Azerbaijan, FAO continue fruitful co-op
By Aynur Karimova
Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Ministry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization have enlarged the legal base of their fruitful cooperation by signing two agreements.
The first document signed on May 25 as part of FAO Director-General, Jose Graziano da Silva's visit to Baku, is an agreement on the establishment of the coordination and cooperation office and providing technical assistance, while the second one is a FAO-Azerbaijan partnership program. Both were inked on the same day.
"A cooperation program signed today envisages the transformation of Azerbaijan into a FAO donor country and includes it to the list of countries assisting poor countries, which is a major achievement for the country," said Heydar Asadov, Azerbaijan's agricultural minister.
The first agreement maintains the status of the already existing office, as well as envisages providing mutual technical assistance. Each year some $100,000 will be allocated to the office maintenance.
"The technical project is designed for 5 years and costs $10 million, which will be provided on an equal basis, with a condition that this amount will be directed mainly to projects implemented in Azerbaijan within five years, taking into account possible exceptions in acute need," Heydarov added.
FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts in defeating hunger. Serving both the developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy.
FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.
Azerbaijan became a FAO member-country in 1995. The main areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and FAO are to ensure animal health, plant protection, services to improve education and assistance in researches in the sphere of agriculture, strengthening the legal and institutional standards for the development of agriculture and increasing livestock and plant products.
In 1995-2014, FAO has implemented around 20 projects in Azerbaijan, and currently, three national and three regional projects are underway.
FAO’s partnership with Azerbaijan is shaped by the 2015-2019 Country Programming Framework (CPF), which sets out six priority areas: animal health and plant protection, including transboundary animal and plant disease control; supporting investments in agriculture, food security and rural development; capacity development, including agricultural education, research and extension; strengthening the policy and institutional framework for agriculture and rural development; improved crop, fisheries and livestock production and sustainable, equitable and efficient forestry, land and water resource management.
The promotion of women’s representation in rural organizations as well as income-generating activities for rural women is a cross-cutting issue throughout the CPF.
Jointly developed with the Azerbaijani government, the CPF reflects relevant national development plans and strategies at the same time as supporting FAO’s strategic objectives and regional priorities. It is fully aligned with the UN Azerbaijan Partnership Framework (UNAPF) as well.
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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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