Nordic statement 

Update on FAO’s collaboration with other UN System Entities

Norway is delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway). 

• Thank you for the insightful and detailed update on FAO’s collaboration with other UN system entities. 
• To maximise the impact of actions and programmes, to avoid overlaps and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of available financial and human resources, cooperation among the Rome-based agencies as well as all other relevant UN organizations in-country, on the ground is critical. We also encourage FAO to strengthen its cooperation with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. 
• We welcome the focus on the reposition of the UN development system, country-driven partnerships, UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams. 

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• We also welcome the recently signed global tripartite MoU, recognising that RBA collaboration is built on a broad spectrum of work that spans from responding to emergencies and shocks, to humanitarian and long-term development activities. The recently launched joint FAO and WFP strategy on anticipatory action is also important in this regard.  
• Formalised agreements should translate into action on the ground. Lessons can be learned from the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment. The programme is jointly implemented by FAO, IFAD, UN Women and WFP and adopts a holistic approach that builds on each agency’s comparative advantage and strengths. 

• The Nordic countries would welcome more details on how FAO collaborates and coordinates its work with multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank and African Development Bank.  

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• There is a strong focus on the contribution of collaboration to the four betters. We would welcome a stronger emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals as the overarching and universal call to action. 
• We would also like more detail on how collaboration with UN system entities contributes to all sectors that the FAO works with, including fisheries, aquaculture, and forestry. 

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• The Nordic countries underscore the importance of not just measuring the quantity of collaborations, but also their quality. FAO should create baselines, clear metrics of success, and ensure that they measure impact and the contribution of collaborations in helping us achieve Agenda 2030. 
• The Nordic countries highlight that collaborations should capitalise on FAO’s unique comparative advantage as the utmost provider of technical and normative expertise that contributes to evidence-based guidance and good practice for food systems solutions. 
• The administrative burden, reporting and monitoring responsibility, and financing should also be shared across collaborations and build on each organisations’ comparative advantage. 
  Finally,
• The Nordic countries have been longstanding supporters of the UN Development System Reform. It is important to ensure that the reform of the UN Development System keeps moving forward and is fully implemented.
• The Nordic countries highlight the prerequisite that the UN delivers as One UN at the country level. We would like to see more reporting on how FAO implements UN reform. 

Thank you.