The Embassy in Rome also serves as the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the three specialised food and agriculture agencies of the United Nations that are based in Rome: the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the World Food Programme (WFP); and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Ambassador is the Permanent Representative of Ireland to these organisations.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is the principal UN agency with responsibilities in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development. It works towards the alleviation of hunger and poverty through promoting agricultural development, food security, and raising nutritional standards. FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations, and contribute to the growth of the world economy. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts: to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
In terms of Ireland’s engagement with FAO the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (DAFF) is the lead Department and pays Ireland's annual subscription to the organisation's regular programme budget. DAFF also funds the FAO Associate Professional Officer (APO) programme, a training programme for recently qualified professional graduates to work with FAO for a period up to three years. Irish Aid, the development co-operation division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), also supports some of the operational activities of FAO through extra-budgetary contributions to the technical co-operation programme.
More detailed information can be found at the following links:
Food and Agriculture
Organisation
Department
of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Department of Foreign
Affairs
Irish Aid
The World Food
Programme (WFP) is the food aid agency of the UN and is the
world’s largest humanitarian organisation. It provides emergency
food supplies in disaster situations as well as food aid to support
social and economic development in poor countries. WFP is an
important partner for Ireland's humanitarian aid programme. The
Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food
and Fisheries (DAFF) both provide cash contributions to WFP.
Ireland’s contributions to WFP have
increased significantly in recent years.
More detailed information can be found at the following links:
World Food
Programme
Department of Agriculture,
Food and Fisheries
Department of Foreign
Affairs
Irish Aid
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was established in 1977 to finance agricultural development projects primarily for food production in developing countries. Through low-interest loans and grants, IFAD works with governments to develop and finance programmes and projects that enable rural poor people to overcome poverty themselves. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) contributes to the Fund through replenishments which take place approximately every three years. Ireland also has a partnership programme with IFAD and commits additional supplementary resources to IFAD for specific programmes in Africa.
More detailed information can be found at the following links:
International Fund
for Agricultural Development
Department of Agriculture,
Food and Fisheries
Department of Foreign
Affairs
Irish Aid
Contact at the Embassy
Enquiries about the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies should be addressed to:
Mr. Jarlath O'Connor,
First Secretary (Agriculture & Food),
Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the UN Food and
Agriculture Agencies
Tel: 00.39.06.69.79.12.15
Fax: 00.39.06.67.92.354
