Information Systems

The availability of timely and reliable information is essential to the development process and informed decision-making. FAO draws upon comparative experience and international best practice to assist Member Countries in developing information systems covering all aspects of nutrition, food and agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, rural development and the environment. Such systems include the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of information and the institutional structures necessary to develop and maintain such systems. Assistance may be provided through projects addressing specific components of the information system, or as part of a larger programme focusing on a range of technical issues related to the development of the system.

Particularly important FAO food and agricultural information systems include the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS), and various information systems covering specific sectors under its mandate. Following a severe drought or similar crisis, a developing country may request FAO to mount a mission jointly carried out with the World Food Programme to evaluate the status of its crop and food supply, including possible need for food assistance, and reported through GIEWS. FAO also works with Member Governments to compile information published under its series on "the State of": food and agriculture, world fisheries and aquaculture, the world's forests, and food insecurity in the world; its geographic information systems and in a number of FAO databases.

SEE NORMATIVE FRAMEWORKS:

• Capacity Building for an Integrated Information Management System (IIMS) (TCP)
  

• Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAM) (TCP)
  

• Technical Assistance to Support the Development of a National Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping System (TCP)
  

SEE PROJECT EXAMPLES:

• Sistema de Información para el Seguimiento de la Seguridad Alimentaria (SISSA) en el marco de la Iniciativa del SICIAV (TCP)
  

• Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (TCP)
  

• Strengthening National Food Security Information System (Asia) (TF)
  

• Establishment of a Land Resource Information System to improve Land Use Policy (TCP)
  

USEFUL FAO LINKS:

• Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS)
  

• Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS)
  

• Sustainable Development Department "SD Dimensions - Geoinformation, monitoring and assessment"
  

• Economic and Social Department
  

• World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
  

• FAO World Reviews on "the State of"
  

• FAO Statistical Databases (FAOSTAT)
  

• Fisheries Global Information System (FIGIS)