FAO and OCHA in New York: A partnership giving relief and hope to households facing crises

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have a long standing partnership and have strengthened collaboration in light of the current increase in humanitarian needs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Desert Locust upsurge.

Guangzhou QU, newly appointed Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York, had an introductory call with Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator of OCHA, and expressed his gratitude for his support and partnership with FAO. He also relayed FAO Director-General’s best wishes for the Year of the Ox 2021. USG Lowcock reciprocated his best wishes to the FAO Director-General and FAO staff.

OCHA has been committed to the fight against Desert Locusts, in particular, through the emergency support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to sustain and scale up critical control operations. CERF is the second-largest donor to FAO’s humanitarian programme. The FAO Director outlined the 2021 priorities for the Liaison Office and noted that although it is a small team, it has a great capacity. FAO looks forward to further strengthening the partnership with OCHA New York in the months ahead. 

The meeting included a very positive discussion about the close collaboration between FAO and OCHA on humanitarian issues, including the importance of their partnership and that with other agencies in face of escalating acute food insecurities and the challenges of preventing famine. USG Lowcock noted that “this partnership exemplifies a vision, shared by the Director-General and I – a vision to act early, ahead of crises in order to reduce its impact”. USG Lowcock also expressed concern and sent his best wishes for the quick recovery of the pilot involved in a crash in Ethiopia during Desert Locust control operations.  

In closing the meeting, USG Lowcock and the FAO Director noted that the characteristics of the Year of the Ox, which symbolize energy, strength and determination, are what is needed to face and tackle unprecedented challenges that lie ahead in 2021.