IAAS Training about the
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO)
Welcome to
IAAS’s Training
on the FAO!
This training aims to:
• Inform about FAO
• Prepare members for interactions at FAO
Hello IAAS Colleague!
Welcome to the IAAS training on the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Our training is right for you if:
1) You are interested in learning more about the FAO
2) You are considering applying to attend a meeting of the
FAO through IAAS
3) if you have been selected to attend a meeting of the FAO
through IAAS,
4) if you will go to the FAO for an internship
5) You will run for EC.CC. of IAAS
Table of Contents
The following topics inform and prepare members.
• Introduction: UN and FAO Purpose and History
• Module 1: UN and FAO Technical Language
• Module 2: Structure of the FAO and FAO Meetings
• Module 3: Where to Find Preparatory Resources and Past Reports
• Module 4: The Civil Society Mechanism
• Module 5: Methods of Communication at the FAO
• Module 6: Maximizing Time at FAO Meetings
• Module 7: Logistics in Rome and the FAO
Table of Contents
You may wish to choose sections as it fits you.
Those who will attend a meeting of the FAO and are
already selected to attend should find the entire training
useful.
Each module has a quiz portion at the end. This will test
your understanding and re-emphasize key points of the
module.
Introduction: UN
and FAO Purpose
and History
Sections:
• What is the UN?
• Structure of the UN
• What is the FAO?
What is the UN?
The United Nations (UN) helps the world cooperate.
• Founded in 1945 after the end of World War II
• 51 founding nations. Now there are 193 member states!
• Best known for international peacekeeping and humanitarian aid
• 4 main purposes:
1) to keep peace
2) develop friendly relations between nations
3) help nations cooperate to improve lives,
especially of the poor and marginalized peoples
4) to be a center for these actions
Learn more at http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/index.shtml.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Structure of the UN
The UN has so many functions that it must divide itself
many times. The highest level of organization is the UN
Principal Organs.
The UN divides itself into SIX principal organs:
•
•
•
•
•
•
General Assembly*
Security Council*
Economic and Social Council*
Secretariat*
International Court of Justice
Trusteeship Council
* These principal organs have further subdivisions
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
For perspective, we see a full diagram of the UN structure
on the next slide. This is only for your reference.
Our principle organ of interest is the Economic and Social
Council, which houses the FAO as a Specialized Agency.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Courtesy of: United Nations Department of Public Information. 2013. The United Nations System. Diagram. [accessed 2015 March 14]. Available
from: http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/pdfs/UN%20system%20chart_lettercolor_2013.pdf
The Economic and
Social Council
(ECOSOC)
The ECOSOC is the Principal Organ of the UN that houses
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a special
agency.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
ECOSOC
The ECOSOC:
•
•
•
•
Was founded in 1945 with the UN
Commissions studies
Writes reports
Makes policy recommendations to the Genral Assembly of the UN
• Coordinates the UN and provides forums for
1) social issues
2) economic issues
3) humanitarian issues
Fasulo L. 2009. An insider's guide to the UN. 2nd ed. New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
ECOSOC
The ECOSOC has:
•
•
•
•
54 members elected from the General Assembly of the UN
Terms of 3 years for members
Balanced geographic representation
Special agencies which carry out the majority of the work
The ECOSOC is historically related to CSOs. NGOs were present at the first
ECOSOC meeting. In 1950, they set the stage for their involvement through
Resolution 288(X), which created consultative status categories.
This is the basis for IAAS’s involvement with FAO.
Fasulo L. 2009. An insider's guide to the UN. 2nd ed. New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press.
Smith C. 2006. Politics and Process at the United Nations: The Global Dance. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Module 1:Technical
Language
The FAO uses a great deal of the technical language used by
the UN. Technical language can often be confusing due to:
• Translations
• Similarities to everyday terms
• Small differences between terms
Sections:
• Important and Common Acronyms
• Conference terms
Acronyms
It seems the UN an FAO use endless acronyms. In this
section, we show acronyms that you are most likely to
encounter.
Based on your specific meeting, you will encounter specific
helpful acronyms.
Let’s start with acronyms you know:
Abbreviation
Full Name
UN
United Nations
ECOSOC
Economic and Social Council
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Acronyms
The FAO Council has three Subsidiary Organs, which advise
the FAO Council:
Abbreviation
Full Name
PC
Program Committee
FC
Finance Committee
CCLM
Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters
Works Cited: FAO. 2013. An Introduction to the FAO Council. Report. Rome: FAO. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/bodies/Council/IntroFAOCouncil.pdf
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
The diagram shows how the Subsidiary Organs of the FAO Council,
the acronyms defined in the last slide, fit into the governing
structure of FAO.
Courtesy of: FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Acronyms
Technical Committees report to the FAO Council, which
considers their input for FAO program and budget. The
technical committees host a Committee meeting once
every two years.
Abbreviation
Full Name
COFI
Committee on Fisheries
COFO
Committee on Forestry
COAG
Committee on Agriculture
CCP
Committee on Commodity Problems
CFS
Committee on World Food Security
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
The diagram shows how the Technical Committees, the acronyms
defined in the last slide, fit into the overall governing structure of
the FAO.
Courtesy of: FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Acronyms
Within the conference, you will need to be quickly familiar
with these acronyms. Some will be more useful at some
conferences.
Abbreviation
Full Name
Description
CSO
Civil Society
Organizations
General name for Civil Society Organizations
involved with the UN
(I)NGOs
(International) Nongovernmental
organizations
A general term used for non-governmental
organizations
PSM
Private Sector
Mechanism
The organizing body for all private sector
organizations involved with the UN
ICN2
Second International
Conference on
Nutrition
The second international UN conference on
nutrition ever held. The first was held in 1992
and the ICN2 was held in 2014.
The acronym for the ICN2 is included here because it was a
landmark conference. Only two global conferences on
nutrition have been held with the FAO and WHO. One in
1992 and the second, the ICN2 in November 2014.
Acronyms
FAO has partner organizations that it works with
frequently. Activities between FAO and these organizations
are often joint.
Abbreviation
Full Name
Description
WHO
World Health
Organization
Authority for health within the UN
WFP
World Food
Programme
Part of the UN; provides humanitarian food aid
IFAD
International Fund for
Agricultural
Development
Agency of the UN to finance agricultural
production development project; result of the
1974 World Food Conference
CGIAR
Consultative Group on
International
Agricultural Research
A partnership among food security research
institutions; 15 centers are a part of the CGIAR
Consortium.
Works Cited:
World Health Organization. 2015. WHO | About WHO. [accessed 2015 Mar 22]. Available from:
http://www.who.int/about/en/
World Food Programme. 2015. About WFP | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting Hunger
Worldwide. [accessed 2015 Mar 22]. Available from: https://www.wfp.org/about
International Fund for Agricultural Development. 2015. Who we are. [accessed 2015 Mar 22]. Available from:
http://www.ifad.org/governance/index.htm
CGIAR. 2015. Who We Are. [accessed 2015 Mar 22]. Available from: http://www.cgiar.org/who-we-are/
At a normal FAO committee meeting, we observe many of
the organizations listed in the previous slide. IFAD and WFP
can be seen in this photo.
This photos was taken at the 2014 Committee on World Food
Security (CFS).
On the next slide you see the UN System diagram again.
Circled in red are the partner organizations defined in the
slide before. All defined were part of the UN except for
CGIAR.
Courtesy of: United Nations Department of Public Information. 2013. The United Nations System. Diagram. [accessed 2015 March 14]. Available
from: http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/pdfs/UN%20system%20chart_lettercolor_2013.pdf
Conference Terms
Within conferences, there are important terms to
understand. Here, we list the most important terms and
definitions relevant to IAASers as observers of the
meetings.
Agenda
The work program of the conference
Chairperson
Leader of the conference which manages the meeting; ensures
orderly debate and all decisions are taken
Vice-Chairperson
Serves as the Chairperson in his/her absence; usual in large
conferences; can also act in the steering committee
Rapporteur
Responsible for drafting and publishing the conference report
Friends of the
Rapporteur
Committee that assists the Rapporteur in drafting the conference
report
Conference
Secretariat
Team responsible for organizing the conference
Plenary
Conference meeting as a whole
Works Cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security
2014 October 13 through 17.
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva,
Switzerland. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Conference Terms
Caution:
The “Conference Secretariat” should not be confused with
the “Secretariat”; the Secretariat is the staff of an
international organization and does not organize the
conference
However, individuals assigned to a Secretariat may also be
a part of a Conference Secretariat.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
This slide orients us to the front table of the Plenary where the
Chairperson, Rapporteur, Vice-Chair Person, and invited
speakers sit. Here we see the typical arrangement of officials
presiding over the Plenary.
Not pictured: Vice-Chairperson to the right of the Chairperson
Chairperson
Rapporteur
Works cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security 2014 October 13 through 17.
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Module 2: Structure
of the FAO & Meetings
Sections:
• Governing Structure
-FAO Council
-FAO Conference
• Headquarters Structure
• Main Meetings
• Meeting Structure
-rules of procedure
-parts of the meeting
• informal powers of observers
Institutional
Structure: FAO Council
The FAO Council is the governing structure of the FAO.
Key facts about the FAO Council:
• Meets 5 times biennially at headquarters in Rome
• For global governance, policy issues, international
frameworks, and FAO budget
• Advised by the subsidiary organs, technical committees,
and regional conferences
• Composed of 49 member nations
• Creates the Programme of Work and Budget (PWB)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Institutional
Structure: FAO Council
Note:
Not all member nations are a part of the FAO Council. The
49 member nations that make up the council are elected
for three years.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Institutional
Structure: FAO
Conference
All activities of the FAO feed into the FAO Conference.
Here, all the member nations of the FAO meet to
determine policy and approve the FAO budget.
Key facts about the FAO Conference:
• Meets once biennially at the headquarters in Rome
• Next session: 6-13 June 2015
Works Cited:
FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
The next page shows the diagram of the FAO governing
bodies.
After explanations of each part, the diagram shows the
Council, Conference, Regional Conferences, and Technical
Committees contributions to the FAO Council and the FAO
Conference.
Works Cited:
FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Courtesy of: FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Headquarters
Structure
The headquarters of the FAO carries out the commitments of the committees, council,
and conference.
Therefore, the headquarters structure is similar to the governing structure of the FAO. It
includes technical and regional departments that mirror the technical committees and
regional conferences.
However, a great deal of the headquarters structure does not mirror the governing
structure.
Some of these departments are similar to any organization or any research organization.
For example, the FAO must have human resources and corporate communications
departments.
Works Cited:
FAO. 2013. Headquarters Organigramme. [accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from: http://www.fao.org/3/a-as984e.pdf
FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Technical
Departments
Regional Offices
Works Cited:
FAO. 2013. Headquarters Organigramme. [accessed 2015 February 24].
Available from: http://www.fao.org/3/a-as984e.pdf
Main Meetings
The FAO hold countless meetings. Listed here are the pillars
of FAO meetings. The conferences are listed in order of
size, with all committee meetings assumed to be
approximately equal.
Meeting Name
Frequency
Next Meeting
FAO Conference
Once every 2 years
6-13 June 2015
FAO Council
5 times every 2 years
--
COAG, COFO, COFI, CCP
Once every 2 years
2016
Codex Committee
No schedule
monthly
For an up to date list of all upcoming FAO meetings, visit the FAO
website at
http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/en/
Works Cited:
FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Main Meetings
The FAO Conference is the main decision-making body of
FAO. It meets with all member nations every two years.
The FAO Council meets between meetings of the FAO
Conference to accomplish the business of the organization.
A codex committee establishes and amends standards for
joint WHO and FAO programs.
Committee meetings (on Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry,
Commodity Problems) meet every two years. They convene
all stakeholders to generate normative statements and
commitments.
Works Cited:
FAO. 2015. Governing and Statutory Bodies Website. [accessed 2015 February 23]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/unfao/govbodies/gsbhome/gsb-home/en/
Module 3: Meeting
Structure
Although there are many different meetings of the FAO,
meetings hold a similar structure.
The section on meeting structure is broken into three
sections:
-rules of procedure
-parts of the meeting
-informal powers of observers
Rules of Procedure
Every meeting is governed by a set of rules of procedure.
Since FAO is a subsidiary body of the ECOSOC, rules of
procedure adopted by the ECOSOC apply to the FAO.
Rules of Procedure…
• Inform delegates how to speak
• Inform delegates how they may participate
• Should be reviewed before the conference
• Must be carried at all times during the conference
• May be distinct in conference committee meetings
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Meeting Structure:
Parts of the Meeting
Every meeting has different parts:
• Plenary
• Committees
• Side Events
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Plenary
Every meeting has Plenary.
It is the meeting of all representatives and observers of the
conference. General debate and decisions are taken in the
Plenary.
The Plenary can allocate work to be done by committees.
Often, the delegations will assign one or two delegates to
take notes in the Plenary while senior officers take on
other tasks.
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Committees
Committees are assigned tasks that need preparatory work
before the item reaches the Plenary.
Committees can include a few attendees of the conference.
These committees meet concurrent to the Plenary.
The Chairperson can also call a Committee of the Whole
(CoW). A CoW meets at a different time than the Plenary.
A Chairperson is required for each committee.
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Committees
Committees are more informal than the Plenary and thus
invited the opportunity for more NGO and observer
organization consultation and influence.
Delegations will choose to take part in committees based
on their priorities. Committee meetings allow smaller
delegations to focus on a few key issues.
A Committee of the Whole (CoW) will be called if the
Chairperson believes there is sufficient time and adequate
need for every member of the conference to be involved in
the committee meetings.
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Side Events
Side events are often hosted by organizations other than
the host of the conference. They highlight special topics in
relation to the conference mandate.
In a side event, usually a panel of experts will speak on a
common theme (example: capacity building).
Side events are typically very small, holding a maximum of
30 observers. They are one of the most informal sessions of
the conference.
Side events offer an excellent opportunity to begin
networking and try your hand at asking a question.
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Informal Powers of
Observers
IAAS is a Liaison Organization of the FAO. As such, we have
the right to observe on FAO meetings to which we are
invited.
Observers do not have a vote in meetings, but we do have
special powers, especially informal powers.
Works cited:
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Informal Powers of
Observers
Organizations exercise their influence in a variety of ways:
• Conversations outside formal events
• Publishing daily conference newsletters
• Hosting conference side events
• Distributing fliers and materials
• Making a formal statement at the closing of the pleniary
• Advising delegations with a vote
Works cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security
2014 October 13 through 17.
FAO. 2015. Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of Civil Society in FAO meetings and processes.
[accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/partnerships/docs/1_BRG%20INGL.pdf
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation. Geneva,
Switzerland. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Informal Powers of
Observers
The FAO itself believes that 1/3 of representation of civil
society should be youth. However, this is not a reality to
date.
Currently (March 2015) the FAO is drafting a Corporate
Youth Strategy through YUNGA (Youth and United Nations
Global Alliance).
Conclusion: FAO is interested in IAASers.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Module 4: Civil
Society Mechanism
The Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) facilitates civil society
organizations to participate in the Committee on World
Food Security (CFS).
In this module, we explore:
• What is the CSM?
• Membership in the CSM
What is the CSM?
The CSM serves CSOs as a:
• Meeting place for experience sharing, discussion and
analysis
• Facilitator for communication to CFS
• Platform for taking a common position as CSOs
• Preparation for the CFS
The CSM meets annually in person before and during the
CFS. Between meetings, the CSM drafts documents, sends
newsletter, and holds discussions.
Works cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security
2014 October 13 through 17.
FAO. 2015. Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of Civil Society in FAO meetings and processes.
[accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/partnerships/docs/1_BRG%20INGL.pdf
Proposal for an International Food Security and Nutrition Civil Society Mechansim for Relations with CFS. 2015.
Rome: Action Aid International. [accessed 2015 Mar 25]. https://cso4cfs.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/csm-en.pdf
What is the CSM?
The CSOs belonging to the CSM also support each other’s
activities. Valuable contacts are made for the work of CSOs
through the CSM.
The CSM values balanced participation from it’s
constituencies, sub-regions, and genders.
At the 2014 CSM, there was no coordinator for the youth
constituency. A new youth coordinator has been selected
from the organization MIJARC. There is a great need for
youth to be involved in the CFS.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Membership in CSM
Organizations can be members through the 11
constituencies and 17 sub-regional groups. IAAS can
participate through the youth and NGO constituencies.
Your CSO must be involves in services or advocacy related
to food security.
The CSM determines which CSOs observe on the CFS.
To become involved, organizations must contact their CSM
constituency or sub-regional representative. IAAS belongs
to the youth constituency.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Membership in CSM
To contact the youth constituency of the CSM, write to:
George Dixon Fernandez
Organisation: MIJARC
Location: Brussels/India
Contact: georgedixon72@yahoo.co.in
Contact: georgedixon72@yahoo.co.in
Information at: http://www.csm4cfs.org/coordination_committee3/constituencies-4/youth-10/
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Membership in CSM
Organizations can be members through the 11
constituencies:
a) Smallholder family farmers
b) Artisanal fisherfolk
c) Herders/pastoralists
d) Landless
e) Urban poor
f) Agricultural and food workers
g) Women
h) Youth
i) Consumers
j) Indigenous Peoples
k) NGOs
Works cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security
2014 October 13 through 17.
FAO. 2015. Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of Civil Society in FAO meetings and processes.
[accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/partnerships/docs/1_BRG%20INGL.pdf
Proposal for an International Food Security and Nutrition Civil Society Mechansim for Relations with CFS. 2015.
Rome: Action Aid International. [accessed 2015 Mar 25]. https://cso4cfs.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/csm-en.pdf
Membership in CSM
Organizations can be member through the 17 sub-regional
groups:
• North America, Central America and Caribbean
• Andean Region, Southern Cone
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• West Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia
• Oceania and Pacific, Southern Africa
• West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, North Africa
Works cited:
Committee on World Food Security. 2014. Personal notes from attending the Committee on World Food Security
2014 October 13 through 17.
FAO. 2015. Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of Civil Society in FAO meetings and processes.
[accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/partnerships/docs/1_BRG%20INGL.pdf
Proposal for an International Food Security and Nutrition Civil Society Mechansim for Relations with CFS. 2015.
Rome: Action Aid International. [accessed 2015 Mar 25]. https://cso4cfs.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/csm-en.pdf
Module 5:
Preparatory Resources
and Past Reports
Delegates need preparation before attending any major
meeting of the FAO. Here, we share general and specific
sources of information for your preparation
• Resources from FAO
• Literature Resources
• Resources from IAAS
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
Generally, the conference secretariat will be your main
source of information on any conference.
Example of an exception: the CSM coordinates civil society
participation in the CFS. The CSM determines who will observe at the
CFS.
The conference secretariat is responsible for coordinating
invitations, conference credentials of attending members,
issuing invitations, coordinating visas, and directing
delegates to resources about the conference.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
The conference secretariat usually maintains an email
address, and office at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, and
maintains a website. This website is unique for each event.
To find contact information:
Conference secretariat website
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
To obtain documents:
• Conference secretariat website
• Email with the conference secretariat
• CSM/CSO network
Documents important for review:
• Annotated Agenda
• Rules of Procedure
• Reports presented at the meeting
• Report from the last meeting
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
The CSM/CSO networks are particularly important for draft
versions of documents and statements that the CSM/CSO
may issue during the conference.
If you are involved in their email list, you can follow the
progress of these documents/statements and, if you wish,
have input.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
Additionally, be sure you understand the mission of the
conference and its hosts.
• Understand the difference between similar meetings
• Some conferences are hosted jointly by FAO and other
organizations (example: WHO)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Conference Secretariat
Understanding the difference between similar meetings
can be difficult to discover through literature research.
For example, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
seems to follow a similar mission and the Committee on
Agriculture (COAG). However, the CFS involves sectors
outside agriculture when considering food security,
including forestry and fisheries.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from FAO:
Guiding Documents
It is also important to understand how FAO views Civil
Society Organizations. For specific questions about how
IAAS can become involved with FAO, consult the following:
1) FAO. 2013. FAO Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations. [accessed
2015 February 22]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3443e/i3443e.pdf
2) FAO. 2015. Guidelines for ensuring balanced representation of Civil Society in FAO
meetings and processes. [accessed 2015 February 24]. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/partnerships/docs/1_BRG%20INGL.pdf
3) Proposal for an International Food Security and Nutrition Civil Society Mechanism for
Relations with CFS. 2015. Rome: Action Aid International. [accessed 2015 Mar 25].
Available from: https://cso4cfs.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/csm-en.pdf
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Literature Resources
Several texts are helpful for understanding the FAO. For
more detailed understanding of the procedures delegates
should be aware of, consult Walker’s easy to read and
useful Manual for UN Delegates.
Walker R. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates: Conference Process, Procedure and Negotiation.
Geneva, Switzerland. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
For an detailed outlook on the FAO with respect to civil
society involvement, refer to the second chapter of
McKeon’s The United Nations and Civil Society.
McKeon N. 2009. The United Nations and civil society. London: Zed Books.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from IAAS
Within IAAS, several people have contact with the FAO.
Attended the COAG 2014:
Steven Adams, Marta Gómez San Juan, Andrea Wehrli, Konrad Egenolf
Attended the CFS 2014:
Genna Tesdall, Michael Hess
Attended the Second International Conference on Nutrition
(ICN2)
Helene Kergoat, Galyna Dukhta
Hold Internships with FAO:
Marta Gómez San Juan, Alexandria Rieder
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Resources from IAAS
I, Genna Tesdall, worked to coordinate attendance to
meetings of the FAO during the latter half of 2014 and the
beginning of 2015, attended the CFS 2014, and created this
training.
Marta Gomez San Juan and Alexandria Rieder are currently
very active at the FAO with their internships and
advocating for IAAS.
If you have inquiries, email workshops@iaasworld.org.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Module 6:
Maximizing Time at
FAO Meetings
Like everything worth doing, there is too much to do and
too little time in a meeting.
• Sharing your time
• Determining your priorities
• Nurturing the IAAS-FAO Relationship
Sharing Your Time
Side events, committee meetings, and the CSO/CSM can
convene at the same time as the Plenary. To share your
time between these sessions:
• Split up delegates between meetings
• Team up with other CSOs or observers, especially youth
• Determine where the Plenary summary is published
Reports on the Plenary will be published daily. Discover
where these are published and if they give you the
information you need. If so, you can prioritize other
sessions of the meeting over the Plenary. You will only
need to attend only the most interesting and relevant parts
of the Plenary in this situation.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Determining Priorities
During the meeting, you are likely to have two types of
goals: Personal goals and IAAS goals.
Before speaking with others, determine your personal
goals for the meeting. Be sure to include this in your
application to IAAS for meeting attendance.
For your IAAS goals, think of progress that would excite you
for IAAS, either locally, nationally, regionally, or
internationally.
• Consult with others at all levels of IAAS
• After speaking with others, reassess both personal and
IAAS goals
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Determining Priorities
Determining goals will help you choose how to spend your
time. Then plan your time by:
• Choosing the Plenary sessions, side events, and
committees meetings that advance your goals
• Identify key organizations and/or persons at the meeting
• Set up meetings with key organizations and persons
Smaller sessions are more informal and provide an
opportunity to speak with others. Therefore…
Side events and personal meetings are the most
useful for IAASers.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Nuturing the IAAS-FAO
Relationship
You are the youth voice. Get involved in FAO!
IAAS sees opportunities for IAAS to be involved in FAO
(including but not limited to):
1) Establishing more internships
2) Observing on more meetings
3) Organizing youth-focused side events at meetings
4) Establishing a formal partnership
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Module 7:
Logistics in Rome and
the FAO
Navigating a new organization, city and country is an art. In
this module, we cover general skills you need to navigate.
•
•
•
•
•
Entering the FAO and the Conference
Securing a Visa to Italy
Arriving by air in Rome
Navigating Rome
Places to Stay in Rome
Entering the FAO
and the Conference
Arrange your attendance to the conference in advance of
your arrival.
If you arrive without an invitation:
You will NOT be permitted to enter the FAO and
will NOT be able to speak with anyone with power
to admit you to the FAO.
Conclusion: Arrange your attendance and confirm your
attendance in advance of arriving at the FAO.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Entering the FAO
and the Conference
When your attendance is arranged, you will receive a
confirmation email from the conference secretariat. You
must PRINT THIS EMAIL. Bring it and your passport with
you to the FAO to show to security.
When you arrive at the FAO, you will pass through a
security check point. Allow 10 minutes or more to pass
through security.
Do not bring suitcases to the FAO. They will not fit through
the security checkpoint.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Entering the FAO
and the Conference
Once you enter the building, you must check into the
conference and receive your conference badge. You will be
directed to the conference check-in location.
The FAO building is confusing, even for those who work
their every day.
Therefore, allow extra time to find meeting rooms.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Securing a Visa
Before arriving in Italy, check with the Italian Embassy or
Consulate to determine if you will need a special visa to
enter Italy.
If you do need a visa, contact the conference secretariat.
They will help you coordinate a visa.
However, many secretariats will not work on visas if the
visa is requested 4 weeks or less before the start of the
conference.
Conclusion: When possible, plan conference participation
as early as possible.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Arriving by Air
When traveling by air, you will arrive at the Fiumicino
(International) or Clampino (Domestic) Airports in Rome.
To arrive in the city from Fiumicino, you will need to take
the Leonardo Express (cost 14 EUR). The train’s last stop is
Termini Station. You will get off the train here.
Termini Station is the hub of all transportation in Rome.
From Termini Station, you may take the metro to the FAO.
You can also take the metro or bus to your lodging.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Navigating Rome
To arrive at the FAO by metro: Take the red line to Circo
Massimo. The FAO will be directly above the metro stop.
The metro is fast, crowded, and will arrive every 2 minutes
during busy times. It is only unreliable if there is a strike. It
is recommendable to purchase a week pass for the metro.
The metro is key place for theft. Follow these steps:
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Hide or disguise valuables
• Carry smaller amounts of money
• Travel with someone else
• Appear as though you have a destination and are
confident
Navigating Rome
In addition to the metro, tourist sites are huge for theft.
However, don’t let worry of theft ruin your enjoyment. It is
easy to avoid high risk of theft with a bit of research and
speaking with others on techniques to avoid compromising
situations.
Places to Stay
There is no IAAS committee in Rome. However, there may
be an IAASer interning in Rome. They may be willing to
host you.
If this is not possible, IAASers recommend:
The Stella House
near Termini Station, German, and Turkish Embassies
Via Montebello, 99
00185 Roma
Tel/Fax: (+39) 06.4941279, E-mail: info@stellahouse.it
http://www.stellahouse.it/
Tarini Serenella
near the Colluseum
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1125521
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Places to Stay
The Stella House:
At the Stella House, a family rents out several rooms of their apartment. You will
have a private room and Stella and her daughter will tell you how to arrive at every
place in Rome. It is in a very safe and quiet neighborhood. There are security
guards near for the Turkish and German Embassies. As a result, there is not much
night life in this area. However, it is easy to take buses and the metro from Termini,
which is a short walk away. During the day, Castro Pretorito is the closest metro
stop at only 5 minutes walk.
Tarini Serenella:
Tarini Serenella’s house through homeaway.com is an excellent location and price
value for a group. The colluseum also has a subway stop near that will deliver you
directly to the Circo Maximo metro stop at the FAO.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Thank you!
Your interest in FAO keeps IAAS involved with FAO and
moving forward. It’s IAASers like you who become great
leaders of our organization!
Please ask questions about the FAO and current
opportunities at workshops@iaasworld.org or
vpexchange@iaasworld.org.
Finally, we welcome your feedback and additions. We learn
together!
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL AND
RELATED SCIENCES
Thank you.