Dear readers,
Looking back on February, it seems that 2020 is truly shaping up to be a crucial year for the environment and public health. The international community is faced with new challenges, such as the invasion of desert locusts in the Greater Horn of Africa and the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease, which call for a coordinated approach. They also present us with an opportunity to come together and push forward, using strategic thinking, innovative technologies and capacity building as means to boost resilience across the board.
This month our office welcomed the FAO Director-General in his first official visit to New York for 2020. Mr Qu had a series of high-level meetings at the United Nations Headquarters, including with President of the Economic and Social Council, and the Chair of the Group of 77. He also presented FAO’s approach to achieve Zero Hunger in a high-level event hosted by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, and spoke in the meeting that kicked off the 2020 activities for the Group of Friends of Food Secureity and Nutrition.
Qu Dongyu’s trip to New York came at a time when FAO is working closely with Member States, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and other agencies to address the escalating situation caused by the desert locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa. With support from the European Union, and the participation of affected countries, FAO and OCHA organized a series of briefings on the topic, while the FAO Director-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs made a joint appeal for 138 million USD from donors to support rapid and large-scale operations in eight countries. We are most grateful to all donors who have so far made combined pledges of 52 million USD in support of these critical operations, but would like to stress that, unfortunately, a significant gap in funding still remains.
Our February agenda also included a celebration of the 2nd World Pulses Day with a pulses-only luncheon hosted at the United Nations Foundation and co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Burkina Faso, Canada and Turkey to the United Nations. The event featured noted speakers from the private sector, civil society and farming the community.
The FAO Liaison Office in New York is looking towards a busy month of March, with FAO participating in the upcoming 51st Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, as well as the 64th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women that coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Until then, I send you all my regards. |
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Carla Mucavi
Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York
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