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FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York

A bridge with the UN system, on the road to transforming our agrifood systems

04/04/2022

In her first visit to the seat of the UN, FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol met UN leadership and Members in New York, raising the profile of a reinvigorated and fit-for-purpose FAO. 

Last week saw the inaugural visit to the UN in New York of Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, who presented a more innovative and forward-thinking FAO to UN leadership and Members.

While in New York, Bechdol positioned FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 and some key Flagship Initiatives, as well as the Organization’s work on the ground on sustainable and resilient development and livelihood rehabilitation in contexts of food crisis and conflict. Reinforcing the Director-General’s call for urgent agrifood systems transformation, Bechdol further engaged in discussions around UN reform, private sector financing for development, and FAO’s contributions to the UN Secretary-General’s ‘Our Common Agenda’ report. 

With all eyes on the conflict in Ukraine, the Deputy Director-General also briefed on the consequences of the war on global food and agricultural markets. As with the COVID-19 pandemic and recurrent climate hazards around the globe, Bechdol noted, this conflict shows the interconnectedness and stark fragility of our current food system architecture.

"We find ourselves at a landmark moment – recent crises and shocks have shown us the urgency behind rethinking our agrifood systems for a more secure food future for all. Private sector financing and innovation, and working as One UN, are key ingredients to scaling up efforts on achieving the SDGs during this UN Decade of Action," Bechdol said.

Bechdol concluded her week with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, discussing FAO’s work with the Rome-based Agencies and other UN entities on the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit, including through the Food Systems Coordination Hub, housed at FAO. 

On the war in Ukraine, Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed underlined the importance of FAO’s data and analysis of the war’s impact on global food prices and food security outlooks, as well as evidence-based recommendations that ensure the impartiality of the UN. Bechdol stressed not losing sight of the other food crises around the world that need urgent UN and resource partners’ attention, such as those in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, among others. 

Rethinking agrifood systems and the future of humanitarian response in food crisis contexts

Bechdol’s engagements with UN leadership and New York-based Members underscored FAO’s leading role and responsibility in providing timely and actionable analysis on global food and agriculture markets, especially on the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Bechdol drew attention to the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, which echoes the belief held by FAO and Members that there is no peace without food security and no food security and sustainable development in the absence of lasting peace.

The ongoing work of the Food Systems Coordination Hub was also central to Bechdol’s conversations with partners. Likewise, FAO’s contributions to the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, recently created by the UN Secretary-General, also featured high in discussion points.

Anticipatory action as a smarter approach to humanitarian response

From the multi-season drought in the Horn of Africa threatening the food security of millions to the escalating situation in Ukraine, Bechdol made it clear that prioritizing agriculture and livelihoods, with special focus on anticipatory action, is key to humanitarian response. This approach is evident in the focus of the Vice-Presidents of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Activities for Development (OAS) and the Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) on the Council’s work on transitioning from relief to development.

From Washington, D.C. to New York

The Deputy Director-General’s week-long visit to New York came on the heels of her time spent just prior in Washington, D.C. where, together with the FAO Liaison Office for North America, she met with strategic United States Government partners and global food security allies, both from the NGO community and the private sector.

While in New York, she also joined a congressional delegation of senior United States Senators speaking to the UN on the future of women in Afghanistan. 

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