Stakeholder Design Consultation for the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Initiative

Around 100 representatives from Governments, Major Groups and Civil Society Organizations, Intergovernmental Organizations and coalitions attended a Stakeholder Design Consultation for the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) Initiative. The SARD Initiative Stakeholder Design Consultation, held on 1 April as a Side Event during the FAO Committee on Agriculture, was organized by Major Groups and the Rural Institutions and Participation Service of FAO.

The purpose of the Side Event was to share progress to date in developing the initiative and to collect insights into its planned objectives, related to the three themes: access to resources, innovative good practices for SARD, and fair conditions of employment in agriculture.

The event was opened by the acting Assistant Director General of the Sustainable Development Department, and was co-chaired by His Excellency Mr Mohammad Saeid Noori-Naeini, ambassador of Iran and Mr Peter Hurst, the Major Group Focal Point for Workers and Trade Unions. Government speakers, Mr. Hildebrand of Germany and Ambassador Misoga Madete of Kenya, offered their perspectives from the podium on the importance of the Initiative.

Statements from the floor addressed the opportunities, challenges, suggestions and next steps for the Initiative.

A report from the Side Event will be available shortly on the FAO Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Web site http://www.fao.org/wssd/SARD/index-en.htm.

To read a UN System Network interview with the Task Manager of Chapter 14 please click here.