The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the UN dedicated to eradicating hunger, improving nutrition, boosting agricultural productivity, enhancing the sustainable management of natural resources, and raising the standard of living of rural populations. FAO translates these objectives into actionable strategies through various means. For instance, the current Strategic Framework (2022–2031) seeks to support Türkiye’s vision for 2030 by transforming agrifood systems into more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable models. This initiative, known as the “Four Betters,” focuses on fostering Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life so as to leave no one behind (FAO, 2023). By implementing these four pillars, FAO aspires to rid the world of hunger, promote sustainable development, and ensure food security for all.
FAO’s Emergency Response Approach
FAO is globally recognized for its expertise in preventing and managing emergencies. As part of its mandate to end hunger, FAO supports nations struggling with acute food insecurity. As a preventive mechanism, FAO monitors food security, agricultural conditions, and economic stability in crisis-prone areas and uses this information to issue early warnings to avert potential food crises and to guide policymakers in their decisions. FAO provides immediate support to affected communities during emergencies by distributing agricultural equipment and other items. These efforts help farmers resume agricultural production as soon as possible and earn a living.
FAO’s efforts extend beyond immediate relief to building long-term resilience. This includes educating farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, encouraging crop and income diversification, and establishing community-based early warning systems to mitigate the losses incurred by future emergencies. Furthermore, FAO integrates its emergency responses with longer-term development initiatives aimed at recovery and the reconstruction of agricultural systems and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
FAO works in close partnerships with governments, other UN agencies, NGOs, local authorities, and communities to ensure more comprehensive, better coordinated responses. The organization similarly plays a key role in gathering evidence on acute food insecurity, analyzing its root causes, and formulating lasting solutions. As co-founder of the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), co-leader of the Global Food Security Cluster, and host of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), FAO is instrumental in addressing global food crises and preventing famine.
FAO in Türkiye
Türkiye became a member of FAO in 1948 and established her first country office in 1982. A quarter of a century later, this office was transformed into the Subregional Office for Central Asia in response to the growing partnership between FAO and the Turkish government. Since its inception, FAO-Türkiye Office has supported Turkish agriculture and rural communities through capacity-building projects, technical cooperation, and policy dialogue. These efforts cover various sectors, including crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry, the agrifood industry, and rural development. The office plays a key role in strengthening community resilience and economic stability in crisis zones.
FAO’s Earthquake Response Efforts in Türkiye
FAO Türkiye has, since 2011, supported the Turkish government’s response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis through its Syrian Refugee Resilience Program and by co-leading the Economic Empowerment Sector under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP). Drawing on its extensive experience, FAO Türkiye mobilized its human, technical, and financial resources to mount a massive, multipronged response to the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on 6 February 2023. As part of our work, we helped affected communities maintain their agricultural production while complementing government-led efforts.
In collaboration with Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MoAF), FAO Türkiye conducted three assessments immediately following the earthquakes—Türkiye: Initial Assessment on Possible Impacts of the Earthquake in 11 Provinces, Türkiye: Agriculture sector needs assessment for earthquake-impacted provinces, and Rapid geospatial assessment after the earthquake in Türkiye in 2023—to identify damage, loss, needs, and priority areas for intervention. Based on their findings and the Türkiye Earthquakes Recovery and Reconstruction Assessment (TERRA), FAO formulated the Türkiye: Earthquake response and recovery plan 2023–2026 (ERRP).
The ERRP outlines a comprehensive framework for FAO’s short-, medium-, and long-term earthquake response efforts, with the primary objective of maintaining food access and availability through restoration and improvement of agrifood systems and rural livelihoods. Spanning thirty-six months and backed by a 112 million USD budge, this plan aims to benefit 700,000 individuals and over 850 businesses in the affected area. Its three outcomes are to (i) restore agrifood systems, including supply and value chains, (ii) revitalize the agricultural labor market, and (iii) empower rural communities for sustainable development. The ERRP seeks to mainstream women’s empowerment, disaster risk reduction, earthquake-resilient rebuilding, stronger private sector engagement, and climate‑smart, nature-based solutions.
To respond to the needs of the agrifood sector and its workers, on the one hand, and to achieve the outcomes of ERRP, on the other, FAO Türkiye secured funding from the governments of Norway, Sweden, and Germany and FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme – Emergency Assistance. Furthermore, funds from the EU and the government of Japan, allocated as part of the aforementioned 3RP, were redirected to support these efforts. These funds allowed FAO Türkiye to plan and implement a series of initiatives aimed at meeting both immediate and long-term recovery needs.
Support Activities Completed (February–December 2023)
- Provided 100 portable motorized knapsack sprayers and fifty chainsaws to 150 farming households.
- Distributed 340.8 tons of animal feed to 1,085 livestock producers.
- Distributed 192.75 tons of fertilizer to 905 farming households.
- Delivered 2.5 tons of cotton seed to fifty farming households and 175 bags of maize seed (to 125 farming households.
- Provided 70,200 tomato seedlings to seventy-five farming households.
- Provided 100 milking machines and twenty milk storages and cooling tanks to 180 livestock producers.
- Delivered 310 pheromone traps to 155 farming households.
- Provided unconditional cash transfers of 75 USD per household member to 1,843 farming households (totaling 7,543 members).
- Delivered two food processing machines to one women-led cooperative.
- Provided conditional cash support of 18.50 USD per day for three months to 300 individuals participating in cash-for-work programs aimed at rehabilitating community assets.
- Provided climate smart production and disaster resilience training to 900 farmers.
Planned Support (December 2023–June 2024)
- Provided thirty tons of fertilizer to 120 farming households.
- Provided 190 milking machines to 190 farming households.
- Delivered twenty-one food processing machines to three women-led cooperatives.
- Provided conditional cash support of 24 USD per day for three months to 300 individuals participating in cash-for-work programs aimed at rehabilitating community assets.
- Provided climate-smart inputs and equipment and climate smart and disaster resilient production training to 660 farmers.
- Supported six farmer unions and cooperatives with capacity development and provision of machinery, equipment, assets, and other inputs.
- Provided vocational training to fifty individuals to enhance their employment prospects and meet the skilled labor needs in the affected area.
- Finalized three assessments—(i) a value chain analysis for dairy, aquaculture, and horticulture subsectors, (ii) a forestry impact assessment, and (iii) a participatory rural appraisal—in collaboration with MoAF and local partners to guide future responses.
FAO will continue to support Türkiye in her response efforts, especially the recovery phase, throughout 2024. We remain committed to using all of our resources to eradicate hunger, improve nutrition, boost agricultural productivity, promote sustainable resource management, and raise living standards for rural populations.
1 FAO (2023)i Agriculture sector needs assessment for neearthquake-impacted provinces, https://www.fao.org/3/cc6884en/cc6884en.pdf
2 FAO (2023). Rapid geospatial assessment after the earthquake in Türkiye in 2023, https://www.fao.org/3/cc6875en/cc6875en.pdf
3 FAO(2023). Türkiye: Earthquake response and recovery plan, 2023–2026, https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cc5910en