The contribution of cooperatives, producer organizations (POs) and other forms of collective action to the achievement of food security and poverty reduction is being increasingly recognised. FAO has highlighted the crucial contribution of POs and cooperatives to achieving the Organization’s mandate, particularly in reducing rural poverty and enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national and international levels in its new Strategic Framework.
This sixth edition of the 2013 Annual Report provides an overview of the key policies and processes, knowledge platforms, capacity development initiatives and publications that FAO promoted and implemented in support of POs and cooperatives in 2013.
The Report has been reformatted to make it more reader-friendly and accessible to a wider audience. It is structured in two sections: the first describes the main global trends that position POs and cooperatives as key development partners for FAO and the global community. The second section provides aggregate data on how FAO projects/ activities have supported POs and cooperatives around the world. Finally, for those readers who would like more in-depth information about FAO’s support to strengthen cooperatives and POs, the Annex illustrates outcomes and lessons learned from each project that was implemented in 2013.
This report illustrates the experience and insights gained from the projects FAO implemented in support of POs and cooperatives through its Divisions and Regional Offices.
