FAO Regional Office for Africa

The FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAO/RAF) was established as a result of the decision of the governing organs of the FAO to decentralize substantive programme operations towards the Regions in response to the wishes and strong demand by the member nations including the Government of Ghana. Thus in 1957, by Resolution 27, the Ninth Session of the FAO  Conference decided on the establishment  of the FAO Regional Office for Africa and in response to the kind offer of the Republic of Ghana, the 29th Session of the FAO Council in 1958 agreed to locate the Regional Office in  Accra. Accordingly, an agreement was entered between the Government of Ghana and the FAO Regional Office for Africa on 22nd December 1959 delineating the responsibilities of the two parties.

The principal function of the Regional Office for Africa is the overall identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the Region. It ensures a multi disciplinary approach to programmes; identify priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at headquarters, advise on the incorporation of such priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget; implement approved programmes in the Region; and monitor the level of programme implementation and draw attention to any deficiencies.