On the 1^st of June as part of the course on the reform of the FAO the Director General of the Organization, Qu Dongyu (China), held a briefing for member-countries on the issue of changing the administrative structure and adjustments to the FAO budget for the period 2020-2021.

The main goal of the proposed changes is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Organization in the interests of the effective implementation of the Decade of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2020-2030, and helping countries in need to achieve zero hunger.

During the discussion, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the FAO welcomed the focus of the Director General and his team on intensifying the Organization’s contribution to the implementation of the relevant SDGs, primarily SDG-1 (combating poverty) and SDG-2 (eliminating hunger and combating all forms of malnutrition). In the context of the new challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, he supported the FAO leadership’s efforts to tighten engagement with WHO.

The relevant multilateral discussion will continue, including during the regular session of the FAO Council this July.