Setting the tone

FAO’s Director-General met with senior management to exchange ideas and recommendations on the direction of the Organization

In the first-of-its-kind interactive session, the Director-General Qu Dongyu met with more than 60 senior-level colleagues in Rome, with colleagues in 35 regional and decentralised offices attending virtually.

Following on from his informal briefing with Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives earlier in the week, the meeting echoed many of the same key themes such as continued corporate transparency and efficiency for the benefit of FAO’s staff and Member States.

Opening the session, the Director-General reaffirmed his core belief that staff are the most important asset FAO has and are responsible for the organization’s successes.

The Director-General reiterated that his approach is focused on being transparent, democratic and innovative. He encouraged those present to express their views, and stressed that he will always share his thought processes and be open to feedback and criticism for the benefit of the people he was elected to serve. He added that it is only by having open, informative and candid dialogue with staff at all levels that FAO can break working silos and enhance effectiveness.

In speaking about his expectations for the working environment and culture, he flagged the importance of treating colleagues at all levels as brothers and sisters, and the need to invest in new talents for the future of the Organization. This includes the appointment of a Chief Scientist  as well as the recognition of 100 young staff by the end of the year. This, he noted, reflects his desire that FAO aligns to modern, dynamic workplace models to remain relevant and a global leader in many fields. 

When the floor was opened to colleagues both in Rome and from FAO’s global network, the audience shared their thoughts on how they could increase collaboration within the house to make sure that the Organization’s comparative advantage was leveraged and showcased amongst all stakeholders and partners.  Various participants also spoke candidly about both what is going well in the Organization and what can be improved.

The key themes that emerged included reviewing and simplifying administrative processes, promoting external and internal partnerships, focusing on building further trust with partners, and capitalizing on communication opportunities to leverage FAO in an evolving and competitive environment. Efficiency, innovation, accountability and talent recognition were also common points brought forth as part of the exchange. It was noted that by adapting to the changing world, FAO’s image will evolve and its position as a leading knowledge-based organization will be enhanced. Those present expressed their desire to focus on results, to promote excellence in the Organization and to recognise good work, especially by younger colleagues.

In concluding, the Director-General invited colleagues to work together to find innovative approaches, both at a technical level and in terms of thought processes and business models. By encouraging strong professionalism and creative thinking, a new cultural environment can emerge for FAO to better deliver high-quality services for the people and Member States it serves, ultimately contributing to what the Director General called the 4Ps: people, peace, prosperity and partnership.

View photos from the meeting here.

Visit the Director-General’s page here.