Open-Ended Working Group for Developing the Voluntary Guidelines

for Sustainable Soil Management (OEWG-VGSSM)

Rome, 11-13 April 2016 FAO Headquarters

OEWG Mandate • 3rd GSP Plenary Assembly (Rome, June 2015) - welcomed Concept Note on VGSSM - supported next steps, i.a. its submission to FAO Council - comments made on the need of OEWG

• 153rd session of FAO Council (Rome, December 2015)

- discussed revised Concept Note on VGSSM, providing for OEWG - noted with satisfaction process underway for development of VGSSM - encouraged GSP work on proposed way forward for finalization of draft VGSSM

OEWG Composition NAME COUNTRY

Gudrun Schwilch Switzerland

Erika Michéli Hungary

Anna Benedetti Italy

Marie-Francoise Slak FranceIvan Konstantinopolskiy Russian FederationCarla Pascale Medina Argentina

Daniel Vidal Pérez BrazilCarlos Henríquez Henríquez Costa RicaOlegario Muñiz Cuba

Jorge Luis Nieves Frausto MexicoZHANG Bin ChinaKazunori Kohyama Japan

Azulita Salim Malaysia

Narumon Wiangwang ThailandAhmad Farooq PakistanMajid Shoar IranAhmed Shalaby EgyptMahmoud Alferihat JordanMateo Sogo Micue Equatorial GuineaTarekegn Tsegie Haile EthiopiaMr. Kanga Ivory CoastJzile Goodman South AfricaCarolyn Olson USAKirsten Hannam Canada

Nat Tuivavalagi Federated States of Micronesia

Azaria Lesa –Ah Kau Fiji

NAME INSTITUTION

Guillaume PeyroutouInternational Fertilizers Industry Association (IFA)

Laura Capolongo World Farmers Association

Livia Ortolani IFOAM

Axel Hebel UNCCD

Evangelos KOUMENTAKOSCOPA-COPEGA

Robert Delve IFAD

Mohamed Bakarr GEF

Cargele Masso IITA

Walter Engelberg GIZ

Christian Witt Gates Foundation

Member Countries

Other partners

OEWG Principles of Work

•Comprehensive Geographic Coverage •Diverse Background Mix •Multi-Stakeholder Approach •Striving for Technical Accuracy •Balance of Positions and Consensus •Constructive and Friendly Spirit

OEWG Process • Written inputs from OEWG Members on Zero Draft VGSSM via e-mail

(21 March – 11 April 2016)

• Plenary discussion: general comments on structure/scope (11 April 2016)

• Plenary discussion: detailed comments on content (12 April 2016)

• Plenary discussion: finalization of the draft VGSSM (13 April 2016)

• Final comments by OEWG Members on draft VGSSM via e-mail (15-20 April 2016)

• Incorporation of comments received and publication of draft VGSSM by GSP Secretariat

(by 9 May 2016)

OEWG Discussions • VGSSM Structure – revised to address global developments, enabling environment and

match usual FAO practice • Target Audience – dealt with in Section 1.4

• Roles and Responsibilities – addressed in detail in Section 4

• Terms and Definitions – agreed upon

• Accuracy of Specific Data – flagship publications (e.g. SWSR, SOLAW, etc.) and research used to verify • Complementing Particular Guidelines – jointly done during Plenary session

• Process of Further Approval – addressed in Section 1 (Introduction)

Result: broad overall satisfaction from draft VGSSM expressed by OEWG Members

T H A N K Y O U !