The FSN Forum traces its origins back to May 2006, when FAO’s Agricultural Development Economics Division initiated efforts to make better use of FAO’s FSN work and to strengthen linkages with academic and research institutions around the world. The concept and topic of the Forum were identified through preliminary research and surveys among its target audience.

The FSN Forum is a global community of FSN practitioners with members in many countries across the world’s five continents.  Already involving 300 practitioners from various fields, the Forum helps bridge the knowledge divide among the different communities involved in FSN policies and strategies, such as academics, researchers, development practitioners and policy-makers/implementers.

Members are encouraged to use the knowledge shared and solutions found through the Forum to improve their research, training, development actions and policy-making. It is hoped that the training and other resources exchanged can help update and improve academic curricula, thereby contributing to the building of sustainable national capacities.

The building of the Forum is funded partly by the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme (FNPP), under the Food Security Theme.

Vision

Knowledge and innovative thinking on FSN are only effective when they are shared, leveraged and applied by a large community of people.

The FSN Forum:

• moves beyond information sharing to problem solving and the creation of new values;
• bridges the knowledge divide among the different communities involved in FSN policies and strategies - such as academics, researchers and development practitioners - to improve cooperation and impacts;
• relies on the involvement of its participants;
• promotes collaboration among its members.

Main services offered by the Forum

• On-line discussions providing solutions to queries and problems and shared information/resources on FSN policies and strategies.
• Databases, repositories of resources, information about upcoming events and opportunities, news articles and consolidated responses to queries.
• A one-stop venue for FAO work and research on FSN.
• Monthly newsletters and an annual CD-ROM of key resources.

Benefits

The Forum provides:

• on-line discussions, knowledge sharing and problem solving on topical issues related to FSN policies and strategies;
• information and repository of resources related to FSN issues;
• information about collaboration and capacity development opportunities: fellowships, training, conferences, job/service offers...
• opportunities to have your knowledge recognized by peers in different parts of the world.

Who should become a member of this community?

The Forum is free of charge, open to everybody through voluntary participation, and driven by the needs of its participants.

Potential members include:

• researchers and academics;
• practitioners from civil society organizations;
• development practitioners from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies;
• donors, planners, policy-makers and implementers at all levels;
•  ....

Organization and partnership

The FSN Forum is driven by the needs of members and relies on the active facilitation provided by a Secretariat based at FAO Headquarters in Rome. The Secretariat is responsible for the Forum’s technical platform, organization and moderation/facilitation.

The focal points of 30 FAO representation offices have participated in this initiative. These FAO focal points help the Forum Secretariat to stimulate and coordinate in-country participation.

The FSN Forum receives strong support from the Solution Exchange initiative of the United Nations Team in India. Solution Exchange has provided valuable assistance, advice and support in the building and moderation of the Forum.

Resource persons

The Forum community is guided by a group of eminent resource people with experience and expertise in FSN issues. Resource group members are drawn from:

• civil society and NGOs;
• governments;
• academic and research institutions;
• United Nations agencies: FAO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP)...

Facilitation team

Huyen Tran, Moderator, ESA, FAO.

Mark Smulders, Facilitator, Coordinator of the FAO-FIVIMS Programme, FAO

Kostas Stamoulis, Facilitator, ESAE Service Chief, ESA, FAO

Guest facilitators and moderators from FAO and other institutions.