See document CL 124/4.

Further study the option of holding simultaneously the General Debate and thematic Round Tables, while taking into account such practical factors as timing, space availability, attendance by Ministers and incremental costs, and report findings to the June 2003 Session of the Council, through the Joint Meeting of the Programme and Finance Committees in May 2003 (para. 72)

Ditto.

Other Matters Arising out of the Reports

Address aspects related to the well-functioning and cost-effective network of FAORs in the forthcoming Evaluation of Decentralization, scheduled for consideration by the Committees in May 2004 (para. 74)

It is clear that the forthcoming evaluation will have to pay due attention to the FAO network, as it is a key layer of FAO’s increased decentralized structures.

REPORTS OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH (ROME, MAY 2002) AND EIGHTY-EIGHTH (ROME, SEPTEMBER 2002) SESSIONS OF THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

Pursue the feasibility of developing preliminary information on Programme of Work proposals for submission to sessions of COAG, COFI and COFO in 2003, and review experience gained with the proposed arrangements for the next round of these sessions (para. 81)

Based on the guidance of the Programme Committee, documents containing such information were considered by the sessions of COAG, COFI and COFO in the spring of 2003.
An evaluation of this process is still underway.

REPORTS OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH (ROME, JANUARY 2002), NINETY-NINTH (ROME, MAY 2002), HUNDREDTH (ROME, SEPTEMBER 2002) AND HUNDRED AND FIRST (ROME, OCTOBER 2002) SESSIONS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Status of Contributions 2002

Urge all Member Nations to pay their contributions in full in order to enable the Organization to fulfil its mandate (para. 85)

A structured approach to follow-up on the collection of contributions has been in place for many years. This approach was recently strengthened with an improved programme of quarterly statements sent to Member Nations informing them of their obligations in respect to the timely payment of Regular Programme contributions.

With regard to current contributions, the Organization regularly issues formal “call letters” to all Member Nations. Letters in respect of 2003 were issued in December 2002 as per standing rules and practices, which included reminders of the situation of arrears, as well as, where applicable, the Working Capital Fund and the Special Reserve Account in accordance with Financial Regulation 5.4.

In addition, efforts are made on an on-going basis to follow up on the collection of the Government Cash Counterpart Contribution (GCCC) to arrears. Finally, ad-hoc reminders are sent in connection with upcoming sessions of the FAO Governing Bodies or Special Events.

Other Matters Arising out of the Reports

Progress Report on Human Resources Management Issues

Reduce the time taken to recruit Professional staff and to improve gender balance and geographical distribution (para. 90)

As of 31 December 2002, the average time taken for a professional recruitment (from the request for advertisement of the post to appointment decision) had been reduced to 207 days, as compared to 304 days on 1 January 2000.

Please refer to the input provided in paragraph 50 as regards gender balance and geographic distribution.

Functional Currency Issues and Protection of the Programme of Work and Budget against Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Protect the Programme of Work and Budget against exchange rate fluctuations and have the Finance Committee further consider the matter at its next session (para. 93)

Proposals, in particular on the important issue of introducing a split assessments arrangement in FAO, were discussed at the May 2003 session of the Finance Committee (see document CL 124/16).

FAO Audited Accounts 2000-2001

Forward Draft Resolution on FAO Audited Accounts 2000-2001 to the Thirty-second Session of the Conference in November-December 2003 for adoption (para. 95)

The draft Resolution on FAO Audited Accounts 2000-2001 will be presented to Thirty-second Session of the FAO Conference for adoption.

Eligibility for Education Grant under Staff Regulation 301.3.31

Implement a new Staff Regulation 301.3.35 reading as follows; “Eligibility for the grant under Staff regulation 301.3.31 shall continue for the balance of the scholastic year in course, not exceeding one full scholastic year, when the staff member dies during the course of school year”, and have the Staff Regulation presently numbered 301.3.35 be re-numbered 301.3.36 (para. 96)

The new Staff Regulation 301.3.35 has been implemented.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STAFF RECRUITMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION PRACTICES IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

Prepare options for a new FAO methodology to determine equitable geographic distribution in the employment of staff, in light of various methodologies used in the UN System (para. 98)

See document CL 124/15.

Address the number and type of posts to be covered by the geographic distribution system and the upper and lower limits of the desirable range, and consider the regional dimension of geographic representation, in particular for high-level posts (para. 99)

Ditto.

Seek the views of the Finance Committee prior to submission of proposals to the next session of the Council in June 2003 (para. 99)

Ditto.

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

REPORTS OF THE SEVENTY-THIRD (JUNE 2002) AND SEVENTY-FOURTH (OCTOBER 2002) SESSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

Facilitate Regional Group consultations regarding the composition of the Programme and Finance Committees, and have the Regional Groups report to the next session of the Council in June 2003 on the results of their consultations (para. 101)

The Secretariat informed the Independent Chairman of the Council that no written report was received from any regional group.

OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

Invitations to Non-Member Nations to Attend FAO Sessions

Have the Russian Federation attend as an observer the Hundred and Twenty-third Session of the Council (para. 103)

Action taken.

Applications for Membership in the Organization

Invite the Federated States of Micronesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to participate, in an observer capacity, in the Hundred and Twenty-third Session of the Council, as well as regional and technical meetings of the Organization of interest to them (para. 106)

Action taken.

The Number and Length of Terms of Office of the Director-General, Article VII.1 of the Constitution of FAO

Have the Independent Chairman of the Council together with a regional representative group of “Friends of the Chair” deal with the question of the number and length of terms of office of the Director-General (cf. Article VII.1 of the Constitution) (para. 108)

A briefing open to all Members of the Organization was held on 9 December 2002. The Group of Friends of the Chair established by the Council, at its Hundred and Twenty-third Session, held five sessions either under the Chairmanship of the Independent Chairman of the Council or under the Co-chairmanship of the Chairman of the Group of 77 and the Chairman of the OECD Group.

Have the “Friends of the Chair” consult, as necessary, with their respective groups and/or the regional organizations to which they belong (para. 108)

Ditto.

Have the Independent Chairman of the Council, or his designate, call meetings of the “Friends of the Chair”, as deemed necessary, or upon request of at least two of the Members of this group (para. 108)

Ditto.

Work out a consensus so that the Secretariat may prepare a detailed proposal before the next session of the Council in June 2003 on changing Article VII.l of the Constitution (para. 108)

Action taken. See document CL 124/13.

Submit to the Seventy-sixth Session of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM) in October 2003 the decision by the Hundred and Twenty-fourth Session of the Council in June 2003 for its consideration (para. 108)

See document CL 124/13.

Refer the matter to the Hundred and Twenty-fifth Session of the Council (26-28 November 2003) before the Thirty-second Session of the Conference in November-December 2003 (para. 108)

Action will be taken.

Present a briefing open to all Members of the Organization on the experience of term limits in UN Organizations at an early date after the Hundred and Twenty-third Session of the Council (para. 108)

Action taken on 9 December 2002.

Provide Members with interim reports from the Independent Chairman of the Council on progress achieved (para. 108)

Action taken.

Have the revision of Article VII.l of the Constitution, which could be adopted by the Conference in November-December 2003, applied from the Thirty-third Session of the Conference in 2005 (para. 108)

Action will be taken.

OTHER MATTERS

CALENDAR OF FAO GOVERNING BODIES AND OTHER MAIN SESSIONS
2003-2004

Forward the Calendar of FAO Governing Bodies and other Main Sessions for 2003-2004 to the Hundred and Twenty-fourth Session of the Council in June 2003 to approve the Calendar for 2004 (para. 115)

Action taken. See document CL 124/INF/8.

Convene the Hundred and Twenty-fourth Session of the Council from 23 to 28 June 2003, as indicated in the Calendar for 2003 reproduced in Appendix F to the Report of the Hundred and Twenty-third Session of the Council (para. 115)

Action taken. Invitations were despatched on
22 April 2003.