The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening their partnership and boosting public-private collaboration.
The MoU was signed by FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu and ICC Secretary-General, John Denton. It will support the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – with an emphasis on mitigating climate change and strengthening the resilience of agrifood systems and natural resources.
As part of the MoU, the two parties agree to enhance advocacy and communication, seeking opportunities to highlight their shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote the important role played by FAO, the ICC, and the private sector in achieving these at local and global levels.
The MoU also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange between the two parties and support their individual initiatives, especially those with a focus on SDG 2 – Zero Hunger. As part of this, the ICC will provide FAO with a platform to share knowledge on best sustainable agricultural practices, with the aim of increasing collaboration with the private sector. Additionally, the MoU will connect relevant FAO offices with the ICC’s network of National Committees and National and Local Chambers of Commerce.
Hand-in-Hand collaboration
Through FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO and the ICC will work together to promote responsible investments and sustainable strategies for agrifood system transformation, and foster private sector engagement. Hand-in-Hand acts as a matchmaker of resources – including knowledge, technology, innovation, capacity development and training, access to markets and finance and investment – to bring together development partners and countries and encourage collaboration. Through Hand-in-Hand, parties can help each other realize their economic and social potential. FAO and the ICC have agreed to join forces to enhance the participation of the private sector in this initiative.
ICC is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries. It supports the work of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and many other intergovernmental bodies, such as G20, on behalf of international business.
