FAO and France agree to strengthen their partnership

6 February 2020, Rome - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met today with a French delegation, led by the Director for Sustainable Development in the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Philippe Lacoste, to discuss the strategic partnership between FAO and France.

The constructive dialogue built on an already fruitful partnership between FAO and France’s national authorities as well as its research institutes, which are recognised at international level.

All parties acknowledged that science is a crucial entry point for finding solutions to create sustainable food systems and achieving the 2030 Agenda, through innovation, digitalisation and new technologies.

France is interested in strengthening its cooperation with FAO, in particular in the area of biodiversity and agroecology to address the impacts of climate change. Other areas discussed for increased cooperation included: forestry, transboundary animal diseases, plant health, gender equity and nutrition.

The Director-General presented FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which aims to create "matchmaking" between donors and recipients to support tailor-made, targeted efforts to assist vulnerable people, as well as those affected by food crises, and invited France to select the countries it wishes to cooperate with.

Welcoming the important initiative, the delegation ensured the Director-General of France’s willingness to work with FAO towards its success.

The meeting concluded with a strong agreement on the need for concrete actions that lead to tangible results.