A reform of FAO was necessary not only in response to the changing global context, but also to accommodate changes in the Organization's internal environment. Members have been seeking a wider range of services and programmes, while the Organization's resources and capacity have been negatively affected by a declining budget.
When proposing the reform in June 1994, the Director-General explained that it was intended to put FAO in a better position to serve its Member Nations by restructuring the Organization, refocusing its priorities, increasing its global outreach, improving resource management and enhancing its efficiency.
Against this background, the strategy adopted was to build on the strengths of the Organization and to identify and overcome its weaknesses. FAO's strengths include:
• The confidence that Member Nations have in the Organization's expertise and experience in working towards the goals of its mandate; its ability to take a global view of problems; and its capacity to identify and argue for common solutions, independently of specific ideological or national perspectives.
• Together with its extensive field office structure, the Organization's worldwide networking capacity - based on direct links with government departments, academic and research institutions and other national and international bodies.
• The unique blend of operational and normative experience of the Organization's staff, dedicated to the cause of multilateralism in line with the principles of the International Civil Service.
• The technical assistance that the Organization offers to countries, without commercial or political bias. To provide governments with the support they need, FAO relies o ...