The new FAO Framework includes innovative processes to identify potential risks, climate mitigation and resilience measures
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) launched a new Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM) to ensure that both people and the environment are protected from any potential impacts of FAO programmes and projects.
“This Framework ensures that our projects do both ‘no harm’ and support the transformation to more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems by upholding the highest international standards for risk management,” QU Dongyu FAO Director-General explained during a virtual event.
The Framework, which includes key elements of a people-centred approach and establishes environmental and social performance requirements for FAO programming, is also intended to ensure that all stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities, have ample opportunities to actively participate in projects’ activities and to voice their concerns about them.
The FESM introduces an innovative process of climate change and disaster risk screening to identify potential risks, mitigation and resilience measures.
It also includes new and updated requirements to conserve and restore renewable natural resources and biodiversity, protect animal welfare, foster resilient livelihoods, manage waste and non-pesticide hazardous materials; promote resource efficiency; protect community health and promote decent jobs, strengthen requirements for dealing with gender-based violence including the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, respect indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation; and enhance accountability, conflict resolution and grievance mechanisms.
