This document recalls the consultative processes that informed the preparation of the draft Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) by the FAO Secretariat. Referring to the Chairperson’s report, it recounts the progress of the two sessions of the Technical Consultation on the SSF Guidelinesheld on 20-24 May 2013 and on 3-7 February 2014 and the Chairperson’s text discussed by the Technical Consultation is submitted to the Committee for finalisation. Moreover, in response to previous recommendations by the Committee on the need to develop implementation strategies for the SSF Guidelines at various levels as well as to establish and implement a Global Assistance Programme which would support this process, the document also proposes an outline and main features of such a Global Assistance Programme.