As an intergovernmental organization, FAO works with a large range of partners. To collectively address the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia-Pacific, the FAO regional office has a long-standing and close cooperation with:

• UN system organizations such as the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
• Regional integration organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
• Other development partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

In order to be successful in performing its mandate, FAO is mobilizing knowledge and capacities internally, but also externally with other relevant institutions. Collaboration with the civil society, parliamentarians, regional organizations, academic and research partners, as well as with other UN Agencies, especially the Rome-Based Agencies, will continue. Several already successful partnerships were strengthened through official agreements.

The COVID-19 context has deeply affected field programme orientation , as well as delivery approaches. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19, FAO quickly revisited ongoing and pipeline projects together with governments and resource partners to reorient the outcome to address the situation.

Due to the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in the Region, substantial resources are being allocated domestically toward medical, social protection and economic stimulus programmes. As a result, ODA is declining and this trend is expected to continue for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. Climate Financing has become a bigger part of RAP’s portfolio, as these vertical funds are not as strongly impacted by COVID-19.

In the Pacific, the FAO Subregional Office (SAP) works with national governments and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for national and regional assistance. The biennial meeting of FAO South West Pacific Ministers for Agriculture aligns FAO assistance with the priorities of the region.

FAO SAP works closely with the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) on various projects. They include the Pacific Expert Group on Food Security and Climate Change, established by FAO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in October 2008. Three CROP agencies - the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and SPREP - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FAO SAP.