Rome, Italy – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Action Aid International (AAI) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce their collaboration in supporting family farming, advancing agroecology, and strengthening small-scale food producers’ organizations worldwide. The MoU was signed virtually on July 7, 2024, by FAO Deputy-Director General Elizabeth A. Bechdol and Action Aid Director ad interim of Global Political and Program Strategy David Archer.

The signing of this MoU marks a significant step forward in the long lasting partnership between FAO and Action Aid International, who have been working together since 2015 to develop, promote, and strengthen joint projects and actions aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural populations.

The collaboration will focus on supporting family farming within the framework of the UN Decade of Family Farming, advancing agroecology as a pathway towards sustainable agrifood systems, and promoting the Scaling Up Agroecology Initiative. Additionally, the MoU will support small-scale food producers’ organizations through investments in agriculture, particularly within the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). It also aims to strengthen the role of family farmers in safeguarding and accessing natural resources, with an emphasis on securing tenure using the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGTs).

Since their initial MoU in 2015, FAO and AAI have successfully collaborated on various initiatives, particularly in the fields of agroecology and family farming. The renewed MoU builds on this foundation, aiming to further advance their shared goals and create a more sustainable and equitable global food system.

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Action Aid International is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. It focuses on issues such as women's rights, education, and emergency response, and it has a strong commitment to supporting marginalized communities in rural areas.