ABSTRACT
The priorities set for marketing in Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) programme of work, and the resources available to it, underwent substantial changes between 1945 and 1990. The 1970s saw a special effort by FAO and the World Bank to help the poorest segments of rural society. FAO’s technical competence would help to guide World Bank finance. Through the last decade FAO has struggled to maintain its technical assistance against a backdrop of declining financial support and adverse public relations. As early as 1965 an FAO review team recommended that its regional units be withdrawn to headquarters to handle project operations. The strength of FAO lies in its professional competence, so its highest posts should be reserved for leaders in its main fields of work. As an assurance to agencies and voluntary groups implementing projects through FAO, and to provide more pressure for efficient performance, all FAO field projects should be accountable.
