FAO’s new internet homepage marks the first step in the agency’s digital transformation
27 November 2019, Rome – FAO is launching on 1 December a new homepage for its internet site, a move that is in line with Director-General Qu Dongyu’s pledge to ensure that the Organization embraces information and communication technologies to promote transparency, improve operational effectiveness, support digital governance and better serve Members, farmers, agriculture and rural areas.
The Director-General reviewed the new homepage today and stressed that the launch, which will take place a day before of the 163rd Session of the FAO Council (2 – 6 December), is an important milestone to connect with a digital FAO.
The fruit of considerable effort by FAO staff and different departments, the process to develop the new homepage included open consultation with FAO employees and Members throughout the analysis, assessment and redesign activities.
Qu has requested an improvement and a revamp of the entire FAO website’s functionality, content, look and feel, as well as enabling it to serve as platform to support and include Members, other UN organizations, partners, and farmers, particularly smallholders. As such, the new homepage is just the beginning of a broader digital transformation of FAO.
Featuring an improved and powerful search function, the new homepage provides better access to the technical knowledge of the Organization. Moreover, an enriched menu will display the latest stories, news and project websites, as well as showcase broad content on FAO’s work.
The new homepage also serves to provide improved access to data, country information and to engage with external audiences better. For this specific purpose, the menu has a new "Get involved" section that provides visitors with a series of options – apply for jobs, partner with FAO, invest in agriculture or simply visit FAO or ask questions.
With regards to the Member country information, the new homepage will first feature Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems-related information, but it is envisioned that in the longer term the homepage will host information provided by the FAO Members directly, once the appropriate framework is in place.