FAO adopts new corporate Strategy following Climate Change evaluation recommendations

In July 2017, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published the first FAO Strategy for Climate Change, a new policy document to support countries in further developing their capacities for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agricultural sectors. This newly-endorsed Strategy aims at enhancing institutional and technical capacities of Members, improving the integration of food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries within the international climate agenda and strengthening the internal coordination and delivery of FAO's work.

The FAO Strategy on Climate Change is designed to support its Members in achieving their commitments under the Paris Agreement in line with the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FAO is specifically proposing to undertake efforts contributing to all targets under SDG 13 on Climate Action. The Strategy on Climate Change will aim at facilitating contributions by FAO and its major partners to the transition of food and agricultural systems and dependent livelihoods to become more resilient to climate change, as well as national transitions towards low carbon economies.

The development and adoption of the Strategy was triggered by the findings and recommendations of the recent Evaluation of FAO's contribution to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. This evaluation was global in scope and examined FAO's contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation from the global to the local level from 2009 to 2014, paying particular attention to results at the country level. The evaluation noted that the advanced analytical tools and data of FAO and its support to national climate change strategy development processes have helped to strengthen developing country efforts for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Highlighting FAO's major strengths in supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, the evaluation also highlighted the lack of an organization-wide strategy on climate change and the need to improve the capacity of FAO to engage with host governments at country level.

The evaluation advised that results could be optimized through strategic changes in the way FAO currently works on climate change, and recommended development of a new strategy for FAO's work on climate change, while enhancing the Organization's staff capacity on climate change adaptation and mitigation. It also recommended that, as part of the new focus and strategy, FAO should improve mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation in all of its work, integrate capacity development and gender in climate initiatives, enhance the position of its country offices in national climate dialogues, and expand its partnerships.