In the countries of Europe and Central Asia, about half of the population lives in rural territories, with those people who produce the food we eat among them. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impacts of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the Europe and Central Asia region, requires an increased attention to rural communities. Considering the complex nature of these issues, FAO has convened various actors in Budapest to discuss ideas for the development of rural communities in an integrated manner.

The regional workshop on 22–24 June promoted a more integrated and cross-sectoral approach to community development, aimed at addressing several problems in a coordinated and coherent way. In Europe and Central Asia, FAO has had more than 10 years of experience developing rural areas locally and in an integrated manner that are providing a baseline for these current discussions.