FAO and IFPRI strengthen cooperation

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, and the Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Joachim von Braun met last January to discuss cooperation in various sectors of agriculture and food security.

IFPRI aims at identifying and analyzing policies to meet the food needs of the developing world in a sustainable manner. IFPRI researchers in economic growth and poverty alleviation seek to strengthen research institutions in developing countries on issues such as trade and globalization, protection of agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, including the problem of hidden hunger. (See also article on IFPRI's recent discussion paper on Food Security in the Middle East).

The IFPRI Director General expressed his interest in working with FAO in countries where the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) is being implemented, starting off with FAO/IFPRI cooperation in countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa and Mozambique.
Mr Diouf, also prompted the cooperation between FAO and IFPRI in the International Alliance Against Hunger, starting at a national level.

In addition, they also agreed to organize annual brainstorming meetings on policy analysis between FAO and IFPRI staff.