Quo vadis, FAO?

The present recession in aid funding and the ongoing transformation of the United Nations development programme and project management approach calls for fresh ideas, particularly from within the UN specialized agencies. In the largest of these, PAO, a process of self-reflection and intellectual fermentation seems to be taking place to some extent in response to the important November 1993 biennial FAO Conference. The Conference marks the end of the third consecutive six-year electoral term of the organization's Director-General. This article presents for debate some critical issues and opportunities which appear timely for consideration by those working within and outside FAO on the design of realistic development policies.