Creating partnerships for local development is a key part of FAO’s work. The FAO Decentralized Cooperation (DC) Programme helps to link local government institutions in developed and developing countries in a range of activities, from improving water conservation in arid rural areas to tree-planting in city centres. The programme was launched in 2002, when FAO signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mobilize the resources of local governments in Italy in the fight against hunger. Since then, 33 agreements have been signed or are under negotiation with regions and local authorities in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. The programme promotes direct region-to-region and city-to-city collaboration, with FAO acting as both a catalyst and a provider of external support and technical guidance.