http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during the second GSP Plenary Assembly that took place in Rome; FAO HQ from 22 to 24 July 2014. The presentation was made by Olcay Unver & Alexander Jones and contains the report on the finincial support. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Report on the Financial Support
of the Global Soil Partnership
and
Establishment of
the Healthy Soils Facility
Mr. Olcay Unver, Deputy Director NRL
Mr. Alexander Jones, Chief TCSR
22-24 July 2014
Red Room

2. Commitment of FAO to the GSP
 FAO is fully committed to the implementation of the GSP, in particular by
hosting and funding the Secretariat on its premises.
 The GSP has cross-cutting activities and is being promoted through the
Corporate Area for Resource Mobilisation “Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
for Food and Agriculture”; (CARM)
In support of the GSP Resource Mobilization and as per the request of the
First GSP Plenary Assembly which took place in July 2013, a Facility has been
open “Healthy Soils Facility”;
The Facility is part of the FAO’s Strategic Framework Objective aiming at
increasing and improving provision of goods and services for agriculture,
forestry and fisheries in sustainable manner.

3. The GSP Financial Support
The GSP is supported by two sources of funds, as follows:
The Facility is a priority for FAO Resource
Mobilization!
FAO Assessed
Contributions
(Regular
Programme)
Voluntary
Contributions
by Resource
Partners
(Facility)

4. FAO Assessed Contributions
The GSP Secretariat
Under the overall guidance and leadership by FAO Deputy Director
General – Natural Resources and and the Director of Land and
Water Division (NRL):
o As per the terms of reference of the GSP Secretariat, FAO is
committed to dedicate one Professional Technical Officer and one
General Service Staff (biennium 2014-2015, USD630 000).
o On a part time basis, technical officers also from other divisions
and decentralized offices with competence on soil issues.
o Short-term assistance via Consultants, Internships, Volunteers,
and Secondments;

5. Support to Activities
Managed through Land and Water Division, NRL
(ACTIVITIES REFER TO BIENNIA 2012-2013 AND 2014-2015)
o Support provided to Latin America (already implemented) and Near East and North
Africa as well as to Asia (still ongoing) through Letters of Agreement signed with
National Institutions for a total amount of USD800 000;
o Launch of Regional Soils Partnerships for Africa, Eurasia and Central America; Total
cost of the activity ~ USD180 000;
o Organization of two Plenary Assemblies (one in 2013 and one in 2014); Total
estimated cost ~ USD220 000; It is important to point out the cost of the PA language:
Translation of documents in six languages~USD57 000 and Interpretation
three days (five sessions of three hours each) in six languages ~USD46 000;
o Organization of two ITPS sessions (one in 2013 and one in 2014); Total estimated cost
~ USD110 000;
o Publication of materials, participation in meetings and other items ~ USD100 000.
FAO Assessed Contributions

6. “In-kind” Contributions
IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
Special recognition is also due to all those partners and other institutions
who have thus far made important contributions to GSP implementation.
- ITPS members;
- the working group members of the various GSP pillars;
- national soil institutions which provided staff for developing
various GSP components;
- resource partners,
Voluntary Contributions to the GSP

7. A key priority for FAO resource mobilization
Based on the request of the GSP First Plenary Assembly the GSP
Secretariat established the Healthy Soils Facility in March 2014;
The Facility supports the Five Pillars of Action of the GSP;
The Facility is flexible and can receive earmarked as well as less
earmarked voluntary contributions through different modalities, such
as bilateral, multilateral projects, joint programmes, etc.
A tentative programmatic budget has been estimated of USD64
million over 5 years;
Establishment of the Healthy Soils Facility

8. GOVERNANCE OF THE GSP AND THE
FACILITY
GSP GOVERNANCE
Healthy Soils Facility
Resources to support GSP
implementation
Steering Committee of the
Facility
Oversight by

9. SUPPORTING THE FACILITLY
The Facility encourages partnership with any governmental entity
and non-governmental institution that shares the same vision and
goal of sustainable soil management;
Interested resource partners can contribute to the components
which match their own preferences under the orientations given
by the GSP assembly;
Establishment of the Healthy Soils Facility

10. Voluntary Contributions
under the Healthy Soils Facility
In December 2013 the European Union endorsed a contribution of USD
1,350,000) for a project supporting the GSP for 2014-2015, and including the
following components:
- Component 1: Support to the work of the Intergovernmental
Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS).
- Component 2: Development of detailed Implementation Plans at
regional level under the global Plans of Action .
- Component 3: Capacity development on improved soil information
(Digital Soil Mapping) in areas of most critical need (Africa).
The project implementation has been proceeding, and a first progress report
is being submitted this week;

11. THE FACILITY WORKS AT THE FIELD LEVEL
The gap in funding is very large, and the GSP Secretariat with support of
Deputy Director General – Natural Resources is appealing to resource
partners for support
Soil
Conservation
and Soil
Restoration
Soil Research,
extension and
capacity
development
Awareness
raising,
education and
policy dialogue
Strengthening national
soil institutions
Soil information Systems
and SoilSTAT

12. While FAO and its Member States
are fully committed to the GSP and its
decisions, it is important to translate planning
into broad based field actions by supporting
the newly established Healthy Soils Facility

13. THANK YOU VERY MUCH