The world's animal genetic resources are critical to food security and sustainable livelihoods but many face the threat of extinction. The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, adopted in 2007, aims to protect the wealth and diversity of these resources and to promote their sustainable use and development. In 2009, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture adopted the Funding Strategy for the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action. The Funding Strategy foresaw the establishment of an FAO Trust Account through which funds could be directed to support implementation of the Global Plan of Acton. Thanks to the Governments of Germany, Norway and Switzerland, the Trust Account has received more than US$1 million in voluntary contributions.

In 2011, the Commission issued a first call for project proposals for the use of the Trust Account funds. Countries were invited to submit project concept notes, focusing on three agreed areas of priority:

• information exchange, technology transfer and capacity-building
• sustainable use of animal genetic resources, and
• managing animal genetic resources.

The maximum allocation per project was set at US$50,000 for single-country projects and US$100,000 for regional projects. The length of projects was limited to not more than two years.

Fifty-two eligible concept notes, involving 59 countries, were submitted in response to the call for proposals. These were evaluated by the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Bureau of the Commission then approved the 26 highest-ranking concept notes and invited the submission of fully fledged project proposals – 24 of which were received. The proposals were reviewed by international technical experts and 13, involving 30 countries, were selected to receive funding.

Details of the projects are available here [click here for map of project locations].

A second call for project proposals will be launched once the FAO Trust Account has been replenished.