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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are key players in the fight against hunger, poverty, and climate change. Their complementary mandates foster comprehensive collaboration.

FAO: Knowledge and International Cooperation

The FAO plays a critical role in combating hunger and promoting sustainable development. As a knowledge organization, it provides technical expertise for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as a platform for international negotiations.

• Current Challenges (2023): In its annual report, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023”, FAO warns of the continuing global challenges of hunger and food insecurity, which affect some 2.4 billion people, including 783 million who suffer from chronic hunger.

WFP: Humanitarian Assistance in Crisis Situations

As the world's largest humanitarian organization, the WFP focuses on fighting hunger and undernutrition, especially in crisis regions.

• Focus 2023: In 2023, the WFP supported over 160 million people in 120 countries, particularly in severely affected areas such as the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, where food shortages in conflict zones and extreme climate events pose urgent challenges.

IFAD: Support for Rural Development

IFAD is committed to improving the living conditions of rural populations and smallholders in developing countries.

• Resilience Strategies: In 2023, IFAD emphasized the need for investments in climate change adaptation and productivity enhancement in rural areas to strengthen community resilience and ensure long-term food security.

Common Challenges and Strategic Partnership

The challenges posed by climate change and food security require close collaboration among FAO, WFP, and IFAD. Pooling resources and knowledge is crucial to achieving global objectives.

• Partnership Agreement 2023–2028: The organizations have signed a five-year agreement to deepen their cooperation at global, regional, and national levels. Thematic groups focus on resilience, climate change, financial inclusion, and reducing food losses.

Rome as the Hub of the Agenda 2030

The location of Rome is vital to the UN's sustainable development agenda 2030, particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance, food security, and rural development. Here, FAO, WFP, and IFAD combine their expertise and work closely with the Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

Networking with Global Initiatives

The Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) collaborate with the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG). These initiatives aim to facilitate coordinated responses to global crises and develop long-term solutions to strengthen food systems.

The exchange of data and best practices enhances efforts to combat hunger and promote rural development.

Updated: November 2024