FAO 2018-2021

This CoP primarily concerns events up to and including 2022, but all narrative reports regarding 2022 has not been fully included. The cooperation is coming close to its termination and with extensions the activity period will end after 2023. Or with the present situation with the empowerment framework, shorter extensions into 2024. Regarding the various components included in the contribution, the following applies: Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FMM/FVC): In 2021 the activity period for this FMM cooperation was extended until the end of 2023, to be able to give the ongoing projects time to conclude its activities in a good way. A new phase of the FVC will be implemented during the years 2022-25, with a Swedish support of 173 mn SEK. The identified dialog and follow-up issues are still relevant, and also the identified risks. The dialog will as previously mainly take place during the biannual multi-donor consultations, and informal bilateral consultations as needed. Evaluation of the Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) An Evaluation of the Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) was concluded in September 2021, and it was assessed to be of adequate quality and is complete in terms of answering the questions detailed in the Terms of Reference (ToR). The evaluation is well-structured and easy to follow and understand. A full range of stakeholders (resource partners, the FMM coordination unit, the PSR division, FAO headquarter, staff in selected country officers, government partners and beneficiary organizations) were consulted during the evaluation process. However, Sida notes that the evaluation does not provide a specified criteria for how these stakeholders were identified and selected. The evaluations purpose, intended use and users are clearly stated. A comprehensive description of the FMM background, governance structure, portfolio and ToC is provided. However, the evaluation could do more to assess the assumptions underlying the ToC and the various factors that may affect the success of FMM. FMM has provided a comprehensive management response in which they agree or partially agree with all recommendations set out in the evaluation. FMM also provided a response plan which outlines the follow-up actions, action lead, and action timeline for each of the recommendations. Examples from Sidas follow-up plan: Recommendation 1: Review and Update FMMs ToC (Agreed); Sida will follow the process of reviewing and aligning the FMM ToC to the new strategic framework. Particular attention will be paid to the elaboration of the Action Pathway of the ToC, to see how it informs the choices of priority programme areas and more clearly illustrates the programmes contributions to the SDGs. Recommendation 2: Develop a dedicated mobilization strategy for FMM (Partially agreed); In dialogue with FMM, Sida will follow the development of the new FAO corporate resource mobilization strategy and its implications or FMM. Recommendation 6: Improve the effectiveness of the FMM resource allocation process (Partially agreed); Sida will follow FMMs work to formalize, update and define their resource allocation criteria. Sida will also follow-up on the establishment of a transparent process or identifying fundable priorities, and FMMs work to delegate the identification of priorities to regions and relevant technical units. Recommendation 7: Introduce a mechanism for quality assurance for reporting (Agreed); Sida will provide FMM with suggestions for improvements of the future FMM reports and follow-up on FMMs integration of lead-implementing units inputs in the annual reports. Recommendation 8: Thematic evaluation (Agreed); In dialogue with FMM, Sida will follow-up on the impacts assessments to be carried out, with particular attention to how the findings of these assessments are included in the next annual report. Result presented from the FVC Subprogramme 5.6. Building the resilience of the most vulnerable smallholder farmers for a transformative recovery from COVID-19 in Mali, Myanmar and Guatemala: Seven hundred vulnerable households from 54 villages in the communes of Bafoulabé and Mahina (Kayes region) in Malis have received agricultural inputs (seeds and equipment) for market gardening, small ruminant rearing and veterinary kits for fattening activities. This includes: 7 tonnes of potato seeds, 3.5 kilograms of cabbage seeds, 3.5 kilograms of tomato seeds, 3.5 kilograms of onion seeds, 700 plastic watering cans, 700 hoes, 815 goats and veterinary kits (comprising 1 000 albedanzole tablets, 30 50mL vials of antibiotics (tenaline), 40 50mL vials of anti-stress vitamins, 1 000 vaccine doses for sheep and goat pasteurellosis (pastovin) and 20 vials of deworming medication (ivermectin). Some challenges remain to be overcome, among which is the need to increase the mastery of potato cultivation, as well as various gardening practices, including traditional parcelling, drainage and cultivation techniques. Other work needs to address the protection and fencing of market gardening areas from wandering animals. Beneficiaries reach to other communities in difficult situations also needs to be expanded. FAO and the Malian Association for the Protection of the Environment, Stop Sahel, following a participatory approach that involved administrative authorities and municipalities, have contributed to protecting the livelihoods s of the most vulnerable farmers and herders, with particular attention given to women, young people and people with disabilities. This work is claimed to be innovative and has contributed to the empowerment of rural women through support for groups and associations. It has enabled the revival of market gardening activities, which has had a positive impact on the food security and nutrition of children aged 0 to 5. It has promoted the social inclusion of beneficiaries with disabilities. It has also contributed to strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable population in the Kayes region by supporting the recovery of their income-generating activities, which were impacted by COVID-19 and the related mitigation measures. The activity primarily supports economic actors who have a direct impact on the economic empowerment of the target groups and increases their opportunity to contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic development [MÅL/AKT], and supports the stretegy objective Improved conditions for food security, sustainable food systems, increased productivity and sustainability in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and strengthened ownership and tenure rights to land and natural resources. Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF): The latest progress report reviews the progress between April 2021 and April 2022. The Project has been extended with a no cost extension until end of 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying much of the deliverables at country level. Publications have proceeded as planned and events, training and awareness raising was facilitated through on-line tools and have proven to be cost-effective. On the other hand it has challenged the work in engagement by stakeholders. The ten target countries are continuing to roll out activities as agreed. Myanmar has been the most challenging country due to the political situation and the UN-non-engagement policy causing for the national coordinator to limit activities to solely the capacity building of SSF organisations and monitoring of the situation. The 4 main project outcomes have varied success: Output 1. Raising awareness: has disseminated the SSF guidelines at international events and mobilised outreach through collaboration, for ex with the research network Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) in the webinar series Small-scale fisheries open house at International Ocean Day and collaborating with various actors to raise awareness. Particularly interesting to have joint forces with NGO Beyond the Surface International, through a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach for educators to engage youth (between ages 10 and 18) from small-scale fishing villages and communities to explore the SSF Guidelines. Translating the material has also been key for disseminating the project information to broader audiences. Much of the work has focused on the preparations for International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). Output 2.1. Strengthening the science-policy interface: The study Illuminating Hidden Harvests is on track for publication along with follow up work to make the analytical methodology available to develop capacity to produce regional and national analysis. The report has now been launched on March 16th 2023, and can be found here; https://www.fao.org/voluntary-guidelines-small-scale-fisheries/ihh/en/ . Output 2.3: Support to national level implementation has had varied outcomes in the 10 chosen countries. Yet the Results Tracking scores full achievement in target percentage as the set objective is to secure SSF in national policy in three national processes, which has been achieved. SSF Guidelines are referred to in national policy processes for both marine and inland small-scale fisheries in two countries (Costa Rica, India). Legal reviews have been carried out or are ongoing in three countries, but legal amendments have not yet been enacted. Major success is in Costa Rica where Parliament in discussion of a proposal for a new Executive Decree on the establishment of Responsible Marine Fishing Areas in indigenous territories. In Madagascar a small-scale fisheries national platform is being established along with the development of a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF). Only one of the country examples highlight the gender perspective, where a gender value-chain-related to SSF was conducted from a gender lense in Cabo Verde. Output 2.4 aims to secure three regional organisations to actively support SSF Guidelines implementation. This has been achieved to 70% thus far however not much activity has been reported in the Results Tracking for 2021. (Have sent questions on this to FAO along with gender reference for Africa) Output 3. Empowering stakeholders. Positive that the project is developing an SSF-centered participatory methodology for monitoring the implementation of the SSF Guidelines and translation of an IPC Handbook on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into French and Spanish, to be disseminated among social movements and other actors as a basis for discussion and influence on new international biodiversity targets. In addition, a video will be produced on SSF people are; Capacity building continues with collaboration of local/regional stakeholders, for ex International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) supports SSF organizations and processes in Brazil, Ghana, India and Nigeria to create awareness and strengthening the capacity of small-scale fisheries organizations to implement the SSF Guidelines. On concrete example on a result from the program is that the Fédération des Pêcheurs Artisans de LOcean Indien (FPAOI) has supported the participation of women in various activities to improve the gender dimension in the context of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. Moreover, the IYAFA 2022 celebration in the region has been an occasion to increase the visibility of fishing communities and to achieve the political engagement of fisheries ministers and high officers for a regional meeting of the five countries of the Indian Ocean Commission to discuss about fisheries policy development in the region. Fishers responded positively in the workshops organised and came forward with practical means to conduct sustainable and responsible fisheries so as to ensure a better livelihood and not jeopardising the sources and the ecosystem. (Ref SSF). The activity work in "multi-country" approach, and supports national institutions and actors [NAT/INST] so that they contribute to sustainable inclusive economic development that benefits the strategy's target groups. The strategy also supports economic actors that have a direct impact on the economic empowerment of the target groups and increases their opportunity to contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic development [MÅL/AKT]. The result responds well to "Strengthened protection and restoration, as well as sustainable management and sustainable use of land-based ecosystems, biodiversity and species, natural resources, including agriculture and forestry, and ecosystem services." as well as "Strengthened protection and restoration, as well as sustainable management and sustainable use of marine, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, natural resources, and ecosystem services." in the Strategy for Sweden's global development cooperation in environment, climate and biological diversity Output 4: Supporting implementation: Output 4.2 project has managed to achieve 50% of progress for the number of countries to publicly report and monitor on SSF Guidelines according to agreed indicators. In collaboration with WorldFish and ICARDA, FAO is developing a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. Will be important for Sida to follow up on this development in the 10 pilot countries. FAOs Integrated Country Approach for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system (ICA): The narrative report 2021, as well as the Mid Term Review, show satisfactory progress in relation to the programmes outcomes, which is that all targeted countries have a policy or strategy in place, at least partially funded and implemented, which promotes the engagement of youth in agri-food system development as well as corresponding youth- inclusive programmatic coordination mechanisms in place. Three ICA countries have fully embedded youth related priorities in their institutional mechanism and/or defined programmatic responses to youth agripreneurship development, and national or local youth organisations are systematically engaged in dialogue or local governance mechanisms. The programme also made efforts to feed into the global debate on youth engagement and employment in agrifood systems, and partnerships has been strengthened with for example the ILO-led global initiative Decent Jobs for Youth where FAO co-leads the thematic area of Youth in Rural Economies. In terms of measuring the programmes ultimate objective to reduce rural poverty and the negative drivers of migration for rural young women and men by reducing unemployment and underemployment the MTR e-survey reflect a positive perceived effect when it comes to job creation and decent work promotion for youth (95 % of respondent agreed or somewhat agreed) and young women and vulnerable groups (93 % of respondent agreed or somewhat agreed). It would, however, be relevant for the programme to monitor this through other methods as well. In dialogue with the ICA programme team, this was raised and FAO mentioned that the final evaluation will further follow up on the beneficiaries appreciation of the project but also make a more detailed assessment of the effects for the youth benefitting from the pilot support in some of the ICA countries. The ICA team is also applying for additional funds from USAID for assessing impact of a certain initiative within the programme in Uganda. Sida should pay specific attention to how the programme measures actual results related to job creation and improved working conditions for the target group. There is also a need to follow-up on aspects related to inclusivity and poverty relevance when it comes to beneficiaries reached by the programme. The MTR states that the pilots conducted mainly targets active rural entrepreneurs or youth that can access digital platforms which implies youth that are better off, and the COVID 19-pandemic also limited the outreach to more vulnerable and less connected beneficiaries. The MTR also points to the need to strengthen the inclusive nature of the approach to fully address the heterogeneity of youth groups, especially youth with disabilities and young women, as well as take measures to better understand the underlying barriers to employment and entrepreneurship for vulnerable and marginalised groups. The latter can be linked to the core principles of the Market Systems Development approach which is Sida preferred approach for employment and market development. A separate meeting is planned for further exchange about FAOs market approach and the MSD approach. Sida has informed FAO that we are also supporting the ILOs Systems Change Initiative which is focused on supporting implementation of the MSD approach within and beyond the ILO, as the FAO and ILO are collaborating in parts of the ICA programme. In general, Sida encourages the FAO-ILO collaboration taking place in this programme. In addition to the above mentioned global partnership there is a collaboration with the ILO on business formalization in the Africa region. In 2022, ICA continued to invest in the prioritized subtopics of youth access to finance and digital engagement, with interesting results and lessons learned disseminated. In terms of digital engagement, ICA continued facilitating two digital platforms, Chisparural.GT in Guatemala (upgraded version launched in 2021) and the African Youth Agripreneurs (AYA) platform (launched in August 2021 in partnership with the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation). Both platforms aim to increase access to information, training, and marketing opportunities by the rural youth, as well as to foster peer learning and networking. They were built on assessments of the communication ecosystem of rural youth as prospective users of digital solutions (e.g. Digital readiness of young agripreneurs in East Africa; and the Identikit of the East African youth agripreneur in the digital space). As of December 2022, AYA counted 3 183 members (up from 600 in December 2021). Although it started as an online platform, by 2022 it has evolved into a hybrid model in which youth participate in both physical and virtual activities and experiences, with the goal of making participation as simple as possible. Emphasis was put in developing new content and expanding the AYA membership through partnerships and the own engagement of AYA youth members as content developers, such as through the AYA Ambassador Programme. Also for Chisparural in Guatemala, a hybrid model was promoted, linking digital and face to face activities, including trainings and market fairs. By December 2022, the page had 18 729 million views (from 7 640 in 2021), 365 registered and profiled users on the platform, and 1 630 followers on Facebook (from 1 200 in 2021). Emphasis was put in consolidating the user base and expanding the service offer, profiling youth-led rural businesses and providing them with additional opportunities for visibility in partnership with key actors in the local ecosystem (e.g. La Vitrina, with 65 agribusinesses featured or ChispaLab, with six new online trainings). The activity primarily supports economic actors that have a direct impact on the economic empowerment of the target groups and increases their opportunity to contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic development [MÅL/AKT]. The result responds well to the strategy objective Improved conditions for food security, sustainable food systems, increased productivity and sustainability in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and strengthened ownership and tenure rights to land and natural resources. Committee on World Food Security, Voluntary guidelines on gender equality and womens and girls empowerment in the context of food security and nutrition (CFS VG Gender): In 2021 the FAO Global cooperation was amended with a contribution to the Committee on World Food Security through FAO to the process producing the Voluntary guidelines on gender equality and womens and girls empowerment in the context of food security and nutrition. After delayed negotiations CFS managed to finally agree on a text on 14 June 2023. The agreed VG can be found here: https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/cfs/Docs2223/Gender/Guidelines_Final_Agreed_Version_June_2023_CLEAN/GEWGE_Guidelines_Final_Agreed_Version_June_2023_CLEAN.pdf Referenser: SSF: GCP/GLO/965/SWE Progress Report - April 2021 to April 2022 SFF; Ärendedokument: 012894/22; page 13, and other SSF GCP/GLO/965/SWE Annual Report - April 2022 to April 2023, Ärendedokument 18/000332-164 GCP INT 335 MUL ANNUAL REPORT 2022 ICA ungdomssysselsättning, Ärendedokument 010862/23 FFV: FMM Annual Progress Report 2021; Ärendedokument: 021913/22 Flexible Voluntary Contribution 2022 Annual Report, Ärendedokument 22/000265-20 CFS VG Gender Ärendedokument 18/000332-169

FAO Strategic framework The contribution will support FAO, in implementing its Medium Term Plan 2018-21 and Programme of Work and Budget 2018-19 (C 2017/3). The strategic objectives of FAO are: Strategic Objective 1: FAO’s contribution to the sustainable eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition gives stronger attention to country capacity for effective implementation of policies, strategies and investment programmes. All forms of malnutrition are addressed, including undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and problems of overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. The SO-level indicators comprise five indicators of SDGs 2 and 3 to track progress on reducing food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms, with one more SDG 2 indicator adopted at Outcome level, to monitor progress on level of government financing. Strategic Objective 2: FAO will focus on building a stronger dialogue and integration within and across sectors and stakeholders to sustainably increase production and productivity, address climate change, biodiversity and environmental degradation in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the context of nutrition and gender-sensitive food systems. Support to enhance countries’ capacities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and to develop or implement national adaptation plan for Nationally Determined Contributions is very prominent. The SO-level indicators comprise 12 indicators of SDGs 2, 6, 14 and 15 to track progress in sustainable productivity, environment degradation and climate change adaptation by sector, and genetic resources conservation. Four additional SDG indicators (SDGs 13, 14 and 15) are included at Outcome level to monitor progress on climate change adaptation and mitigation, implementation of international instruments for fisheries, and level of financing for sustainable use of ecosystems. Strategic Objective 3: FAO’s contribution to reducing rural poverty will focus on support to broad, multi-sectoral pro-poor policies and strategies at country and regional level that target the diverse spectrum of livelihoods. This requires broadening FAO’s engagement beyond traditional partners in Ministries of Agriculture, as well as efforts to embed FAO’s technical work within the processes of rural poverty reduction policies at country level. The SO-level indicators comprise nine indicators of SDGs 1, 2, 8, and 10 and the Outcome-level indicators include seven SDG indicators (SDGs 1, 5, 8 and 14) to measure poverty and access to productive resources, income and decent employment, and gender equality. Strategic Objective 4: In contributing to the development of agricultural and food systems, FAO supports countries in increasing their inclusiveness of small-scale actors and more vulnerable groups, while at the same time continuing to take advantage of opportunities for efficiency gains. Focus will be on enhancing countries’ capacities to participate in the formulation of international standards and trade agreements, to design and implement supportive policies and regulations, and in the development of value chain. The SO-level indicators comprise four indicators of SDGs 2, 12 and 17, and Outcomes include seven SDG indicators (SDGs 2, 8, 9, 10 and 14), on financing and investments, loans or credit, exports subsidies, tariff lines applied to imports from developing countries and implementation of international instruments on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Strategic Objective 5: To reflect the recent global political commitments, FAO’s contribution to increasing the resilience of agricultural livelihoods and responding to threats and crises gives focus to climate change and induced extreme weather events, risks to ecosystem health, food chain threats and One Health, and damage and losses, conflict prevention, peace and stability and displacements. SO-level indicators comprise nine indicators of SDGs 1, 2, 11, 13, 15 and 16, and Outcome indicators include five indicators of SDGs 1, 5, and 13. Sida Supported Subcomponents As stated the contribution will have four components: Flexible multi-partner mechanism (FMM), Small-scale fisheries (SSF), Boosting decent jobs for youth, and International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) All the cooperation areas are priorities of the organisation and well integrated in the results framework. All FAO activities at HQ or in the field, funded with voluntary or assessed contributions are classified supporting specific FAO strategic objectives and sub-objectives. - Flexible multi-partner mechanism (FMM), previously called FAO Multipartner Programme Support Mechanism (FMM); The most flexible, least earmarked FAO voluntary funding window where so far Netherlands, Belgium, Flanders and Switzerland have done contributions. This is the third generation of FMM and the previous phases have been duly evaluated, and the present FMM is much improved. The purpose, scope and general principles underlying the FMM are now: a) support to the realization of FAO’s Programme of Work, alignment with the Organization’s priorities and focus on results; b) flexible funding; c) contribution to corporate reporting; d) promotion of capacity development, e) policy advice and partnership; f) support to country level activities fully aligned with UNDAF and/or CPF; and g) fostering catalytic effect, innovation and transformative impact. The programmes and sub programmes given priority were identified through the business development process, giving consideration to resource partners’ indicative priorities, and priorities that FAO considers to be important to achieving the SDGs and its Medium-Term Plan (2018-21). These six areas are as follows: 1. Evidence-based Policy and Global Instruments on FSN; 2. Climate Change (especially Climate-Smart Agricultural Approaches, and NDCs; 3. Generational Gaps and Decent Rural Employment (focusing on Women empowerment and Gender equality, Youth employment and Child labour issues); 4.Migration and Fragility; 5. Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems; 6. Oceans and Blue Growth (Fisheries and Aquaculture). The final version of the Governance Document for the Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) has just been released so there is some further work on how to define the focus of our FMM cooperation, but a probable soft Swedish earmarking will likely be done towards: Support the FAO's work to follow up the 21 SDG indicators for which FAO are responsible; Sustainable productivity growth in agriculture; Activities in the framework of the implementation of Voluntary Guidelines for Responsible Land, Fisheries and Forest Management in the Field of National Food Supply (VGGT), and Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI); Gender, including strengthened women's economic empowerment; Strengthened capacity to address the positive effects of migration  - Creating an enabling environment for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries within, Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods under the FAO Umbrella Programme for the Promotion and Application of the SSF Guidelines (SSF)  Food insecurity and poverty in small-scale fishing communities is of a multidimensional nature and is not only caused by dwindling fishery resources and low incomes but also due to factors that impede full enjoyment of human rights including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Small-scale fisheries tend to be inadequately addressed, both with regard to resource management and from a broader social and economic development perspective, including for food security and poverty eradication. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), endorsed by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 2014, were developed to address this situation. The project provides support to creating an enabling environment through the development of supportive policies, capacity, organisational skills and knowledge and it has a strong gender focus. It covers small-scale fisheries in both marine and inland waters along the value chain, including the postharvest sector. The expected impact of the project is “Improved governance of small-scale fisheries contributes to the eradication of hunger and poverty, to sustainable development and to the sustainable use of the environment”. Accordingly, the project will contribute to ensuring secure and sustainable small-scale fisheries for the benefit of small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities as well as for society at large in the context of the Agenda 2030 and grounded in a human-rights based approach. Out of the planned total budget of 8,9 Million USD, FAO will forward 3Million USD to fisherfolks organisation to facilitate their work and activities for the benefit of their members. The programme is part of "FAO Umbrella Programme for the Promotion and Application of the SSF Guidelines" which is also co-funded by Norway.  - Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system;  Sida has previously supported FAO work within Decent rural employment (DRE), and has deemed the work as successful and relevant. FAO has cooperated with ILO in a good way. Sida have therefore the intension to earmark to this area, to safeguard sufficient resources for the good implementation. The Integrated Country Approach for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system “ICA project” will support countries in adopting and implementing more youth-inclusive agri-food system development policies, strategies and programmes. Its ultimate objective is to reduce rural poverty and distress migration among rural young women and men by reducing unemployment and underemployment. With more than 70 million unemployed youth worldwide and 156 million young workers living in poverty, youth employment is a top policy concern. Improving young people’s access to productive resources, pursuing strategies aiming to make agriculture more productive and “greener” and helping small-scale producers and enterprises to cluster and shift into higher value-added activities in the supply chain can have significant potential to generate decent jobs and reduce poverty. Through this project, in collaboration with its partners, FAO will pool knowledge, expertise and resources to effectively catalyse a more programmatic response to the rural youth employment challenge and optimize the rural job creation potential of the agri-food system. The approach proposed will look at both the demand and supply sides in the rural labour markets. It will increase the employability and entrepreneurship capacity of rural young women and men on the one hand and promote youth-inclusive food system development on the other hand. The project proposes an integrated approach structured in main outputs: mappings and priority setting; Knowledge generation for evidence base policy development; Awareness raising and capacity development for youth-inclusive and employment-centred planning; Policy and programme development, with focus on agroterritorial processes of job creation; as well as Boosting FAO tools and internal capacity to promote youth employment in agri-food systems in a gender-sensitive manner The project expects to directly benefit around 4,000 youth (of which 50% are young women) across 12 countries (Ethiopia, Senegal, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania, and/or Kenya; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and /or Paraguay; Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) in terms of capacity building and access to employment and entrepreneurship support. In the long term, the policies, strategies and investments to be established through the project are expected to benefit a total of some 2 to 5 million youth. The drivers and impacts of migration are intimately linked to FAO’s global goals of fighting hunger and achieving food security, reducing rural poverty and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. FAO has a unique role to play in reducing rural migration, in view of its experience in supporting the creation of better conditions and resilient livelihoods in rural areas. Together with its partners, FAO also commits to further expand its work towards strengthening the positive contribution that migrants, refugees and IDPs are bringing for poverty reduction, food security and nutrition, and resilience of rural households. FAO has considerable experience in addressing migration in both developmental contexts and protracted crises. Agricultural and rural development can contribute to address the root causes of migration and build the resilience of both displaced and host communities, laying the ground for long-term recovery.  FAO works with relevant stakeholders to strengthen their capacities to provide viable livelihood opportunities in agriculture and rural areas in countries in protracted crises. It also protects the right to food of all people on the move, while fostering their integration and strengthening the social and economic resilience of host communities. Working with its partners and using resilient agricultural livelihoods as a key instrument, FAO plays an important role in: i) addressing the factors that compel people to move, especially those linked to natural disasters, conflicts over natural resources and environmental and livelihood deterioration in rural areas; ii) strengthening resilience of both displaced people and host communities and iii) harnessing the positive contribution of migrants and displaced people and fostering their integration. The world population is young: 1.2 billion youth aged 15-24 live in the world today and almost 88% of them are in developing countries. Globally, nearly two-thirds of youth are found in a state of extreme, moderate or near poverty, reaching over 90% in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. They increasingly perceive migration as the only opportunity to make a living: one third of all international migrants are youth in the 15-34 age group.  Although the world's youth population is expected to grow, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young women and men remain limited – particularly for those living in economically stagnant rural areas of developing countries. Hence, creating more productive and beneficial jobs for the rural youth is particularly urgent. Rapid population growth and urbanization, as well as rising household income, will have a dramatic effect on the increased demand for jobs, food, energy, clean water, infrastructure, and social services.  Food and agriculture can contribute substantially to solve the youth employment challenge. There is a largely untapped reservoir of farm and non-farm employment opportunities in the agriculture sector and within food systems. Advancing decent jobs for youth in rural areas will also contribute to effectively achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, considering the strong links between employment, agricultural development, food security and poverty reduction. To be successful, an approach to promote decent rural employment at country level should aim to build synergies across different interventions, such as capacity development, institutional support, knowledge generation and partnership creation. For example, providing skills development for youth without facilitating their access to markets and credit may result in a failure. Each intervention should be tailored to the local needs and capacities. This is what FAO is doing through its Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for promoting decent rural employment. The last publication The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2018 had as an annual team Migration, agriculture and rural development, and gives extensive policy recommendations in areas like the need for policy coherence between migration and agriculture and rural development policies is essential to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration. Policies should not aim to reduce or accelerate migratory flows, but rather to maximize the economic and social benefits while minimizing the costs to migrants and societies. - International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Core Administrative Budget and the special fund for agreed purposes. FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture aims to ensure that the wealth of the world’s food crop diversity in conserved, shared and sustainably used so that farmers can continue to grow the food needed to feed our growing world population. The Treaty now has 144 Contracting Parties. The International Plant Treaty provides a global platform for solution by enabling countries to access the plant diversity they need to develop new varieties so they can address future needs and withstand future challenges regarding food and nutrition security. Contracting Parties of the International Plant Treaty undertake to share plant genetic material, including seeds and vital information, under a common system and set of rules. Main Components & Mechanisms: 1. Encouraging conservation and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic material for food and agriculture (PGRFA), so that current and future generations can have the food they need.; 2. Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing (MLS), providing Contracting Parties global access to germplasm from each other to further develop crops that are more resilient to pests, diseases and adverse climate conditions, and crops that produce more, taste better and are more nutritious.; 3. Global Information System, which allows Contracting Parties to share information plant breeders and scientists need to track PGRFA around the world.; 4. Funding Strategy for the implementation of the Treaty that includes the Benefit-sharing Fund, which supports agricultural projects dealing with PGRFA in developing countries.; and 5. Farmers’ Rights acknowledge the tremendous contributions of smallholder and traditional farmers as innovators and custodians of the world’s crops. The International Treaty encourages Contracting Parties to take actions to ensure the protection of farmers’ rights, both in terms of national decision-making and in terms of ensuring their rights on their traditional seeds.