Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Azerbaijan was the member of FAO on the 20th of October, 1995.

FAO implements national, regional and global projects in Azerbaijan. Those projects basically envisage the development of agriculture, strengthening food security, increasing potential and managing resources, fighting against animal and plant diseases, equipment and other relevant areas of technical assistance. In general, during each biennium 2 or 3 new projects are initiated to be implemented in Azerbaijan in the framework of FAO. 

The projects of FAO in Azerbaijan are based on Technical cooperation programs in accordance with the appeals on the prioritized needs of the Government of Azerbaijan. Since 2009, the Government of Azerbaijan and FAO have started the process of preparing assistance programs in order to provide possible technical assistance by FAO in the field of the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan. For this purpose, the Framework Document on National Medium Term Priorities of FAO was prepared for Azerbaijan and is being regularly updated according to the priorities of Azerbaijan. 

To intensify the mutual relations between FAO and Azerbaijan, the National Correspondency of FAO was established in Azerbaijan in December of 2002. After the establishment of FAO office in Baku, this post was abolished.

In July of 2007, the FAO’s new Subregional Office for Central Asia was established in Ankara.  This office is in charge of 7 countries: Azerbaijan, Turkey and Central Asia countries. Structurally, the office is subject to the FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Middle Asia situated in Budapest.

In August of 2007, among the countries covered by FAO’s Subregional Office for Central Asia, first in Azerbaijan FAO’s  Representative Office was opened.

On 25 February 2005, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the headquarter of FAO in Rome and met with the former Director-General of FAO Jacques Diouf. During the meeting, the sides discussed the issues of perspectives for strengthening the relations, particularly FAO’s involvement in the development process of agrarian sector in Azerbaijan, institutional restructuring of agriculture, importing new technologies and investment, food security and poverty reduction in our country.    

On 29 April 2005, Jacques Diouf paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the visit, J.Diouf met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and government members. He was awarded with the honorary doctorate diploma of the Scientific Council of the Agriculture Academy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On 16th April 2012, the FAO-NGO’s regional consultation for Europe, on 17-18 April 2012, the 37th session of the European Commission on Agriculture and on 19-20 April 2012, the 28th Regional Conference for Europe were held in Baku. In the 28th Regional Conference for Europe, the representatives of 46 countries from the 52 member states, as well as 10 ministers, 13 deputy ministers and FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva took part.  

In the framework of the events, a meeting was organized between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva.

On 15 July 2014 in the framework of his official visit to Italy, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met also with the Director-General of FAO. During the meeting, the sides discussed the current status and perspectives of the relations of cooperation between FAO and Azerbaijan.

On 24-25 May 2015, FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva visited Azerbaijan. In the framework of his visit, he was received by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, met with the minister of agriculture Heydar Asadov, made a lecture in Baku State University and was awarded with the honorary doctorate degree of the scientific council of the University.

In the framework of the visit, the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on the establishment of the Coordination and Cooperation Office and providing technical assistance” and the “Agreement on FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Program” were signed.

The partnership program envisages the active contribution of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the projects of technical assistance on the development of agriculture in our country and abroad.

During the visit, the vice-president of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Union Leyla Aliyeva was awarded with the title of Goodwill Ambassador of FAO for her contributions in the fields of fighting against hunger, food security, increasing the efficiency of agriculture, forestry and fishery and establishment of health food systems and the relevant document was presented by FAO Director-General in this regard.

On 2 September 2015, FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva visited the headquarter of FAO and in the framework of her visit met with FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva and other high-level FAO officials and discussed the topics of cooperation.

On 6 April 2017, with the joint initiative of the “Regional Development” Public Union of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, IDEA Public Union, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the framework of the project to establish fruit gardens for low income families, the vice-president of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Union and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva attended a ceremony to plant fruit trees in Ismayilli district.

In order to participate at the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue on the theme “Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development” held in Baku on 5-6 May 2017, the Chief of cabinet of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Mario Lubetkin made a visit to Azerbaijan. At the forum M.Lubetkin delivered the regards of FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva. Within the forum, M.Lubetkin met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov and Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Union and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva.