"A main outcome achieved during these consultations has been the capacity to address local governments with proposals prepared by different social actors while maintaining, through the IPC, a consultation with the different FAO conferences." - Antonio Onorati
"The UN System Network should consult civil society through the various "networks of networks" at the global and regional levels - such as the IPC, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Major Stakeholders Groups - to identify and discuss the key topics for future forum and publications." - Thomas Price
In this interview Mr. Thomas Price, Programme Officer from the FAO NGO/CSO Liaison Office and Mr. Antonio Onorati, International Focal Point of the International NGO/CSO Planning Committee give their insight on the results of the NGO/CSO regional consultations and comment on the evolution of the relationship between FAO and civil society.
What have been the main outcomes of the NGO/CSO regional consultations held preceding the various 2004 FAO regional conferences?
Antonio Onorati: The NGOs participating in the consultations before the regional conferences discussed some evident regional topics such as NEPAD for Africa and indigenous peoples for Latin America. Aside from these, several key points were discussed:
- agricultural research and priorities for local agriculture
- access to natural resources, which differs from one region to the other but remains a central theme for action of social movements (farmers, fisherman and indigenous people)
- global versus local markets
A main outcome achieved during these consultations has been the capacity to address local governments with proposals prepared by different social actors while maintaining, through the IPC, a consultation with the different FAO conferences.
Thomas Price: The outcomes have been multiple. These include:
- negotiation of joint, regional positions among civil society groups on a range of issues from the mobilisation of indigenous peoples to fight hunger to new relations between agricultural research and small holder farming
- contributions by farmers, fisherfolk and other social groups to the technical discussions during each FAO Regional Conference
- development of proposed work programmes in specific areas such as agroecology and agriculture in areas of conflict which best reflect the concerns specific to each region and civil society
- preparation and presentation of formal statements from civil society on hunger and agriculture to the Ministerial Sessions in each region (see http://www.foodsovereignty.org/public/index/indexeng.php)
How have the relations between civil society and FAO evolved since the Forum for Food Sovereignty held during the World Food Summit five years later (WFS: fyl) in 2002, specifically at country level?
A.O.: This matter is a delicate subject. FAO has much more difficulties in opening itself to a dialogue with social movements, CSOs and NGOs at regional and local level than at headquarters. There is still much to be done in this sense.
What elements would be necessary to further improve collaboration between NGO/CSO and UN agencies?
T.P.: There is clearly the need to reinforce the role of civil society as active "observers" in the deliberations of UN Agencies in both the Technical and Governing Bodies. For example, in future they can play a vital role in the identification of timely and most relevant topics for discussion and examination in the FAO Committee on Agriculture. Their role in the negotiation and implementation of conventions is also clear, as in the upcoming entry into force on 29 June 2004 of the "International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture".
A.O.: There is a need to strengthen the mutual respect, and the respect for autonomy and auto regulation of social actors. If UN agencies want to retrieve their social support for the future, they need to work directly with social movements.
How can the UN System Network, through its Thematic Groups, support this process?
A.O.: It is necessary to organise discussion fora able to convene directly in the UN system current concerns, expectations and hopes of the civil society as governments, even democratic ones, are not the only channel for this.
T.P.: The UN System Network should consult civil society through the various "networks of networks" at the global and regional levels - such as the IPC, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the Major Stakeholders Groups - to identify and discuss the key topics for future forum and publications.
What are the next steps foreseen regarding collaborations between NGO/CSOs and FAO?
T.P.: Greater collaboration with the FAO Country Offices on initiatives such as the National Alliances Against Hunger, as well as FAO acting as a facilitator to developing collaborative partnerships between government and civil society from the very inception of new projects, programmes and policy development at the national and regional levels.
A.O.: Following the 2004 SOFA FAO publication which includes a strong support to the use of genetic engineering in agriculture completely inspired by the agribusiness, the IPC is pondering on its future collaborations with FAO. The resistance against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is unanimous among social movements, organizations and the NGOs linked to farming populations, indigenous people, food and agriculture issues as well as consumers. With the 2004 SOFA, FAO has lost its balanced position on technological choices which heavily impact on the future of planet food production. This reaction of social movements, NGO and CSO is largely going beyond the IPC but IPC will bring all this concerns.
To read more about the outcomes of the FAO Regional Conferences please click
here.
To read FAO's response on the use of biotechnology, please click
here.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the interviews published in the Website of the Un System Network on Rural Development and Food Security do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Network nor of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
