Understanding Supplementary to the Agreement between the International Labour Organisation
and the Food and Agriculture Organisation

The Directors-General of the I.L.O. and the F.A.O., in application of Article 8 of the Agreement between the two Organisations, which provides that they may enter such supplementary arrangements as may be found desirable in the light of experience, drew up a supplementary understanding on 28 April 1955. The exchange of correspondence which took place in this connection and the text of the understanding are given below.

Letter from the Director-General of the International Labour Office
to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation

Geneva, 28 April 1955.

Dear Dr. Cardon,

I am glad to confirm that the attached Understanding Supplementary to the Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is fully acceptable to me and that I am giving the instructions necessary to ensure that I.L.O. operations are conducted in accordance with its terms to all headquarters and field officers concerned.

I warmly welcome this further step towards the effective co-ordination of the activities of our respective organisations.

Sincerely,

(Signed) David A. MORSE,
Director-General.

Letter from the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation
to the Director-General of the International Labour Office

Geneva, 28 April 1955.

Dear Mr. Morse,

Thank you for your letter of to-day's date. I also am glad to confirm that the attached Understanding Supplementary to the Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is fully acceptable to me and that I am giving the instructions necessary to ensure that F.A.O. operations are conducted in accordance with its terms to all headquarters and field officers concerned.

I join with you in welcoming warmly this further step towards the effective co-ordination of the activities of our respective organisations.

Sincerely,

(Signed) P. V. CARDON,
Director-General.

Letter from the Director-General of the International Labour Office
to the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation

(Translation)

Geneva, 11 June 1955.

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that the Governing Body of the I.L.O. had before it at its 129th Session (Geneva, May 1955), the Understanding Supplementary to the Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation and duly noted this Understanding and its two annexes.

I have the honour to be, etc.,

(Signed) David A. MORSE,
Director-General.

UNDERSTANDING SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION AND THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION

It is provided by article 8 of the Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, which came into force on 11 September 1947, that the Directors-General of the two Organisations may enter into such supplementary arrangements as may be found desirable in the light of experience. As an example of one such arrangement, the Memorandum of Understanding in May 1951 on the subject of migration for land settlement may be cited.

In the interest of further clarification, and in order to avoid overlapping, it is thought desirable to put on record the following outline of respective responsibilities in the fields of vocational training in agriculture, migration for land settlement, co-operatives and rural industries, and of consultations which have taken place concerning the immediate programme of the I.L.O. in respect of social policy in agriculture.

It is recognised that the I.L.O. by its Constitution has special responsibilities in connection with the adoption of Conventions and Recommendations concerning social legislation and policy. In discharging one part of this responsibility it endeavours to obtain recognition of the general importance of agricultural vocational training, with the object of establishing standards but not to the extent of dealing with the technical content of particular forms of agricultural training. It is agreed that the consultations concerning the proposed Recommendation on this subject which have been initiated by the I.L.O. will be continued at each successive stage of the procedure and similar consultations will take place concerning any action of the same type which may be proposed in future. The responsibility of F.A.O. in this field includes the development of regional programmes of inter-country co-operation designed to assist member Governments in improving training institutions, facilities and services, and extends to meeting requests from governments for vocational training, particularly in all agricultural techniques, including food processing, fishing, forestry, nutritional problems and economic and statistical studies.

With regard to migration for land settlement the Memorandum of Understanding which was confirmed in May 1951 remains the key to effective co-ordination.

Where co-operatives are concerned both Organisations have responsibility for administrative, educational, legislative and structural aspects. Although the I.L.O. is interested in all types of co-operatives, including agricultural societies, it is recognised that F.A.O.'s primary interest is in agricultural co-operatives. Annex I gives in detail the guiding lines for collaboration in this field.

In regard to rural industries both Organisations are necessarily concerned with the general issues of policy involved, but for immediate technical assistance purposes the broad division of responsibility is that the I.L.O. is interested in cottage industries and handicrafts, while F.A.O.'s interest is in industries for processing agricultural products and for the manufacture of agricultural requisites. Subject to further joint consultation on the subject with the United Nations, this part of the agreement is to be interpreted in the light of the specimen list which forms Annex II to this Memorandum.

The two Organisations will continue the successful collaboration which they have already established in association with the United Nations and other specialised agencies in respect of agrarian reforms and community organisation and development, and in such matters as vocational training of forestry workers. They are agreed that, when arranging conferences or technical meetings concerned with the improvement of conditions among rural populations and covering topics which are the concern of both Organisations, the possibility of joint action should be considered.

In general, it is agreed that it is very important to have regular consultations and exchanges of information regarding the two Organisations' respective programmes of work in these fields. The aim will be to have frequent consultations between the technical officers concerned in regard to specific projects and activities of joint interest, and periodical meetings between senior officers as often as may be necessary to discuss general questions at the policy level.

In accordance with this principle consultations have taken place concerning the immediate programme of the I.L.O. in respect of social policy in agriculture. Due note has been taken that consideration may be given by the Governing Body of the I.L.O. and the International Labour Conference to the adoption of further Conventions or Recommendations embodying international standards in respect of the regulation of the employment of children and young persons in agriculture, placement problems and employment services in agriculture, and the extension of social security to agriculture. It is agreed that these are essentially matters for the I.L.O. Note has also been taken that fuller consideration may be given by the I.L.O. to the question of the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases in agriculture ; it has been agreed that this is also a question which should be further pursued by the I.L.O. but in regard to which F.A.O. may be in a position to make a major technical contribution of which the I.L.O. would wish to take full advantage.

APPENDIX I

Note on I.L.O.-F.A.O. Responsibilities on Co-operatives

1. It is recognised that in the whole field of co-operatives the closest collaboration between I.L.O. and F.A.O. must be established and maintained.

2. The I.L.O.'s concern with co-operatives derives from its international responsibilities in improving labour conditions, raising living standards and promoting standards of economic and social justice. The F.A.O.'s concern arises from its primary responsibility for securing improvements in the efficiency of the production of all food and agricultural products and for bettering the conditions of rural people. Each organisation has a technical contribution to make in developing co-operatives along the most constructive lines from the standpoint of world economic and social development.

3. It is also recognised that a number of other international organisations are likewise concerned with various aspects of co-operatives and that their collaboration on matters within their competence is equally essential to successful planning and execution of co-operative projects. The purpose of this note, however, is to indicate primary areas of concern to and methods of collaboration between the two Organisations carrying major responsibility in the field of co-operatives : F.A.O. and I.L.O.

4. Exchange of Information on Programmes.

To ensure close collaboration and avoid duplication and waste of efforts it is essential that there should be free and frequent exchange of information between the two Organisations.

To this end it is agreed that at the earliest possible date, when programmes of work or plans for future activities are being prepared, each Organisation should provide the other with details of the proposed programmes and projects, including plans for publications, surveys, studies, conferences, seminars, training centres and technical meetings. When it is found that both Organisations are planning similar projects there will be full consultation as to which Organisation should carry out the project or whether it should be undertaken jointly.

5. General Programme.

(a) By reason of its terms of reference the F.A.O. is necessarily interested in agricultural co-operatives and their development throughout the world. The I.L.O. recognises the essential interest of the F.A.O. in this field, while continuing to give attention to agricultural co-operatives in relation to its own programme of work. The two Organisations will endeavour, by constant collaboration, to develop joint or complementary action wherever possible.

(b) The I.L.O. will continue to deal with organisational, legislative, administrative and educational aspects of all types of co-operative, and the F.A.O. will also participate in these matters in so far as they relate to projects in its own programme for agricultural co-operation.

6. Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance.

(a) In view of the necessity for ensuring some degree of flexibility in determining the respective activities of the two Organisations in projects under the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance, it is agreed that, in assuming commitments for Technical Assistance projects, the two Organisations should primarily be governed by their respective approaches to general programme work on co-operatives.

(b) Where a project appears to be equally relevant to I.L.O. and F.A.O. interests, the possibility of joint action shall be explored.

(c) Where either of the Organisations may be preparing or implementing in a given country a project or series of projects related to the co-operative project proposed, the possibility of associating the new project with an existing project shall be given special consideration.

(d) Where more than one expert is required consideration shall be given to the possibility of appointing a joint team.

(e) In all cases, there shall be consultation with a view to agreement on a concerted line of action before either agency enters into definite commitments.

7. Conferences or Technical Meetings.

The following considerations will be taken into account by both Organisations when arranging conferences or technical meetings :

(i) If, after consultations, it is deemed desirable that the meeting or conference should be arranged by one Organisation, that Organisation will invite the other to attend.

(ii) If the meeting or conference is to cover topics which are the concern of both Organisations the possibility of a joint meeting or conference will be considered.

(iii) If the meeting or conference is held or sponsored by one Organisation the other Organisation will as soon as possible be informed of the resolutions passed and, where necessary, consultations will be initiated on any proposed action to be taken thereon.

8. Publications.

(a) Each Organisation will inform the other of studies and papers on co-operatives subjects which it proposes to prepare and publish.

(b) Where the subject matter of the publication relates to aspects of co-operation which lie within the fields of interests of both Organisations, the possibility of a joint publication will be considered.

(c) Each Organisation will put at the disposal of the other all possible information relevant to publications.

9. Field Visits.

Each Organisation will inform the other of proposed visits by co-operatives officers abroad. Where visits are contemplated to the same country by officers of the two Organisations, arrangements will be made, if possible, for the visits of officers of the two Organisations to coincide so that local consultation may be arranged.

10. In order to ensure the closest possible co-operation between the two Organisations, particularly in field activities, frequent meetings between the principal technical officers concerned shall be held.

APPENDIX II

Division of Rural Industries

Note. In borderline cases, such as spinning and weaving, all projects will be the subject of consultation. If a project in this field comes out of another already undertaken by one Organisation, then the same Organisation would have responsibility notwithstanding the above list, e.g. an F.A.O. tanning expert might undertake certain other forms of leather work.

***

Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. XXXVIII, 1955, No. 7