Reflecting On History, The Present And A Future Even More Fit For Purpose As FAO 80th Anniversary Nears
20 December 2024, Rome: The approaching 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marks a time both to reflect on its history, its dynamic present and to look to the future and how to make FAO even more fit for purpose, Director-General QU Dongyu said today as he opened the Organization’s sixth Employee Recognition Awards ceremony.
Qu noted that 2024 marked a speeding up of the Four Rs for the FAO system: Recover physically and culturally; Rebuild efficiently and innovatively; Reform for improved and better delivery; and For the Renaissance of FAO to make it more dynamic and impactful and more enjoyable.
History, present and future
“As our great Organization approaches its 80th Anniversary in 2025, now is the moment to reflect on its rich history and heritage, its dynamic present, and to look to the future and how we can contribute towards an FAO that is even more fit for purpose for a better future,”
More than 500 nominations were received for the 2024 awards, from a range of streams, offices and divisions and field locations within the Organization. From these, an FAO-wide poll selected 200 awardees – 100 of them young and 100 young-at heart.
The Director-General said that more than 98 nationalities were represented from 81 duty stations. “Our strength is our incredible diversity as we work together for a world free from hunger and poverty,” he said.
Brave women colleagues
This year’s ceremony also including a special award for the brave female colleagues working in hardship field locations, Qu said. “In the face of conflict and humanitarian crises, women on the frontlines shoulder incredible responsibilities; they do not just contribute through their technical expertise but are also deeply impacted by the turmoil; they are community members, mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends who share the pain of their loved ones.”
The Director-General also highlighted the important contributions of ONE FAO teams, helping create a more innovative, effective, and impactful organization, saying he had personally endorsed 15 teams for their excellent work, the results they have achieved, their impact on the ground, and their spirit of collaboration.
Today’s ceremony additionally celebrated 28 people who have marked 25 years of continuous service with FAO – from 20 countries located in 12 duty stations worldwide.
They have witnessed the Organization’s evolution over the last 25 years firsthand, Qu said, adding that to build a balanced culture across generations, young people were needed to build the future, while not forgetting the importance of respecting seniors because of their important role in sharing experience.
Engines of implementation
Qu described colleagues, both at headquarters and in the field, as the engines for implementing FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31, and turning the aspiration of the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind – into concrete and coherent action with deliverables and tangible results on the ground.
The Director-General noted that the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Lunar Calendar beginning in January 2025, symbolizes wisdom, elegance, and transformation and encouraging growth, focusing on long-term plans, creativity and intuition. “This is appropriate as we look to the future, and to ensuring that our Organization is modern and well placed to better serve the people who need us the most for the next 20, 40, 60, 80 years, and beyond,” he said.
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