Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

1. In the past year, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions to advance sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensure that no one is left behind? If yes, please briefly mention these decisions taken by your governing body in 2024 and provide the respective symbols. (max 200 words)

FAO Council and Committees (2024):

In 2024, the FAO Council and Technical Committees focused on strengthening the integration of science and policy to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Council made important strides towards adopting innovative agricultural practices and climate adaptation strategies, which are based on the latest scientific evidence and are crucial for ensuring sustainable agrifood systems. One notable action was the development of guidelines to enhance climate resilience in agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers, aligning with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the SDGs under specific focus in 2024.

Climate Resilience and Agrifood Systems: The FAO Council recognized the increasing vulnerability of agrifood systems to climate change and highlighted their potential to offer solutions through innovation and scaling up investment. The Council particularly emphasized the importance of mobilizing climate finance and improving agrifood system resilience, which aligns with FAO’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and addressing food security challenges (SDGs 2 and 13)​.

Science, Technology, and Innovation: The Council welcomed the upcoming launch of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform, which will facilitate the integration of evidence-based innovations in policymaking and agrifood investments. This portal aims to promote inclusivity and diverse solutions across regions, incorporating traditional knowledge and modern technological advancements. This aligns with FAO’s broader strategy to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda.​

Water Resource Management: The 2024 Council also discussed FAO’s progress on water resources management, commending the Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management, which supports SDG 6. The Council called for stronger partnerships and increased resource mobilization to prioritize water management in the context of climate action and food security.

Additionally, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) advanced its policy recommendations on inclusive food systems to address hunger and malnutrition, which are underpinned by evidence-based interventions and targeted efforts to leave no one behind​.

CFS 2024 focused on several critical areas, including the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024 Report and various policy guidelines developed over the year. A major emphasis is on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems in response to rising urbanization, as well as advancing coordinated policy responses to global food crises. Other significant workstreams include promoting decent work in agriculture and addressing inequalities in food security with developing policy recommendations, which aims to address structural disparities that hinder access to food, particularly for vulnerable groups. The CFS highlighted the role of data and innovation in strengthening food security and nutrition systems, particularly through the Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform launched by FAO. This initiative aims to support evidence-based policymaking and agrifood system transformations​.

In 2024, the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) made critical decisions that advance science- and evidence-based solutions for sustainable development. One of the key outcomes was the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Sustainable Use and Management of Plastics in Agriculture (VCoC), which addresses the environmental impact of plastic use in agriculture. COAG endorsed the continuation of this work, aiming to align it with global agreements on plastic pollution. COAG also encouraged member countries to adopt the VCoC in their national contexts and requested FAO to offer technical assistance to support the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture.

Additionally, the Committee promoted the Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, encouraging FAO Members to implement policies and action plans that foster cross-sectoral collaboration across agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture. This initiative prioritizes inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups and small-scale producers, ensuring that no one is left behind.

COAG encouraged FAO to enhance technical and policy support for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. This approach emphasizes the equal importance of each dimension and the need for balanced, context-specific solutions. FAO was invited to conduct an in-depth study on agrifood systems interventions to identify holistic and integrated solutions that offer multiple benefits. The initiative particularly acknowledges the need to address food security and nutrition challenges in developing countries, where the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are often most severe.

FAO Regional Conferences (2024):

FAO Regional Conferences in 2024 adopted decisions that emphasized inclusive approaches to food security. These conferences focused on bridging the digital divide in rural areas, promoting innovations in agri-tech, and supporting smallholder farmers through science-based methods. They also highlighted gender equality in agriculture, with a focus on empowering women and youth.

The FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC) established four regional priorities to guide FAO’s efforts in the region during the 2024-2025 biennium: efficient, inclusive, and sustainable production; ending hunger and achieving food security; sustainable natural resource management and climate adaptation; and reducing inequalities while promoting resilience. The conference underscored the importance of strengthening national capacities to adopt new technologies, innovations, and best practices to improve agrifood systems, alongside effective and sustainable fisheries management. A major focus was on strengthening food security policies to ensure the right to food, reduce malnutrition, and expand social protection mechanisms. It also highlighted the need for innovative climate finance, adaptation, and mitigation strategies to improve the sustainability of agrifood systems. The inclusion of small-scale producers, rural women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and people of African descent was emphasized, along with enhanced access to productive resources and services. Finally, FAO was urged to continue providing technical support to identify investment opportunities, contributing to initiatives like the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the CELAC Plan for Food Security and Nutrition and Eradication of Hunger by 2030.

The FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC) emphasized the importance of climate change resilience and adaptation for enhancing food security and nutrition. The conference recommended promoting agrifood systems that reduce carbon emissions and food waste. It further emphasized the importance of the science-policy interface in addressing the challenges of food security, especially in regions that are far from meeting the SDG 2 targets.

The conference also acknowledged the unique vulnerabilities faced by Pacific Island nations, highlighting the need for improved data collection on issues such as disease transmission in livestock, forestry, and fisheries. This data scarcity underlines the importance of evidence-based decision-making and data sharing among countries.

The FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC) brought together 51 Member States, including 45 Ministers and 5 Deputy Ministers, as well as a wide range of observers and partners from the UN, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia, and research institutions. The discussions focused on the theme of “Resilient Agrifood Systems and Inclusive Rural Transformation”. Key topics included strategies to strengthen Africa’s agrifood systems to improve resilience, productivity, and inclusivity, with a particular emphasis on rural development. The conference adopted the ARC/24 Report, which aligns with FAO’s Four Betters vision and with the overall goal of leaving no one behind by promoting equitable and sustainable agrifood systems transformation across the African continent.

These actions demonstrate FAO’s continued commitment to leveraging science and evidence-based solutions to advance sustainable, inclusive, and science-based solutions for achieving the SDGs while ensuring that vulnerable populations, including smallholder farmers and marginalized communities, are not left behind.

2. During 2024, what actions have your entities taken to improve coordination among UN system entities across policy and normative activities as well as with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies with a view to increase impact and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda? Please provide any relevant links.  (max 200 words)

In 2024, FAO implemented a series of coordinated actions to enhance collaboration across the UN system, aligning policy and normative activities with ECOSOC subsidiary bodies to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda.

Coordination between the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the UN Statistical Commission: FAO led the implementation of CFS policy recommendations on strengthening the collection and use of food security and nutrition (FSN) data. This included reporting updates to the Statistical Commission and co-organizing a side event with WHO and UNICEF to foster coordination. This led to the creation of a new FSN statistical domain endorsed by the Commission.

UN-Nutrition Secretariat: FAO continued hosting the UN-Nutrition Secretariat, which fosters inter-agency collaboration on nutrition. In 2024, UN-Nutrition and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement provided guidance to UN Resident Coordinators to help combat malnutrition in all forms.

Global Network Against Food Crises: FAO, through this network, organized key side events and high-level policy discussions at ECOSOC's Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS). These efforts focused on addressing global food insecurity and famine risk by improving collective coordination.

FAST Partnership: FAO expanded the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, with the involvement of 35 Members and 8 Observers. This partnership works at the intersection of climate change, agrifood systems, and finance to tackle global challenges and align with COP29 initiatives.

UN-Energy Collaboration: FAO strengthened its participation in UN-Energy to support countries in achieving SDG 7. FAO’s efforts focus on scaling sustainable energy solutions, contributing to poverty reduction and climate resilience.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report: FAO collaborated with WFP, WHO, IFAD, and UNEP to co-produce the 2024 SOFI report, which focuses on agrifood system transformation and the affordability of healthy diets.

FAO-CITES Collaboration: In 2024, FAO partnered with the CITES Secretariat to improve fisheries management under CITES regulations. This included the launch of CITES-LEX, a tool for accessing national legislation related to CITES compliance.

Global Biosafety Legislation: FAO coordinated with UNEP and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to support Member States in fulfilling obligations under biosafety protocols. This collaboration focuses on implementing the Cartagena and Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocols.

Joint Study on Collaborative Legal Structures: FAO, UNIDROIT, and IFAD worked together to develop a study on legal structures for agricultural enterprises. This initiative provides guidance on contractual arrangements like cooperatives and multi-party contracts.

FAO-UNODC Collaboration: FAO and UNODC have been collaborating to combat crimes in the fisheries sector, including providing training on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This included launching a Legislative Guide on combatting crimes in the fisheries sector.

Ocean Governance Capacity Building: FAO partnered with the World Bank, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and other organizations to develop the Ocean Governance Capacity Building Training Program. This collaboration focuses on training in ocean law and governance.

Partnerships with AEWA and Ramsar Convention: FAO, under the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme, collaborated with AEWA and the Ramsar Convention to develop tools for assessing international obligations on wildlife conservation in African Sahel countries.

Quadripartite Collaboration on One Health: FAO supported the Quadripartite collaboration with WHO, UNEP, and WOAH on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), organizing global conferences and activities to address AMR in a coordinated way.

Global Partnerships: FAO expanded its strategic partnerships in 2024, signing MOUs with entities such as the WTO, ILO, UN-Habitat, and WMO. These partnerships align global trade policies, employment, and environmental goals with sustainable agrifood systems, promoting resilience and inclusivity.

Regional Initiatives:

• Update of the CELAC Food Security and Nutrition Plan 2030, approved by 33 Member States at the VIII Summit of Heads of State in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The plan includes innovative mechanisms for monitoring and governance, ensuring alignment with the 2030 Agenda.

• Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed by Brazil’s G20 presidency, FAO is currently acting as one of the secretariats, responsible for leading the development of assigned policy categories such asSocial Protection,  Access to basic services,  Access to productive assets, Support to Smallholder farmers,  Nutrition, Integrated programmes and Cross-cutting Instruments, promoting political commitment and resource mobilization for hunger eradication programmes.

• Post-Malabo Agenda or Kampala Declaration under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), FAO took a lead in collaboration with Rome-Based Agencies as well as other UN system entities in policy advisory and technical support for the African Union Commitment.

3. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or has been in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year? 

4. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work, guidance or reference materials, or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs. 
 

5. The United Nations has defined six key transitions, or transformative entry points, that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs and which have been guiding the UN development system work since the 2023 SDG Summit. In the past year, how has your organization contributed to these transformative actions and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale? Please provide any relevant links. (max 200 words under each transition)

FAO has also ensured a coordinated technical and internal process support to FAO Country Offices for all SDG Fund proposals across various thematic windows, including on food systems, digital transformation, social protection and SDG localization to develop joint programmes with UN partners. 

1. Agrifood systems

    

   FAO is actively working to strengthen country-level implementation of food systems transformation by integrating its expertise with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and Common Country Analysis (CCA) processes.  FAO is piloting a mechanism that scales up technical support for these processes. This mechanism leverages FAO’s extensive sectoral expertise, tools, and methodologies, including advanced geo-spatial modelling and data analytics, to provide countries with robust, tailored policy advice.

    

   Through this pilot, FAO aims to support UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) by offering in-depth system analysis that takes a macro-level view of agriculture’s potential to lift rural populations out of poverty. This includes identifying key bottlenecks, evaluating trade-offs, and proposing targeted public and private investments that will have the greatest catalytic impact. The mechanism’s analytical approach ensures that countries’ agrifood systems align with the SDGs, particularly SDG 2 and SDG 1, while promoting resilience and sustainability. By strengthening policy coherence and fostering multistakeholder engagement, this effort helps national governments create actionable roadmaps for transformation that consider economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

    

   Food Systems Thinking Guide for UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams

   FAO, along with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the UN Development Coordination Office (UN-DCO), co-led the development of the Food Systems Thinking Guide for UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (RCs and UNCTs). This guide, designed as a practical tool, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding food systems transformation as a critical component of achieving the SDGs. It emphasizes the interconnections between food systems and the other five key transitions (climate, energy, health, water, and equity), and provides concrete guidance on how to integrate food systems into national planning processes like the UNSDCF and CCA.

    

   The guide empowers RCs and UNCTs to advocate for food systems transformation in their engagements with national governments, highlighting the role of sustainable food systems in advancing multiple SDGs simultaneously. It also includes examples of best practices and case studies from different countries, demonstrating successful strategies for transforming agrifood systems in ways that ensure inclusivity and resilience. By helping RCs and UNCTs better understand the complexities and opportunities of food systems, the guide enhances the UN's capacity to drive meaningful change at the country level and supports FAO’s goal of positioning food systems as a priority in global development efforts.

    

   From the strategic perspective, FAO occupies a uniquely mandated position to lead the transformation of global food systems, aligning them with the SDGs. This role is underpinned by its technical expertise, broad partnerships, and country-specific actions to drive food systems reform, promote sustainability, and ensure resilience. FAO works across multiple sectors and regions, supporting nations to develop and implement food systems transformation pathways that are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to national contexts and challenges.

    

   FAO supports national food systems transformation pathways in 127 countries, offering technical assistance to governments in crafting strategies that align with the SDGs. These pathways focus on improving policy coherence, enhancing cross-sector collaboration, and engaging multiple stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. By disseminating best practices through UN and regional events, FAO helps scale successful models of agrifood system reform across different national contexts, as seen in examples from Vietnam, Costa Rica, and Zambia.

    

   FAO's Agrifood Systems Pathways to Healthy Diets initiative further underscores its commitment to promoting nutrition-sensitive food systems. This approach enhances access to nutritious foods while addressing environmental challenges and vulnerabilities within food systems. By prioritizing targeted investments, evidence-based approaches, and capacity development, FAO helps countries make informed decisions on policies that impact food production, distribution, and consumption.

    

   Another example of FAO's leadership is Atoms4Food, an initiative launched with the IAEA to leverage nuclear technologies alongside advanced agricultural techniques. This project helps countries improve food security, enhance natural resource management, and increase agricultural productivity, particularly in the face of climate change. Atoms4Food, building on nearly 60 years of FAO-IAEA collaboration, offers groundbreaking solutions to reduce food losses, ensure food safety, and boost nutrition. This collaboration demonstrates FAO's capacity to integrate high-tech solutions in addressing complex food system challenges.

    

2. Energy access and affordability

    

   In 2024, FAO has supported energy access and affordability within agrifood systems by promoting energy-smart solutions that address both food security and climate goals. FAO's efforts are centered on transforming how food is produced, processed, and consumed through three main avenues:
   
    

• Boosting renewable energy investments in agrifood systems: FAO advocates for a substantial increase in renewable energy, highlighting its role in achieving food security and climate resilience. This includes prioritizing energy access, particularly electricity and clean cooking, in national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to mobilize resources effectively.
  
   

• Improving productivity and reducing food loss: FAO supports farmers by introducing renewable energy technologies, such as bioenergy and sustainable cold chains, that enhance productivity while minimizing food loss and waste. These innovations also improve post-harvest practices, contributing to food system sustainability.
  
   

• Promoting a just energy transition: FAO emphasizes the role of renewable energy in creating jobs, fostering gender equality, supporting rural development, and reducing hunger and poverty. This transition is essential for adapting agrifood systems to climate change and achieving SDG7 (affordable and clean energy).

   

  These initiatives are positioning FAO as a leader in integrating energy solutions within global agrifood systems transformation efforts.

   

3. Digital connectivity

    

4. Education

   
   FAO, in partnership with UNESCO and UNITAR, launched the Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) project. This initiative provides tailored climate education materials, capacity-building support, and strengthens non-formal education systems to empower countries in meeting their climate goals.

    

5. Jobs and social protection

   
   FAO has intensified its collaborations with diverse partners to extend social protection for rural populations. In 2023, the Organization became a member of the Technical Support Facility of the Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. In 2024, among the 17 pathfinder countries, at least 6 prioritized the agrifood sector. FAO will implement social protection and employment interventions in Namibia and Malawi through the SDG fund of the Global Accelerator.

    

6. Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution

    

   The central area of FAO’s work is addressing the nexus of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, driving initiatives that align with global goals such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

    

   FAO's Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031 outlines a comprehensive vision for making agrifood systems integral to solving the climate crisis. Through its action plan, FAO mobilizes technical and financial resources to help member countries meet their climate targets. The strategy emphasizes partnerships, including local communities and farmers, to foster efficient, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems. This approach was particularly reflected in FAO’s role in the Climate Action and Nutrition Initiative launched at COP27, which promotes multisectoral collaboration to address climate impacts on food systems while ensuring healthy diets.

    

   In the area of biodiversity, FAO supports sustainable agriculture through the Action Plan for Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors 2024-2027. This initiative operationalizes FAO’s biodiversity strategy, highlighting the vital connection between biodiversity, food systems, and ecosystem health. Moreover, FAO leads the CBD Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition, which underscores the interdependence between biodiversity conservation and food security, further aligning agricultural practices with global biodiversity objectives.

    

   Addressing pollution, FAO has focused on reducing the use of harmful agrochemicals and plastics in agriculture. FAO is developing the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Sustainable Use and Management of Plastics in Agriculture (VCoC), which provides comprehensive guidelines for sustainable plastics management in agrifood systems. FAO also actively engages in global dialogues, including the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on a legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution. Furthermore, FAO’s work on microplastics in food and the reduction of abandoned fishing gear reflects its commitment to preventing pollution in marine environments and supporting food safety initiatives.

6. Please provide strategies (policies, guidance, plan) and/or collective actions taken to implement the 2024 Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council and the high-level political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Council. Please note any challenges foreseen and provide any relevant links.  (max 200 words) 

The 2024 HLPF Declaration reiterates that eradicating poverty is the “greatest global challenge” and an “indispensable requirement” for sustainable development. There is a significant focus on ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition through sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems. FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31, “Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life”, supports these objectives by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and improving food security. FAO’s work on eradicating hunger and enhancing global agrifood systems ties directly to the declaration’s commitment to addressing malnutrition and promoting resilient agrifood systems.

FAO has long advocated for transforming agrifood systems to be more sustainable and inclusive. Its focus on family farming, reducing food loss, and increasing agricultural efficiency directly contributes to the HLPF’s call for more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems; the need to boost agricultural productivity, resilience, and rural development, particularly for smallholder and family farmers; and reducing food loss and waste and promoting agricultural technology. 

There is an urgent call for enhanced climate action, particularly for the agriculture sector, which is both vulnerable to and a contributor to climate change. The HLPF declaration stresses the need for resilient ecosystems, sustainable use of biodiversity, and addressing land degradation and desertification, and FAO’s emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, protecting biodiversity, and promoting ecosystem resilience, and its work on climate-smart agriculture, its role in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and its initiatives for land restoration align with the declaration's environmental priorities.

FAO has increasingly promoted the digitalization of agriculture to enhance productivity, resilience, and inclusiveness as a direct response to HLPF declaration highlighting the critical role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving the SDGs, and its calling for the reduction of technology divides and leveraging digital transformation for food systems. FAO Digital Villages Initiative and partnerships to increase digital capacity in agriculture support the declaration’s push for innovation and technology-driven solutions in food systems.

FAO’s commitment to promoting inclusive rural development, supporting vulnerable groups, and integrating gender equality into its programmes aligns with the HLPF’s emphasis on inclusivity. FAO focuses on improving livelihoods for rural communities through initiatives like its rural employment programmes and gender-sensitive approaches to agricultural development.

The Right to Food Guidelines (RTFG) are a key policy instrument to advance the 2024 Ministerial Declaration. Over the past two decades, the Right to Food Guidelines have significantly influenced national and international frameworks. Coinciding with its 20th anniversary of their endorsement by the FAO Council and the CFS, in 2024 the RTFG will be re-edited to renew efforts towards the realization of the right to food.

7. What collective efforts is your entity undertaking to support countries in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of Goal 3 (Good health and well-being), Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 8 (Decent work and economic growth), Goal 14 (Life below water) and Goal 17 (Partnerships), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2025? Please note any achievements, challenges and gaps and provide any relevant links. (max 200 words) 

SDG 3: FAO works to improve global health by promoting food safety, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and access to healthy diets. Through initiatives like the Agrifood Systems Pathways to Healthy Diets, FAO integrates nutrition into food systems to combat malnutrition and food-borne diseases, enhancing overall public health. Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food is crucial for achieving SDG 3 by reducing the burden of malnutrition and food-related health issues. FAO also focuses on food safety, which is crucial for preventing food-borne diseases and ensuring public health. In Niger, FAO’s Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) supports projects such as the project called Gestion intégrée de la doumeraie du bassin versant du Goulbi N'kaba, which improve access to clean water and better nutrition, contributing to improved health outcomes.

SDG 5: FAO is committed to addressing gender disparities in agriculture. It promotes gender equality by improving women’s access to resources like land and technology and enhancing their participation in decision-making processes. FAO has developed tools like the Gender and Land Rights Database to help countries monitor progress toward gender equality in agriculture. FAO’s mainstreaming guide on gender equality in agrifood systems further advances this goal by promoting the adoption of sectoral legislation that improves women's access to land, resources, and decision-making processes. This guide, expected to be published in 2025, is part of FAO’s broader commitment to gender equality, ensuring that women’s contributions to agrifood systems are fully recognized and supported. In Burkina Faso, FLRM initiatives empower women by offering training in sustainable land management. FAO also supports national gender policies to advance gender equality in land access.

SDG 8: FAO supports economic development in rural areas by fostering decent work and inclusive growth through sustainable agrifood systems. This includes promoting fair labor practices, enhancing smallholder farmers’ productivity, and strengthening agribusinesses. FAO also works to reduce child labor in agriculture and improve working conditions across the food and agriculture sectors. FAO’s Restoration Initiative (TRI) in Morocco has generated employment opportunities while enhancing local food security, aligning with decent work and economic growth.

SDG 14: FAO plays a key role in promoting sustainable fisheries and marine conservation. Initiatives like the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) help countries manage marine resources responsibly, prevent overfishing, and protect biodiversity. FAO’s efforts to reduce marine pollution, such as the GloLitter Initiative, align with global efforts to conserve ocean ecosystems.  FAO has developed tools like the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) Legal Diagnostic Tool, helping countries reform fisheries legislation to better manage marine ecosystems and protect biodiversity. These efforts contribute to the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, improve the livelihoods of coastal communities, and strengthen food security. In the Philippines, FAO’s coastal restoration efforts improve water quality and benefit fishing communities, supporting sustainable livelihoods. Collaboration with CITES helps combat illegal fishing, ensuring marine conservation.

SDG 17: Partnerships are central to FAO’s strategy for achieving the SDGs. Through initiatives like the Mountain Partnership and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, FAO works with governments, international organizations, and the private sector to align global efforts, mobilize resources, and drive collective action toward sustainable agrifood systems. FAO’s leadership in coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly in agrifood systems and environmental restoration, underscores its critical role in leveraging resources and expertise to drive progress across the SDGs. FAO’s efforts help countries access the knowledge, funding, and support needed to scale up transformational actions that address global challenges like climate change, poverty, and hunger. FAO has built strong partnerships in Kenya, where collaborations with local governments and NGOs have led to successful restoration projects, aligning environmental goals with community needs. FAO’s role in the Global Network Against Food Crises also enhances global coordination on food security.

If your organization has been part of any initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships in the past year that support these goals, please provide further details of each initiative/partnership.