Partners and Donors

FAO and the EC

Food security for all is one of the main objectives of the EC’s Development policy, which is based on the following principles:

	promoting Food Security geared to alleviating poverty;
	helping recipient countries improve food production at the regional, national and family level;
	reducing dependence on food aid; and
	increasing nutrition standards.

In order to implement such a policy, the European Commission has been financing a European Programme for food aid and food security since 1996. Foreseen interventions include budget support to Governments, NGO rehabilitation projects and other development projects. The EC programme also allocates grants to UN agencies for free food aid distribution (WFP, UNRWA and ICRC) and to support important food security tools through FAO.

In this context, the EC-FAO partnership in the food security domain has focused on strengthening national food security information systems, while building capacity in food security analysis, food security and nutrition policy formulation, market and trade analysis and policy support, multilateral trade negotiations on agriculture, and other food security-related interventions.

The Joint Research Center (JRC) also collaborates with the Programme on specific activities.

The EC is the main donor of funds for the EC-FAO Food Security Information for Action Programme: € 12,5 million for the 1st phase 1999-2003 and € 15 million for the 2nd phase 2005-2007.


The Government of the Netherlands (FNPP fund)

The Food and Agriculture Organization - Netherlands Partnership Programme (FNPP) was established in May 2001 as a flexible funding mechanism for FAO's work in food security, forestry and agrobiodiversity activities. The FNPP supports the Programme's Needs Assessment activities and the Nairobi regional office.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET)

Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS)

The EC-FAO Food Security Programme supports country work on food insecurity and vulnerability information and mapping systems (FIVIMS), in particular in countries suffering from chronic food insecurity and poverty.

The Programme also supports the liaison functions of the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) on FIVIMS based at FAO. Under the IAWG-FIVIMS, best practices on food security information systems work have been discussed and promoted. In this context, the FIVIMS Secretariat has contributed to the development of the distance learning curriculum on food security information for action.

Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping System (FIVIMS) for Asia

Deutsche Gesellschaft fűr Technische Zussamenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

The Southern African Development Community's Regional Remote Sensing Unit (SADC-RRSU)

Building on activities from Phase 1 of the EC-FAO Programme, the SADC-RRSU will be involved in country specific interventions related to disaster preparedness and early warning.

Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA)

Discussions are going on with the Thai Government to establish a collaboration for the implementation of activities in Cambodia and Lao PDR.

The World Food Programme (WFP)