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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): History, Mission, Members, Governance

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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger.
  • It was founded in 1945
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
  • Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives
  • HQ: Rome

Mission

FAO three main goals are:

  • the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition;
  • the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and,
  • the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Members

  • 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union
  • India a founding member

Work

  • FAO leads international efforts to improve nutrition and food security. 
  • It helps governments and agencies coordinate their activities to develop agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.
  • It also conducts research, provides technical assistance to projects, operates educational and training programs, and collects data on agricultural output, production, and development.

Funding

FAO receives 100 percent of its funding from its member countries.

Do you Know?

FAO different from WFP(World Food Program) and IFAD(International Fund for Agricultural Development)

  • FAO is a knowledge organization. It is the lead UN agency for technical expertise in food security, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development, as well as in the sustainable management of natural resources essential over the long term.
  • WFP is a humanitarian organization. It provides food aid and logistical operations to save lives in emergency situations and to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people in times of crisis.
  • IFAD is a multilateral financial institution. It funds rural development projects that will improve the nutritional level and living conditions of the poorest populations in developing countries.

The organizations have complementary mandates that allow for joint programming and collaboration on their shared goal of ensuring the fundamental right of all people to be free from hunger.

Governance

Conference

  • The purpose of the Conference as the supreme Governing Body of the Organization is to determine the policy and approve the budget of the Organization.
  • The Conference consists of all Members of the Organization. FAO has 194 Member Nations, two Associate Members, and one Member Organization.

The Council

  • The FAO Council was established in 1947 at the 3rd Session of the FAO Conference, replacing the original “Executive Committee”.
  • Elected by the Conference, the Council consists of 49 Member Nations elected for a term of three years with arrangements for staggering expiry of terms of office. 
  • The Council acts as the executive arm of the Conference between its sessions, exercising functions relating to the status of world food and agriculture, prospective activities of the Organization, administrative and constitutional matters. 
  • The Council plays a major role in deciding and advising on matters pertaining to the implementation of programme and budget execution, monitoring of the implementation of governance decisions and oversight of the administration of the Organization.

FAQs

Q1. What is the FAO?

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized UN agency, established in 1945, that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger and ensure food security for all.

Q2. Where is the headquarters of FAO located?

The FAO headquarters is in Rome, Italy.

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