Bilateral meeting with Under-Secretary-General (USG) and High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Ms Rabab Fatima

New York – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Under-Secretary-General (USG) and High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Ms Rabab Fatima, met and discussed collaboration between FAO and the Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS), on the margins of the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) for Sustainable Development.

The USG conveyed her congratulations for the Director-General’s re-election to a second term, while expressing her gratitude for the close cooperation between UN-OHRLLS and FAO. She also congratulated the Director-General on FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, noting with appreciation the approach and the fact that the initiative has gained significant traction and buy-in from a broad range of stakeholders over the past years.

For his part, the Director-General expressed his appreciation for the coordinating role played by the USG and UN-OHRLLS, and reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs. In particular, he noted the creation of the Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs and the Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in FAO as key examples of the Organization’s work in support of these three groupings of countries.

The USG and Director-General discussed the criticality of food security in SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, noting the importance of supporting vulnerable countries to build internal dynamics that can catalyse agrifood systems transformation. The two also exchanged views on the importance of peer learning between SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, and the importance of work along the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

The USG noted various areas where FAO could provide technical support to SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, including the Doha Programme of Action, and the LDC investment support centre currently being developed. They also discussed the importance of developing targeted investment programmes, and the Director-General noted that a programme on biodiversity conservation in SIDS could be developed jointly.

The two also discussed the upcoming 4th International Conference on SIDS and the 3rd UN Conference on the LLDCs, as well as Regional Review Meetings on LDCs to be held in the coming months, and the USG requested FAO’s support to ensure agrifood systems would be high on the agenda for these meetings. The Director-General noted the successful FAO High-Level Ministerial event for SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs held on 29 June 2023 and thanked the USG for her contribution and looked forward to further collaboration in implementing the Call for Action. Finally, the Director-General also referred to the World Food Forum in October in Rome, noting its key role in supporting the SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs.