Recommendations of the final report of the auto-evaluation
of the UN System Network approved by FAO Senior Management
The auto-evaluation of the UN System Network on
Rural Development and Food Security was undertaken by the Rural
Development Division of FAO within the framework of a series of
auto-evaluations being carried out by many programmes within the
organization. The report of the auto-evaluation was submitted
to FAO’s senior management who agreed on the main recommendations
of the evaluation.
It reviewed achievements of the Network and proposed orientation and
priorities for the future. The main findings of the auto-evaluation
report highlight the following aspects:
- Thematic groups constitute a precious asset to achieve the Network
objectives. They provide an effective framework to discuss and
plan collaborative activities in rural development and food security,
including promotion of new projects or contributions to the CCA,
UNDAF and PRSP documents. The coordination objective has been
met in most of the countries where TGs have been created. All
partners, including the UN Resident Coordinators, agree that this
TG function is critical. If the Network’s member organizations
had provided more concrete support to the TGs, the Network would
have achieved this objective even more effectively.
- The Network’s website has a large audience, but it remains
supply-driven and does not sufficiently promote knowledge and
experience sharing.
- There is no clear sense of ownership of the Network by UN member
organizations, including the three Rome-based organizations that
undertook to manage it.
Based on these findings, the report makes clear recommendations
for the future:
- Focus the Network’s role on three substantive areas: formulation
of policies, action plans and programmes in rural development
and food security contributing to the WFS follow-up and MDG 1
and 8; support to participatory processes for policy dialogue
and programme development; and global and local networking for
experience and knowledge sharing and support to the TGs.
- Create a truly interactive network and a website portal linking
to the IAAH and Network websites and to other UN sites and networks
in the area of rural development and food security.
- Clarify the respective, complementary roles of the IAAH and the
Network, and strengthen the TGs’ role and mandate within the
Resident Coordinator System.
- Enhance ownership by member organizations, inter alia, though
a high-level coordinating mechanism among the Rome-based UN agencies
and additional funding from members.
To receive the executive summary of the auto-evaluation report,
please send an e-mail to
rdfs-net@fao.org
