30 March 2022

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership and boost public-private collaboration.

Signed by ICC Secretary-General John W.H. Denton AO and FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the MoU aims to promote responsible investments in line with countries’ priorities, enhance communications and public-private collaboration, and facilitate knowledge-sharing. It will support the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – with an emphasis on mitigating climate change and strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems and natural resources.

As part of the MoU, the two parties agree to enhance advocacy and communication, seeking opportunities to highlight their shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote the important role played by FAO, ICC and the private sector in achieving these at local and global levels.

The MoU also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange between the two parties and support their individual initiatives, especially those with a focus on SDG 2 – eradicating world hunger by 2030. As part of this, ICC will provide FAO with a platform to share knowledge on best sustainable agricultural practices, with the aim of increasing collaboration with the private sector. Additionally, the MoU will connect relevant FAO offices with ICC’s global network of national committees and national and local chambers of commerce.

Hand-in-Hand collaboration

Through FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO and ICC will work together to promote responsible investments and sustainable strategies for agri-food system transformation and foster private sector engagement. Hand-in-Hand acts as a matchmaker of resources – including knowledge, technology, innovation, capacity development and training, access to markets and finance and investment – to bring together development partners and countries and encourage collaboration. Through Hand-in-Hand, parties can help each other realise their economic and social potential. FAO and ICC have agreed to join forces to enhance the participation of the private sector in this initiative.