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Evaluation of FAO’s support to climate action (SDG 13) and the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change (2017)

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 108 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

ISBN 978-92-5-134089-9

Series title Thematic Evaluation Series

Series number mrt/21

Synopsis (short abstract) This evaluation assesses the extent to which FAO adopted an effective, coherent and transformative approach to its work on climate action from 2015 to 2020, by contributing to the achievement of SDG 13 targets and the Paris Agreement. The methodology included portfolio analysis, quantitative content analysis of over 500 documents, participatory stakeholder workshops, desk reviews, interviews with 488 stakeholders, analysis of key FAO products, 3 global surveys, and 13 country case studies. The evaluation’s findings are (i) FAO’s Strategic Framework is aligned with SDG 13 and the Paris Agreement. However, FAO has not expressed a long-term vision on its leadership role in agriculture for climate action; nor does FAO governance yet reflect a clear and strategic focus on its mission on climate action; (ii) The 2017 Climate Change Strategy has effectively supported FAO’s work, but it is not fully integrated into corporate decision-making; (iii) FAO has made relevant contributions by supporting national capacity building for climate action; (iv) FAO’s contributions to SDG 13 and the uptake of products and tools are not systematically monitored and reported; (v) There is little alignment of portfolios between divisions and no systematic approach to trade-offs. Consequently, the root causes of climate change on agriculture are not being addressed in an integrated way; (vi) FAO has strong capacity, but the current business model results in uneven distribution of human and financial resources and in fragmented, short-term projects reach; (vii) FAO contributed to climate adaptation and mitigation by collaborating with Members and other partners, although it has engaged less in innovative partnerships with the private sector, financing institutions and civil society; (viii) FAO has progressed on the inclusion of gender-specific climate action initiatives. The recommendations of the evaluation include developing a corporate narrative on climate change and food systems; formulating a new Climate Change Strategy and action plan; improving the climate change labelling of its project portfolio; mainstreaming climate action into all offices, divisions and levels, and including coordination and guidance to embed procedures in the project cycle, quality assurance and learning mechanisms; adopting a climate action-focused programmatic approach; running an assessment to identify capacity gaps, needs and opportunities and, accordingly, strengthening the capacity of staffing, funding and inter-office communication; enhancing its partnerships and seeking out innovative partnerships; and mainstreaming the core “leave no one behind” by including women, youth, the extreme poor, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups.

Annex 1. Terms of reference

Annex 2. Synthesis of FAO climate change-related evaluations from the SDG perspective

Annex 3. Assessment and interpretation of the Global Sustainable Development Report database subset availed to FAO

Annex 4. Portfolio analysis

Annex 5. Climate change policy markers analysis

Annex 6. Global surveys

1. Sector level study in Agriculture

2. Sector level study in disaster risk reduction/management

3. Sector level study in fisheries and aquaculture

4. Sector level study in forestry and climate change with special focus on REDD+

5. Sector level study in gender and social inclusion

6. Sector level study in livestock

7. Executive Summary of the Final Evaluation of the project "Integrating Agriculture into National Adaptation Plans Programme (NAP-Ag)"

8. Assessment of FAO’s niche in the climate action space

9. Global Environment Facility study

Management reponse

Follow-up report

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2021. Evaluation of FAO’s support to climate action (SDG 13) and the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Climate Change (2017). Thematic Evaluation Series, 03/2021. Rome.

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Language English

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