FAO in brief
An intergovernmental organization, FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Its employees come from various cultural backgrounds and are experts in the multiple fields of activity FAO engages in. FAO’s staff capacity allows it to support improved governance inter alia, generate, develop and adapt existing tools and guidelines and provide targeted governance support as a resource to country and regional level FAO offices. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO is present in over 130 countries.
FAO’s Mandate
Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
Our 3 main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity & malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management & utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of future generations.
FAO’s Strategic Objectives
Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
Make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable
Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems
Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises
Departments
FAO is composed of six departments: Agriculture & Consumer Protection; Economic & Social Development; Fisheries & Aquaculture; Forestry; Corporate Services; HRs & Finance; and Technical Cooperation.
Worldwide Offices
FAO’s decentralized network includes 5 regional offices, 9 subregional offices, 80 fully fledged country offices, 3 offices with FAO Representatives, and 38 countries covered through multiple accreditation. In addition, FAO has 5 liaison offices (including in Geneva & New York) and is in the process of opening a 6th, as well as 2 information offices in developed countries.