A new report highlights the growing partnership between FAO and Turkey
Rome – A new report portrays the relationship between FAO and Turkey in a detailed and striking manner. Entitled FAO+Turkey: Partnering for food security and sustainable management of natural resources, the report highlights the growing cooperation between the two partners.
FAO and Turkey have enjoyed a solid partnership since the country joined the Organization. In 2006, a host country agreement was signed between FAO and Turkey, further expanding the Organization’s presence with the creation of the Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) in Ankara, which has enhanced FAO’s ability to respond to national needs as well as regional priorities. The country has benefited from wide-ranging assistance from FAO and is also an active resource partner, providing indispensable technical and financial support to FAO activities, particularly within the subregion.
In his foreword to the report, the FAO Director-General noted that “Since becoming a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1948, Turkey has remained a steadfast and committed partner in the global fight against hunger and malnutrition. Our partnership thrived with the establishment of the FAO Country Office in 1982 and the Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) in 2007 in Ankara. Together, we have sought to find solutions to many of the most pressing problems of our time and to test new ways of delivering support to those who need it most. We are privileged to have the support of the people of Turkey as a long-term partner and friend.”
Regarding the report, Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, stated that, “this valuable report provides in-depth information on our joint efforts and ongoing and future projects implemented through cooperation between Turkey and FAO. I believe that our long-term cooperation will be further enhanced through joint activities in the upcoming period, and I hope that the readers of this report will learn more about the FAO and Turkey partnership.”
Viorel Gutu, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Turkey, stated that “the report reflects both the joint priorities between FAO and Turkey and mutual willingness to further current collaboration with a view to achieving the SDGs by 2030”. “I strongly believe that we have established a very good base on which we can further build an even stronger partnership”, added Gutu.
The report succinctly outlines the joint priorities and Turkey’s contributions to the Organization. Millions of people have benefited from the partnership across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and Africa, through different programmes and projects on themes including but not limited to poverty reduction, agricultural and rural development, nutrition, food safety, animal and plant genetic resources, and the sustainable management of natural resources.
The report showcases the ways in which the partners jointly achieve FAO’s fundamental objectives and work towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FAO provides Turkey with wide-range of assistance, while Turkey’s financial support to the Organization currently amounts to USD 75 million, making the country one of the largest non-European Union donors to FAO’s work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The report presents details of Turkey’s contributions to FAO’s areas of work with reference to the relevant SDGs and presents a timeline of significant events throughout the partnership. The report also lists Turkey-funded projects, including operational ones, that have taken place between 2000 and 2020.
The fundamental message of the report is that the active collaboration between FAO and Turkey continues to improve food security and inclusive rural development in multiple territories, and foster sustainable natural resource management, strengthen national capacities for food and agriculture, enhance global food governance and strengthen the resilience of livelihoods.
This strong partnership plays an essential role in the region and will remain operational throughout the COVID-19 recovery period and in the years to come.
A video highlighting the report can be accessed here.
About the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programmes
The objectives of the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programmes are to provide support to ensure food security, rural poverty reduction and sustainable forest management; to combat desertification; and to preserve ecosystems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and other countries of mutual interest.
Established in 2007, the first phase of the FAO Turkey Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture (FTPP) has benefited from trust fund contributions totalling USD 10 million, financed by the Government of Turkey and represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. During the first phase of the programme, 28 projects were implemented in 16 countries between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Turkey and FAO commenced the second phase of the FTPP along with the first phase of the FAO-Turkey Forestry Partnership Programme (FTFP), with additional funding of USD 20 million, bringing Turkey’s total contribution to USD 30 million.
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