fao · st a nd diverse region cover photo: ©fao/vyacheslav oseledko photo at right: ©fao/alessia...

FAO in europe and central asia

2

A vA

st A

nd

d

iver

se r

egio

n

Cover photo: ©FAO/Vyacheslav Oseledko

Photo at right: ©FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico

Europe and Central Asia is a vibrant region of nearly one billion people, living in more than 50 countries across 13 time zones, and speaking more than 300 languages.

Chronic hunger has been all but eradicated from this part of the world, but pockets of food insecurity continue to exist, especially in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Different forms of malnutrition, including stunted growth in children and rising rates of obesity, are a serious concern for all countries in Europe and Central Asia.

With levels of prosperity as diverse as the cultures, climates and landscapes, a ‘one-size fits all’ approach does not apply to this dynamic part of the world.

Former communist countries have largely transitioned to market orientation and are eager to export their agrifood products.

Photo: ©FAO/Sergey Kozmin


A vA

st A

nd

d

iver

se r

egio

n

5Photo: ©FAO/Sergey Kozmin

More than half the region’s countries are members or candidates for membership in the European Union, many of them already extending technical or policy assistance to neighbouring countries. The Eurasian Economic Union is also expanding its role in the region.

Climate and topography also vary widely. Hardwood and evergreen forests, fertile soils and frequent flooding are common in some areas, while others are characterized by water scarcity and harsh growing conditions.

Photo: ©FAO/Vyacheslav Oseledko

7Photo: ©FAO/Vyacheslav Oseledko


With levels of prosperity as diverse as the cultures, climates and landscapes, a ‘one-size fits all’ approach does not apply in this dynamic part of the world.


8 Photo: ©FAO/Alexey Filippov

FAO’s technical and operations teams support coun-tries as they combat transboundary animal and plant diseases, advise on land tenure and agricultural sector reform, promote safe handling of pesticides and good hygiene and manufacturing practices for safer food, analyse gender disparities in access to land, encourage conservation of soils and biodiversity, and provide training on international trade rules.

With expertise in crops, livestock, trade economics, food safety, nutrition, fisheries, forestry, climate change, food waste, and more, FAO is a desirable partner for countries as they pursue their national and regional priorities and work to achieve the Sus-tainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

As custodian United Nations agency for 21 indicators – for Sustainable Development Goals 2, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15 – and as a contributing agency for six more, FAO assists member countries with data collection and validation and contributes to annual reports.h

elpi

ng

co

un

trie

s m

eet

thei

r g

oA

ls




With levels of prosperity as diverse as the cultures, climates and landscapes, a “one-size fits all” approach does not apply to this dynamic part of the world.

Former communist countries have largely transi-tioned to market orientation and are eager to export their agrifood products.


A vA

st A

nd

d

iver

se r

egio

n

Photo: ©FAO/Photographer’s Name10Photo: ©FAO/Yanne Golev

From its regional office in Budapest, its sub-regional hub in Ankara and a network of country offices across the region, FAO advises on policy, tackles technical problems, publishes high-quality studies and guide-lines, and conducts training on the pressing issues these countries are facing.






12


FAo is custodian united nations agency for 21 indicators – for sustainable development goals 2, 5, 6, 12, 14 and 15 – and a contributing agency for six more.

11

USAGE LOGO: COLOUR VERSION

SDG LOGO FOR ENTITIES WITHIN UN SYSTEM

HORIZONTAL LOGO

LOGO

The COLOUR VERSION of the Sustainable Development Goals logo is ONLY to be used on a white or light grey background. See colour values to the right.

LIGHT GREY

PMS: Cool Gray 1CR 241 G 241 B 241C 4 M 3 Y 3 K 0


62

ICONS#12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTIONCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

DARK MUSTARD

PMS: 131 C

C 18 M 48 Y 100 K 2

R 191 G 139 B 46

HEX: BF8B2E

RESPONSIBLECONSUMPTIONA N D P R O D U C T I O N

64

ICONS#14 LIFE BELOW WATERCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

BLUE

PMS: 7461C

C 96 M 41 Y 6 K 0

R 10 G 151 B 217

HEX: 0A97D9

65

ICONS#15 LIFE ON LANDCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

LIME GREEN

PMS: 361 C

C 75 M 4 Y 100 K 0

R 86 G 192 B 43

HEX: 56C02B

55

ICONS#5 GENDER EQUALITYCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

RED ORANGE

PMS: BRIGHT RED C

C 0 M 90 Y 94 K 0

R 255 G 58 B 33

HEX: FF3A21

56

ICONS#6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATIONCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

BRIGHT BLUE

PMS: 638 C

C 82 M 7 Y 9 K 0

R 38 G 189 B 226

HEX: 26BDE2

52

ICONS#2 ZERO HUNGERCOLOUR & BLACK/WHITE

ICONS

MUSTARD

PMS: 7555 C

C 18 M 37 Y 100 K 1

R 221 G 166 B 58

HEX: DDA63A

ZEROHUNGER


14 Photo: ©FAO/Mark Milstein

FAO’s portfolio of work is large and diverse.All countries in the region benefit from FAOexpertise, but field projects and policy adviceare focused where the need is greatest. In light of global and regional trends, to guideits work FAO established two Regional Initiatives –with a third under consideration – and keeps fourpriorities designated by member countries in theforefront. The Regional Initiatives focus on:

· Empowering smallholders and family farms for improved livelihoods and poverty reduction,

· Improved agrifood trade and market integration, and

· Sustainable agriculture and natural resources management in a changing climate (under consideration).pr

iori

tyA

ctio

ns


16 Photo: ©FAO/Ferenc Isza

The Regional Priorities are: 1) smallholderDevelopment, 2) policy work and value-chaindevelopment in support of enhanced trade ofagricultural products and WTO integration,3) natural resource management and climatechange, and 4) food security. This is under anoverarching goal of working to increase thewellbeing and livelihoods of rural populations. On the ground in each country, work is guided bythe FAO Country Programming Framework – a “living document” agreed by FAO and individualnational government – which matches nationalpriorities with the expertise available from FAO. Nutrition, climate change, gender equality, social protection, and decent rural employment are concerns that cut across all of FAO’s work in the region.pr

iori

tyA

ctio

ns

Photo: ©FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico


19Photo: ©FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico

FAO’s Investment Centre is active in Europe and Central Asia, designing and supporting the implemen-tation of investment projects in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and others.

Work with EBRD concentrates on facilitating private- sector investment in agriculture, building market opportunities for farmers throughout the region.

The World Bank has financed work on improved land administration, as well as equality of legal property rights for women in the western Balkans, sustainable aquaculture development in the region, and more.

The Investment Centre directly contributed to the approval of US$ 300 million worth of investment projects by financing partners in 2016. Through its work on creating an enabling policy environment for private investment, the Centre also contributed to a broader inflow of investment into the sector. Since 1964, FAO’s investment expertise has helped mobilize over US$ 15 billion in investment for agri-culture and rural development in the region.

Examples of work include development of export opportunities for Ukraine’s agriculture, upgrading standards in Georgia’s dairy sector, and linking Tajik and Moldovan fruit and vegetable producers with the retail sector.in

ves

tin

g

in t

he

Futu

re

Photo: ©FAO/Vyacheslav Oseledko


23Photo: ©FAO/Vlado Pijunovic

FAO is there when disaster strikes, too. Floods in the Western Balkans in 2014 destroyed crops, livestock and infrastructure. Together with the European Union and other partners, FAO is helping vulnerable farm families get back on track and prepare for possible emergencies in the future.

Rural families coping with armed conflict in eastern Ukraine have received emergency help, too. Here, FAO’s own funds have been complemented by the generous donations of Canada, and by the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation, or SFERA.

Climate change makes extreme weather events and related disasters more likely. Working with countries to improve farmers’ preparedness and resilience to these events is an important part of FAO’s work.

After six years of conflict in Syria, more than 2.5 million refugees are hosted in Turkey, which is part of FAO’s Europe and Central Asia region. The Organization is working with donors, partners and the Turkish govern-ment to provide an agricultural livelihood response. FAO’s programme aims to improve food security, strengthen livelihoods and enhance the resilience of the Syrian refugees and the host communities.re

cov

ery

An

d r

esil

ien

ce







A vA

st A

nd

d

iver

se r

egio

n

Photo: ©FAO/Photographer’s Name24

Working with countries to improve farmers’ preparedness and resilience to extreme weather events is an important part of FAO’s work.

Photo: ©FAO/Nemanja Knezevic

26 Photo: ©FAO/Vasily Maksimov


proJectsFAO currently operates roughly 130 projects in the Europe and Central Asia region.

AnAlysis, stAndArd-setting FAO’s analytical and standard-setting work is equally important for the region. Gender disparities, food safety laws and regulations, international trade, food prices, social protection, and crop and livestock genetic diver-sity are just some of the areas where FAO carries out research and publishes studies.

FinAncingThe European Union and its countries, Turkey, Russian Federation, Hungary, Finland, Canada, Norway and Switzerland are major resource partners. They have come forward to help their neighbours recover from emergencies, build resilient agricultural sectors, achieve food security, and develop more sustainable food systems. In Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey and Ukraine, FAO is managing important projects financed by the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

people And oFFicesFAO’s highly qualified staff and consultants carry out FAO’s work in the region. They are based in the Region-al Office in Hungary, a Subregional Office in Turkey, country offices in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, liaison or partnership offices in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Kazakh-stan, Russian Federation and Switzerland, and project teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Serbia and Ukraine.

* References to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)At

A g

lAn

ce

28 Photo: ©FAO/Popescu Mihai


pArtnersPartners add value to FAO’s work in the region. The Organi-zation has established partnerships with research and aca-demic institutions, civil society organizations, and intergov-ernmental institutions across the region. Each partner brings advantages that complement FAO’s own strengths.

Jointly organized thematic workshops, conferences and train-ing events – as well as information and knowledge sharing – are some of the activities carried out with partners.

To ensure ongoing dialogue and efficient cooperation with civil society organizations in the region, FAO recently estab-lished a CSO Facilitation Committee.*

Intensive dialogue and coordinated efforts to reach com-mon goals characterize FAO’s cooperation with the range of intergovernmental institutions across Europe, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Commission, United Nations Economic Commis-sion for Europe, Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Eurasian Economic Commission, Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group of South Eastern Europe, and many others. Intergovernmental institutions are key partners for FAO work in the region, providing access to expertise, information and policy dialogue.

In view of its importance in achieving the Sustainable Devel-opment Goals, closer cooperation with the private sector in the region is also being pursued – particularly at the local level.

* http://food-cso-europe.org/home/about-usAt A

glA

nce

people And oFFicesFAO’s highly qualified staff and consultants carry out FAO’s work in the region. They are based in the Regional Office in Hungary, a Subregional Office in Turkey, country offices in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, liaison or partnership offices in Azerbaijan, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Switzerland, and project teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Serbia and Ukraine.

* References to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)







A vA

st A

nd

d

iver

se r

egio

n

Photo: ©FAO/Photographer’s Name32

Regi

onal

Off

ice

for E

urop

e an

d Ce

ntra

l Asi

aFo

od a

nd A

gric

ultu

re O

rgan

izat

ion

of th

e U

nite

d N

atio

ns34

Ben

czur

utc

aH

-106

8 Bu

dape

stH

unga

ryw

ww

.fao.

org/

euro

pe

© F

AO, 2

017

I774

1EN

/1/0

8.17

fao · st a nd diverse region cover photo: ©fao/vyacheslav oseledko photo at right: ©fao/alessia...

Documents