"The UN system on Rural Development and Food Security and the IAAH are very significant instruments that can be used to make the partnership between FAO and ILO effective on the field"
In this interview Mr. Maximiliano Cox, Director of the FAO Rural Development Division gives an insight on the future collaborations between FAO and ILO in the framework of the issues raised by the report prepared by the World Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalization and entitled "A Fair Globalization: creating opportunities for all."
What are the priority areas for FAO in the promotion of rural development?
The major areas in which FAO could create links with the work being carried out by ILO are notably in agriculture and in rural development. The work developed in these sectors can reinforce rural population's capabilities to allow them to improve their livelihoods through their own means. Another important area of work is related to food security and poverty, both addressed in the first Millennium Development Goal of "eradicating extreme poverty and hunger". It must be taken into account that 70 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend directly, in many cases, on agriculture production, therefore it is of foremost importance for FAO and ILO to prioritise the rural sector in their common outlook towards development.
How can FAO and ILO collaborate in the context of a social globalization outlook?
A concrete way of establishing a partnership between FAO and ILO is the signature of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations by their respective Director Generals. This MoU will identify precise areas of collaboration between the two agencies indicating the way forward. In this sense, the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalization entitled "
A Fair Globalization: creating opportunities for all" serves as an enabling framework for an efficient collaboration and states the priority areas for action. This report, prepared by a high-level commission, called the World Commission, set up by the ILO Director General, with the participation of political, academic and civil society leaders from the different regions of the world, gives a balanced and visionary overview of the major effects of globalization from the point of view of the people, with special reference to those most disadvantaged (poor, women, indigenous, workers, among others). This perspective differs from the one generally used by international financing organizations in the world as it centres on people's needs.
What are the main benefits and constraints of globalization, keeping in mind its social dimensions?
The benefits and costs of the globalization process, as it is taking place today include several aspects highlighted by the World Commission in the report such as: the existence of increased connectivity that generates greater opportunities for improved livelihoods, the application of strong technological developments and the rapid economic growth in certain countries, even of the developing world.
The major limitations of this process include: an increased concentration of power and income in fewer persons, enterprises and countries as well as a growing world economic instability, hitting strongly the least developed countries and the poor. In this sense, Africa has had to pay the high price the globalization process has brought about, receiving very few benefits. The displacement and migration of poor populations has also increased as a consequence of increased connectivity and ease of transportation and access to communication services. There has also been a loss of local identity, especially with regards to cultural expressions.
In view of the findings and recommendations of this report, in which areas could ILO and FAO collaborate in?
Not only ILO and FAO should seek collaborations, the entire UN system should continue building partnerships in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Both FAO and ILO, in this sense, have a very clear mandate directly linked to people, especially the poorest. ILO looks at the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights as well as employment and the development of economic models centred in people's needs and not on the country's GNP growth, this is very important. The FAO on the other hand, deals with productive sectors seeking the improvement of the livelihoods of the poorest. We both hold common objectives.
The concrete areas in which we could work together could be in the promotion of food security and the eradication of poverty through the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) supported by FAO which seeks to mobilize political will to eliminate hunger; the Anti-Hunger Programme, the Special Programme for Food Security and the set of initiatives carried-out by the Nutrition Division within FAO which hold a strong popular participation.
The Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Initiative (SARD) launched during the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 and endorsed by both DGs is also an important area of collaboration. Trade effects on sustainable agro-rural development and improved trade related policies, including fair trade promotion, market structures and value chains and commodity related matters affecting rural livelihoods could also be addressed through the creation of a strong partnership to upscale fare employment conditions. One very important aspect of SARD is the emphasis on fairer conditions of employment, which provide the basis for strong partnerships on labour standards and rights between ILO, FAO and other organisations on labour standards and rights.
Moreover, the 2006 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) issue will be dedicated to agricultural labour and employment in the rural sector, and ILO can give a substantive contribution to the drafting of this report. If developed countries do not open their markets it will be impossible for developing countries to achieve the MDGs. The report also highlights aspects related to migration, produced mainly by these protectionist policies being followed by developed country.
The Economic and Social Department as well as the Sustainable Development Department in FAO have been working in an analysis of livelihoods diversification. This could be yet another area of collaboration between the two organizations. The creation of livelihoods diversification opportunities include strong participatory and capacity building elements to enable the poor to create their own institutions. Access to natural resources also directly affects employment and rural livelihoods.
How can the UN system Network on Rural Development and Food Security through its Thematic Groups working at country level, enhance this collaboration?
The UN system Network on Rural Development and Food Security and the International Alliance against Hunger are very significant instruments that can be used to make the partnership effective on the field, even much more than what could be done form the central level. In Brazil, a joint project with ILO is currently being carried-out on local development and participatory territorial planning in northeast and southern regions of this country.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the interviews published in the Website of the Un System Network on Rural Development and Food Security do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Network nor of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
