Swiss cooperation with the UN Rome Based Agencies
Switzerland and FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is a specialized United Nations Agency was founded in 1945. Switzerland became member on 11 September 1946.
The two main Offices responsible for FAO matters in Switzerland are the Federal Office for Agriculture, which hosts the Swiss Secretariat for FAO, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
As a FAO member, Switzerland takes actively part in different FAO foras such as the Conference which is the supreme governing body of FAO that meets in regular session every two years. Switzerland is a member of the following Committees: Committee on World Food Security, Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Forestry and Committee on Commodity Problems, Commission on genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Switzerland's contribution to FAO amounts to more than CHF 5 million per year, or 1.1% of the organization's total regular budget, and beyond this core funding, Switzerland also supports a range of activities and projects of particular interest to the country, including emergency operations (Food Aid), the implementation of the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture adopted by the FAO Conference in 2001, the development of a Global Agenda for Action in support of Sustainable Livestock Sector Development, preparations for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the High Level Panel of Experts of the Committee on World Food Security, the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, and a joint FAO/UNEP programme on sustainable consumption and food.
Links
- Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
- Federal Office for Agriculture
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
- Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- Sustainable Livestock Sector Development
- Rio+20
- CFS High Level Panel of Experts
- Voluntary Guidelines
Switzerland and WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) was founded in 1961 as the food aid agency of the UN system by the UN General Assembly and the FAO Conference. It evolved over time as the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Due to its legal status of dual parentage it has reporting obligations to both, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and to the Council of FAO. WFP pursues a vision of the world in which every woman, man and child has access at all times to nutritious food needed for an active and healthy life.
WFP is governed by the Executive Board (EB), established by the UN and FAO and composed by 36 Members States of the United Nations or Member Nations of FAO. Switzerland is currently a member of the EB until summer 2029.
Among all UN humanitarian agencies, WFP receives the biggest share of Swiss Humanitarian Aid contributions. WFP is supported with in-kind and cash contributions as well as subject matter experts (out of the pool of Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit) as secondments.
Links
Switzerland and IFAD
Switzerland is a founder member of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). As of 2014, the Fund has 173 Member States. IFAD is a specialized United Nations Agency that was established as an international financial institution in 1977.
Since it was created in 1977, IFAD has focused exclusively on rural poverty reduction, working with poor rural populations in developing countries to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition; raise their productivity and incomes; and improve the quality of their lives. The Fund has designed and implemented projects in very different natural, socio-economic and cultural environments. Many IFAD-supported projects and programmes have been in remote areas, and have targeted some of the poorest and most deprived segments of the rural population.
IFAD provides loans to its developing member States on highly concessional, intermediate and ordinary terms for approved projects and programmes. Lending terms and conditions vary according to the borrower's per capita GNI. IFAD also provides grants to institutions and organizations in support of activities to strengthen the technical and institutional capacities linked to agricultural and rural development. Grants are limited to 10% of the combined loan and grant programme.
The Governing Council is IFAD's highest decision-making authority. Each Member State is represented in the Governing Council by Governors, Alternate Governors and any other designated advisers. Switzerland is currently a member. The Executive Board (EB) is responsible for overseeing the general operations of IFAD and for approving its programme of work. The Executive Board is consisting of 18 elected Members and 18 Alternate Members.
Links
International Fund for Agricultural Development Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Switzerland and CFS
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) was established in 1974 and reformed in 2009 as the foremost inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. Using a multi-stakeholder, inclusive approach, CFS develops and endorses policy recommendations and guidance on a wide range of food security and nutrition topics. These are developed starting from scientific and evidence-based reports produced by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) and/or through work supported technically by The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP) and representatives of the CFS Advisory Group. CFS holds an annual Plenary session every October in FAO, Rome.
As an active CFS member, Switzerland has been a member of the CFS Bureau, the executive body, since October 2011. Within this framework, Switzerland contributes to the funding of specific work streams and the HLPE. This group of experts provides the CFS with detailed analyses and recommendations regarding political measures with regard to nutrition and food security. Switzerland has led the elaboration of principles for responsible investment in the agricultural sector (Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food System, RAI). The RAI principles should promote investments in agriculture and food systems, and provides a framework for these investments to contribute to the improvement of food security, nutrition and the living conditions of local populations, while preserving the environment.
Links
https://www.fao.org/cfs/en