First Working Global Conference of FAO Representatives 2023 Closing Remarks

Dear colleagues,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here with all of you to close the First Working Global Conference of FAORs 2023.

The past three days have been an intense, diverse and a unique historical gathering for the Organization.

Intense, because we have worked together on many important topics in a very pragmatic and results oriented way.

Diverse, because the exchange between headquarters and country offices has brought to the table not only priority areas for improving delivery, but also ideas and solutions for the way forward.

We heard important suggestions on how to increase administrative flexibility, enhance multi-disciplinarity and technical networks, and build on corporate initiatives as entry points for collaboration with national authorities and other partners.

This is in line with my decision to establish regional Knowledge Hubs.

And historic, because it will be remembered as the FIRST Global Conference of FAORs: we have made history together!

Impactful, because one action means much more than a dozen empty words. FAO is Member-owned, and operated by us, for a noble mission.

There have been working moments, cultural moments, field visit and a moment to celebrate together the Employee Recognition Awards and the 25 Year Medal Ceremony.

This is the core of our Organization: thinking together, learning together, working together, and contributing together, as ONE FAO family!

The complex challenges we are facing as an international community demand that we work together – this is not an option.

The three main categories of global challenges regard development, emergency, and the environment, all of which fall under our mandate as the UN Specialized Agency tasked with food and agriculture.

This is why we must ensure that our strategies, action plans, initiatives and priorities are focused and fit to deliver the services needed, in line with our mandate, to the benefit of world’s farmers and consumers.

Our coming together will also lead to concrete actions going forward: your ideas, concerns and proposed solutions have been collected, and will help develop a concrete Plan of Action to strengthen internal management, enhance systematic capacities, and improve delivery of technical knowledge for a more results oriented and effective implementation of FAO’s programs and initiatives.

Next year, the Regional Ministerial Conferences will take place, and I attach great importance to the decisions and recommendations of these important Governing Bodies because agriculture and food are related to context-specific natural resources and environment and require tailored work programmes.

This is why the discussions and decisions that will take place at the regional level are fundamental to guide FAO design appropriate and solid implementation plans.

Dear Colleagues,

I trust you will all return to your duty stations energized and confident that we will continue to work in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner, for effective governance and decision-making, and for concrete actions at the country level.

Let me repeat: you are our window people for deliverables.

Qualifications and KPIs are vital to the role you are going to undertake.

Professionalism, performance, persistence, and political sensitivity are fundamental for your success.

Thank you for working as ONE FAO and as a reliable key part of the ONE UN family.

I wish you all safe travels home to your families and a Pleasant, Peaceful and Prosperous 2024.

Thank you.