United Nations in Russia
In keeping with FAO’s steadfast commitment to strengthening partnerships with other agencies and organizations across the broader UN System to increase synergies, share knowledge and expertise, and multiply impact on the ground, over the years the Liaison Office in Moscow has successfully positioned itself as a reliable partner of the Moscow offices of the other United Nations agencies.
One Health
FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of agrifood system transformation for the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. FAO works with partners in Russia to promote health systemically, in particular, through the Quadripartite collaboration, which includes FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The “Moscow cell” of One Health works with Russian partners on animal health, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food security, nutrition, and livelihoods issues, among others. Specifically, the Quadripartite organizes in Moscow annual events on the occasion of the World Food Safety Day (in June), the World Rabies Day (in September), and the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (in November). These events bring together the host country federal executive and legislative bodies, academia, and the business community, highlighting the importance of intersectoral coordination.
Ecosystems
In June 2021, the World Environment Day in Russia was marked by the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) proclaimed by the UN General Assembly. FAO and UNEP are the two lead UN agencies in the implementation of the Decade. The goal of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on all continents. This will help to end poverty, combat climate change, and prevent the mass extinction of species. The Moscow offices of FAO and UNEP have been working hand in hand to facilitate the establishment of a Russian National Committee for the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration in Russia.
Gender
FAO in Moscow takes an active part in promoting FAO’s policies regarding gender equality and rural women empowerment. The Office's gender focal point contributes to the regular meetings of the UN Theme Group on Gender in the Russian Federation.
Other international organizations
One of the key tasks of the FAO Office in Moscow is liaising, on behalf of the Organization, with the international organizations based in Russia.
Eurasian Economic Union
One such international organization is the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and its executive arm – the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). FAO and the EEC have been partnering to work on priority areas of the development of the agricultural sector of the EAEU countries. FAO’s focus has been on providing targeted measures to assist the Member States of the EAEU in addressing, among others, state support to agriculture, seed sector development, organic agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
A five-year Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FAO and the EEC in November 2013. It was extended for another five years in 2018. The Memorandum has been implemented through two Action Plans (for 2014-2018, and 2019-2023). The Office has been supporting the implementation of the activities included in the Action Plans. Presently the parties are developing a new Memorandum and Action Plan.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The Liaison Office has also been supporting the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) (signed in 2019) and its attendant Action Plan (2020-2023). The Action Plan included joint activities for the benefit of SCO Member States on food security and healthy diets, access of the population to high quality, and locally produced food, sustainable food systems, agrifood trade, digitalization, and food safety, as well as exchange of information, research data, and best practices, and joint meetings on a regular basis. In 2021, FAO Moscow Office supported a virtual independent dialogue of the SCO Member States as part of preparations for the landmark UN Food Systems Summit to discuss the transformation of national food systems.
Other international organizations and unions FAO in Moscow has been working with include BRICS, Arctic Council, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
"Agricultural diplomatic club"
The Office has also been successfully cooperating with agricultural counsellors and attaches of embassies and other diplomatic representations accredited in Russia. An informal ‘agridiplomatic club’ has been established since 2023 where FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation plays a coordinating role, regularly (co)organizing events, gatherings, and field visits dedicated to topical issues concerning Russia’s agrifood sector.