ROME, 21 July 2010

Jacques Diouf, Director–General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Antonio Badini, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of their organizations to address world hunger and improve food security. The fairness of a country's legal system and the strengthened legal empowerment of the most vulnerable sectors of the population are essential components in fighting hunger. FAO is leading international efforts to defeat world hunger and IDLO is the only intergovernmental organization whose sole focus is using the rule of law to improve people's lives. Based in Rome, FAO and IDLO, together with IFAD and the WFP, represent a strong voice in efforts to address these fundamental world challenges.

After the signing, IDLO's Director-General affirmed that “The formal partnership we begin today will greatly improve the service we provide to the world’s poor. Our two organizations join forces today to introduce a new participatory model to enhance food security.” Ambassador Badini continued “What we signed today is an effective working tool which will immediately find implementation in a first project in Ecuador aiming at assisting the indigenous population of the Chimborazo region to address issues affecting food production. We are confident that our respective expertise in the areas of law and agricultural productivity will represent a powerful contributor to increase agricultural production in this region and throughout Ecuador”.

For more information please contact Francesca Pispisa 06/40403297, fpispisa@idlo.int