IPSA has been helping civil society stakeholders engage whenever the United Nations and its affiliates have taken up Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD).
The following provides a timeline of selected achievements (outcomes bulleted):
1992
Coordinated NGO involvement (US and international) in preparatory process for UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED - Earth Summit).
- Inclusion of language on SARD in chapter 14 of Agenda 21 (Intergovernmental Decision Text).
- This led to new program starts such as a project for ecological agriculture at UNDP and consolidation of Major Group representation in newly formed Commission on Sustainable Development(CSD).
1993-ongoing
Organized Annual meetings of NGO caucus on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
- Annual CSD meetings provided opportunities for leadership development among grassroots and national NGOs.
- Multi-lateral side events and briefings with civil society, government and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) leadership participation.
- UN floor interventions on behalf of small farmer and local food systems’ interests.
- Improved fundraising, logistics, and coordination for civil society participants focused on national and international policy relationship building.
1998
Formal launch of International Partners for Sustainable Agriculture at Meadowcreek Center, Arkansas.
- IPSA Associates identified in each region.
- Developed network to link good practices to policy at both national and international levels through UN processes.
2000
Organized first UN Multistakeholder Dialogue on SARD between Major Groups and Governments at CSD 8 (New York) where the focus was on SARD, Land and Trade.
- Successful debate led to first ever multi-Major Group request to governments to continue work of SARD, leading to new policy, programs and initiatives.
2001
Organized first Civil Society Major Group Multistakeholder Dialogue on SARD at FAO Committee on Agriculture meeting in Rome with developing country participants from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
- FAO agrees to work with Major Groups on preparation for a Civil Society led partnership program to be launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Agriculture (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
2002
Facilitated civil society participation in preparatory meetings for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Bali, Indonesia.
- Working relationships with selected governments supportive of people-centered SARD (positive change in official policy language).
Organized Major Group participation in launch of the SARD Mountain Project in Adelboden, Switzerland with continuing good collaborative negotiation between Civil Society and Governments.
- Major Group engagement in new program to focus on SARD in mountain areas of world led to new donor and national attention and projects benefiting sustainable development needs of mountain peoples.
Organized and trained over 400 Civil Society participants in preparation for and advocacy during the World Summit on Sustainable Development including launch of a unique Civil Society led, Government supported and Intergovernmental Organization facilitated SARD Initiative.
- 60 countries and hundreds of Civil Society organizations joined in support of this “people-centered approach to SARD” with potential to affect the way grassroots priorities for development are responded to by governments and donors.
2003-2005
Engaged with Senior FAO staff and organized briefings with governments in support of the SARD Initiative.
- Working relationships with several departmental staff and facilitated interface between Major Group focal points, partners and governments.
Facilitated Major Group intervention in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meetings on rural development in Geneva and New York.
- Final declaration focused on improving national rural development policy in developing and developed countries where investments in the rural sector have precipitously declined.
Collaborated with FAO to highlight Major Group work on SARD Initiative in High Level Cardoso Commission on UN Civil Society Relations.
- This unique cross-cutting multi-Major Group collaboration for policy and program development was a highlight of the resulting UN report.
2005
Facilitated Major Group involvement in UN FAO to jointly design the SARD Initiative project, including building of a collaborative team of FAO professional staff, Major Group SARD focal points, consultants and many partner organizations.
- The project framework for SARD Initiative at 2005 Committee on Agriculture meeting in Rome gained commitments from Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Canada, among others, to fund elements of initial country projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Facilitated Major Group participation in and chairing of policy session at International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) Global Learning Opportunity, Rome.
- SARD practices linked to desired policy outcomes included in conference report made available internationally on CD-ROM.
Facilitated Kenya Major Group capacity to engage with SARD Initiative project in first example of country launch and worked with Major Group focal points in other country settings for the SARD Initiative.
- Kenya grassroots leadership engaged national and international processes to address community-based priorities in context of SARD. Multi-Major Group work at national level gives new power and meaning to Civil Society work in Kenya.
2005
Facilitated first formal SARD Initiative Business Meeting of Major Groups and FAO at the Global Learning Opportunity (GLO) co-sponsored by IFAD and FAO.
- Major Group priorities become the basis for a two year SARD Initiative workplan, including outputs for Indigenous Peoples, Women, Youth, NGO, Farmers and Workers & Trade Unions. Priorities included focus on role of livestock in development, capacity building for women, and identifying cultural indicators for indigenous peoples.
2006
Facilitated LOA with UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to coordinate SARD Initiative Major Groups.
- Agreed organizational structure and decision-making process.
2007
Organized Major Group review of SARD Resource Facility in cooperation with Government of Canada and International Institute for Sustainable Development.
- Report of meeting becomes the basis for Major Group input to FAO on the Resource Facility.
Invited to help with NGO and Major Group preparations for CSD 16.
