FAO, IFAD and WFP directors reaffirm commitment to RBA collaboration for South-South and triangular cooperation

6 August 2019

ROME, ITALY – The directors responsible for South-South and triangular cooperation (SSTC) at the three United Nations Rome-Based Agencies (RBAs) met at FAO headquarters to discuss collaborative strategies to leverage SSTC for sustainable development. The directors, Shengyao Tang (FAO), Ron Hartman (IFAD), Wei Wang (IFAD), and David Kaatrud (WFP), as well as Assistant Director-General Roberto Ridolfi (FAO), each expressed their deep commitment to RBA collaboration, both at headquarters and at the field level. They agreed to explore opportunities for collaborative projects in the field, with the goal of improving food security and sustainable livelihoods for millions of people.

Following up on the RBA Joint Roadmap for collaboration on SSTC, the directors discussed an action plan to increase substantive collaboration between the agencies, including opportunities for joint field projects that address the interlinked Sustainable Development Goals. In July 2019, FAO and WFP conducted a joint scoping mission to Sri Lanka for a pilot field project. This mission explored modalities and working mechanisms for RBA collaboration to support smallholder farmers increase their resilience to the devastating effects of climate change, providing a strong foundation for future collaboration in other countries and regions. The directors identified several other potential countries for joint field projects, highlighting the need to implement projects that lead to sustainable results for local stakeholders, particularly smallholder farmers.

The RBA directors emphasized that collaborations which combine the agencies’ strengths and comparative advantages have the potential to improve the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations. As Assistant Director-General Ridolfi stated during the meeting, “RBA collaboration must flourish – we all must work together to make this collaboration a reality.” On 6 September 2019, leaders from the RBAs will meet again at WFP headquarters, to mark the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation and to advance SSTC action plans to realize the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Pictured (left to right): Shengyao Tang (FAO), Ron Hartman (IFAD), Roberto Ridolfi (FAO), David Kaatrud (WFP), Wei Wang (IFAD)