This brief explains the FIRST programme, an outcome of the partnership between FAO and the EU. The main purpose of the FIRST programme is to strengthen the enabling environment for food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in selected priority countries/regional organisations. FIRST will primarily focus on the provision of policy assistance and capacity development support at country level. However, support may also be given to regional organizations involved in relevant regional/continental policy processes that have concrete relevance to national FNSSA policies, i.e. because of the inter-country nature of some of the policy issues and/or because of direct involvement of the regional organization in supporting national policy processes.