About

Rome-Based UN Agencies

There are three UN agencies based in Rome: WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Their missions complement one another and they often combine their expertise in agriculture, food assistance and rural development.

Increasingly, the Rome-based agencies are finding joint solutions to dealing with emergencies and promoting recovery and development.

RBA News

News Release
1 March 2013

Harvest Increases But Food Insecurity Remains High In South Sudan

JUBA – At least 4.1 million people in South Sudan are likely to be food insecure this year, according to a new report by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP).

Story
14 February 2013

Staff Of UN Food Agencies In Mozambique Receive Award Of Excellence

ROME – In acknowledgement of the importance of partnership in tackling global issues, the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have today been recognized for their outstanding work together in Mozambique.

News Release
16 October 2012

Agricultural Cooperatives Critical To Fight Hunger

World Food Day Observed In 150 Countries

16 October 2012, Rome - Agricultural cooperatives, already enriching millions of small-scale farmers, could expand and make an even greater contribution against poverty and hunger, if they were given the right support by governments, civil society and academia.

News Release
9 October 2012

Globally Almost 870 Million Chronically Undernourished - New Hunger Report

But there are hopeful signs that with extra effort the MDG target can be reached 

9 October 2012, Rome - Nearly 870 million people, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012, according to the new UN hunger report released today.

News Release
27 September 2012

UN Women, FAO, IFAD And WFP: Empowerment Of Women In Rural Areas Is Pre-Requisite For Global Food Security

New York/Rome, 27 September 2012 – UN Women and the three Rome-based United Nations agencies working on food and agriculture today launched a joint programme to empower poor rural women through economic integration and food security initiatives.

News Release
4 September 2012

Tackling The Root Causes Of High Food Prices And Hunger

By José Graziano da Silva, Kanayo F. Nwanze and Ertharin Cousin*

News Release
2 August 2012

Three Million Syrians Need Food, Crops And Livestock Assistance, UN Report Finds

DAMASCUS/ROME – Up to 3 million people are in need of food, crop and livestock assistance over the coming year, according to a recent assessment carried out by the United Nations and the Syrian government.

Story
18 July 2012

UN Women ED In Rome For Talks On Empowering Rural Women

ROME -- World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin welcomed Ms. Michelle Bachelet, her counterpart at UN Women,  to WFP headquarters on Friday for two high-level meetings on a  5-year multi-agency programme to empower rural women.

News Release
9 July 2012

South Sudan One Year After Independence: WFP Providing Food Assistance And Building People's Resilience

JUBA – As the people of South Sudan enter the second year of their country’s independence, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working with them to face the challenge of building a new nation and to overcome food insecurity.

News Release
22 June 2012

Resilience Programmes Essential For Truly Sustainable Development in Haiti

RIO DE JANEIRO –Today, Haitian President Michel  Martelly joined WFP and FAO to announce a partnership to sustainably expand Haiti’s national school meals programme, as well as programmes to prevent and treat chronic malnutrition and treat acute malnutrition, while assisting local farmers’ to improve their access to markets.

Videos

WFP, IFAD & FAO Team Up In Mozambique
Voices Of Women Farmers
Voices of Women Farmers

Specific Mandates

Each according to a specific mandate, the Rome-based agencies are working together to defeat hunger and poverty: WFP with food assistance, FAO through its technical expertise in agriculture and IFAD via international financial assistance.

Find out more about WFP’s sister agencies and their missions:
 

Committee on Food Security

The Committee on Food Security is a forum within the UN system for countries to review and follow-up on policies concerning world food security. FAO, IFAD and FAO are key participants. The 124 members usually meet at the Food and Agriculture Organization's headquarters in Rome once a year.

The Rome-based agencies are also members of the International Alliance Against Hunger, a partnership of governmental and non-governmental organizations, service and religious organizations and the private sector.