# United Nations Treaty Series/Volume 1/2/10

No. 10
UNITED NATIONS and FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
English and French official texts communicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The filing and recording took place on 3 February 1947.
Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that specialized agencies established by intergovernmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities as defined in their basic instruments in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations. Article 63 of the Charter provides that the Economic and Social Council may enter into agreements with any of the agencies referred to in Article 57, defining the terms on which the agency concerned shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations, and specifies that such agreements shall be subject to approval by the General Assembly.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, meeting in its first session in Quebec, Canada, 16 October to 1 November 1945, adopted a resolution stating that, in pursuance of Article XIII of the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization (which provides that the Organization shall constitute a part of any general international organization to which may be entrusted the co-ordination of the activities of international organizations with specialized responsibilities), the Organization should, without prejudice to its purposes and limitations as set out in the Constitution, so order its procedure and practice as to achieve the closest relationship with the United Nations; and that in order to give effect to this provision the Director-General should, with the approval of the Executive Committee, negotiate agreements between the Organization and the United Nations.
The Economic and Social Council, during its first session, in January–February 1946, adopted a resolution establishing a Committee of the Council on Negotiations with Specialized Agencies which was directed to enter into negotiations as early as possible with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with the approval of the Executive Committee, in March 1946, appointed a negotiating committee to enter into negotiations with the United Nations.
​Negotiations between the Committee on Negotiations with Specialized Agencies of the Economic and Social Council and the Negotiating Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations took place in New York on 6 and 7 June 1946 and resulted in a draft agreement. In this draft agreement a decision regarding relations with the International Court of Justice was deferred pending further consideration thereof by the Economic and Social Council.
This draft agreement was initialed on 10 June 1946 by Sir A. Ramaswami Mudaliar, President of the Economic and Social Council and Chairman of the Committee on Negotiations with Specialized Agencies, and Professor André Mayer, Chairman of the Executive Committee and of the Negotiating Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
On 21 June 1946, the Economic and Social Council, during its second session, unanimously recommended the Agreement between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to the General Assembly for its approval.
The second session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations held in Copenhagen from 2 to 14 September 1946, adopted a resolution approving the Agreement and instructing the Director-General to sign on behalf of the Organization upon approval by the United Nations.
The Conference also approved the request of the Negotiating Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that Article IX provide that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations be authorized to request directly advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of its activities.
On 3 October 1946, the Economic and Social Council, during its third session, recommended to the General Assembly that it approve the insertion in the draft agreement of the authorization regarding relations with the International Court of Justice requested by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Agreement was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14 December 1946.
​Article XX of the Agreement provides that the Agreement shall come into force on its approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations and by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Agreement accordingly came into force on 14 December 1946.
A copy of the authentic text of the Agreement is attached hereto.
In faith whereof we have appended our signatures, this third day of February, one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, to two original copies of the present Protocol, the text of which consists of versions in the English and French languages which are equally authentic. One of the original copies will be filed and recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations and the other will be deposited in the archives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
| Trygve Lie | John Boyd Orr |
| Secretary-General of the United Nations | Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that specialized agencies, established by inter-governmental agreement and having wide international responsibilities as defined in their basic instruments in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations.
Article XIII of the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations provides that the Organization shall constitute a part of any general international organization to which may be entrusted the co-ordination of the activities of international organizations with specialized responsibilities.
Article I
The United Nations recognizes the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a specialized agency and as being responsible for taking such action as may be appropriate under its basic instrument for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth therein.
Article II
Reciprocal Representation
1. Representatives of the United Nations shall be invited to attend the meetings of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its committees, the Executive Committee, and such general, regional, or other special meetings as the Organization may convene, and to participate, without vote, in the deliberations of these bodies.
2. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be invited to attend meetings of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (hereinafter called the Council) and of its commissions and committees and to participate, without vote, in the deliberations of these bodies with respect to items on their agenda relating to matters within the scope of its activities.
3. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be invited to attend meetings of the General Assembly for purposes of consultation on matters within the scope of its activities.
4. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be invited to attend meetings of the main committees of the General Assembly when matters within the scope of its activities are under discussion and to participate, without vote, in such discussions.
5. Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be invited to attend the meetings of the Trusteeship Council and to participate, without vote, in the deliberations thereof with respect to items on tile agenda relating to matters within the scope of its activities.
Article III
Proposal of Agenda Items
Subject to such preliminary consultation as may be necessary, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall include on the agenda of the Conference or Executive Committee items proposed to it by the United Nations. Similarly, the Council and its commissions and the Trusteeship Council shall include on their agenda items proposed by the Conference or Executive Committee of the Organization.
Article IV
Recommendations of the United Nations
1. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, having regard to the obligation of the United Nations to promote the objectives set forth in Article 55 of the Charter and the function and power of the Council, under Article 62 of the Charter, to make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international, economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related matters and to make recommendations concerning these matters to the specialized agencies concerned, and having regard also to the responsibility of the United Nations, under Articles 58 and 63 of the Charter, to make recommendations for the co-ordination of the policies and activities of such specialized agencies, agrees to arrange for the submission, as soon as possible, to the appropriate organ of the Organization, of all formal recommendations which the United Nations may make to it.
2. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to enter into consultation with the United Nations upon request with respect to such recommendations, and in due course to report to the United Nations on the action taken by the Organization or by its members to give effect to such recommendations, or on the other results of their consideration.
Article V
Exchange of Information and Documents
1. Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for the safeguarding of confidential material, the fullest and promptest exchange of information and documents shall be made between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
2. Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of paragraph 1:
    (a) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to transmit to the United Nations regular reports on the activities of the Organization;
    (b) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to comply to the fullest extent practicable with any request which the United Nations may make for the furnishing of special reports, studies, or information, subject to the conditions set forth in article XV;
    (c) The Secretary-General shall, upon request, consult with the Director-General regarding the provision to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of such information as may be of special interest to the Organization.
Article VI
Assistance to the Security Council
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to co-operate with the Economic and Social Council in furnishing such information and rendering such assistance to the Security Council as that Council may request, including assistance in carrying out decisions of the Security Council for the maintenance or restoration of international peace and security.
Article VII
Assistance to the Trusteeship Council
Article VIII
Non-Self-Governing Territories
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to co-operate with the United Nations in giving effect to the principles and obligations set forth in Chapter XI of the Charter with regard to matters affecting the well-being and development of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Article IX
Relations with the International Court of Justice
1. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to furnish any information which may be requested by the International Court of Justice in pursuance of Article 34 of the Statute of the Court.
2. The General Assembly authorizes the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to request advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of its activities other than questions concerning the mutual relationships of the Organization and the United Nations or other specialized agencies.
3. Such request may be addressed to the Court by the Conference or by the Executive Committee acting in pursuance of an authorization by the Conference.
4. When requesting the International Court of justice to give an advisory opinion the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall inform the Economic and Social Council of the request.
Article X
Headquarters and Regional Offices
1. The permanent headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be situated at the permanent seat of the United Nations subject to:
    (a) The permanent headquarters of the United Nations being situated at a place where the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations can effectively and economically discharge its duties and maintain effective liaison with those specialized agencies with which it is particularly concerned; ​
    (b) Satisfactory arrangements being made in a subsequent agreement between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations regarding the provision of a site and necessary facilities for the establishment of such headquarters.
The United Nations shall provide the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with appropriate assistance in the establishment of the permanent headquarters of the Organization at the permanent seat of the United Nations.
2. Any regional or branch offices which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations may establish shall, so far as practicable, be closely associated with such regional or branch offices as the United Nations may establish.
Article XI
Personnel Arrangements
1. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognize that the eventual development of a single unified international civil service is desirable from the standpoint of effective administrative co-ordination, and with this end in view agree to develop common personnel standards, methods and arrangements designed to avoid serious discrepancies in terms and conditions of employment, to avoid competition in recruitment of personnel, and to facilitate interchange of personnel in order to obtain the maximum benefit from their services.
2. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree to co-operate to the fullest extent possible in achieving these ends and in particular they agree to:
    (a) Consult together concerning the establishment of an International Civil Service Commission to advise on the means by which common standards of recruitment in tile secretariats of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies may be ensured;
    (b) Consult together concerning other matters relating to the employment of their officers and staff, including conditions of service, duration of appointments, classification, salary scales and allowances, retirement and pension rights, and staff regulations and rules with a view to securing as much uniformity in these matters as shall be found practicable;
    (c) Co-operate in the interchange of personnel when desirable on a temporary or permanent basis, making due provision for the retention of seniority and pension rights; ​
    (d) Co-operate in the establishment and operation of suitable machinery for the settlement of disputes arising in connexion with the employment of personnel and related matters.
Article XII
Statistical Services
1. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree to strive for maximum co-operation, the elimination of all undesirable duplication between them, and the most efficient use of their technical personnel in their respective collection, analysis, publication, and dissemination of statistical information. They agree to combine their efforts to secure the greatest possible usefulness and utilization of statistical information and to minimize the burdens placed upon national governments and other organizations from which such information may be collected.
2. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes the United Nations as the central agency for the collection, analysis, publicaion, standardization, and improvement of statistics serving the general purposes of international organizations.
3. The United Nations recognizes the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as the appropriate agency for the collection, analysis, publication, standardization, and improvement of statistics within its special sphere, without prejudice to the right of the United Nations to concern itself with such statistics so far as they may be essential for its own purposes or for the improvement of statistics throughout the world.
4. The United Nations shall in consultation with the specialized agencies develop administrative instruments and procedures through which effective statistical co-operation may be secured between the United Nations and the agencies brought into relationship with it.
5. It is recognized as desirable that the collection of statistical information should not be duplicated by the United Nations or any of the specialized agencies whenever it is practicable for any of them to utilize information or materials which another may have available.
Article XIII
Administrative and Technical Services
1. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognize the desirability, in the interest of administrative and technical uniformity and of the most efficient use of personnel and resources, of avoiding, whenever possible, the establishment and operation of competitive or overlapping facilities and services among the United Nations and the specialized agencies.
2. Accordingly, the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree to consult together concerning the establishment and use of common administrative and technical services and facilities in addition to those referred to in articles XI, XII, and XIV, in so far as the establishment and use of such services may from time to time be found practicable and appropriate.
3. Arrangements shall be made between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in regard to the registration and deposit of official documents.
Article XIV
Budgetary and Financial Arrangements
1. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes the desirability of establishing close budgetary and financial relationships with the United Nations in order that the administrative operations of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies shall be carried out in the most efficient and economical manner possible, and that the maximum measure of co-ordination and uniformity with respect to these operations shall be secured.
2. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree to co-operate to the fullest extent possible in achieving these ends and, in particular, shall consult together concerning appropriate arrangements for the inclusion of the budget of the Organization within a general budget of the United Nations. Such arrangements shall be defined in a supplementary agreement between the two organizations.
3. Pending the conclusion of such agreement, the following arrangements shall govern budgetary and financial relationships between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations:
    (a) The Secretary-General and the Director-General shall arrange for consultation in connexion with the preparation of the budget of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; ​
    (b) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to transmit its proposed budget to the United Nations annually at the same time as such budget is transmitted to its members. The General Assembly shall examine the budget or proposed budget of the Organization and may make such recommendations as it may consider necessary;
    (c) Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shall be entitled to participate, without vote, in the deliberations of the General Assembly or any committee thereof at all times when the budget of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations or general administrative or financial questions affecting the Organization are under consideration;
    (d) The United Nations may undertake the collection of contributions from those members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations which are also Members of the United Nations in accordance with such arrangements as may be defined by a later agreement between the United Nations and the Organization;
    (e) The United Nations shall, upon its own initiative or upon the request of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, arrange for studies tbe undertaken concerning other financial and fiscal questions of interest to the Organization and to other specialized agencies with a view to the provision of common services and the securing of uniformity in such matters;
    (f) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to conform, as far as may be practicable, to standard practices and forms recommended by the United Nations.
Article XV
Financing of Special Services
1. In the event of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations being faced with the necessity of incurring substantial extra expense as a result of any request which the United Nations may make for special reports, studies or assistance in accordance with articles V, VI, VII, or with other provisions of this agreement, consultation shall take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner in which such expense shall be borne.
Article XVI
Inter-agency Agreements
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agrees to inform the Council of the nature and scope of any formal agreement between the Organization and any other specialized agency, inter-governmental organization, or non-governmental organization and in particular agrees to inform the Council before any such agreement is concluded.
Article XVII
Liaison
1. The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations agree to the foregoing provisions in the belief that they will contribute to the maintenance of effective liaison between the two organizations. They affirm their intention of taking whatever further measure may be necessary to make this liaison fully effective.
2. The liaison arrangements provided for in the foregoing articles of this agreement shall apply as far as appropriate to the relations between such branch or regional offices as may be established by the two organizations as well as between their central machinery.
Article XVIII
Implementation of the Agreement
The Secretary-General and the Director-General may enter into such supplementary arrangements for the implementation of this Agreement as may be found desirable in the light of the operating experience of the two organizations.
Article XIX
Revision
This Agreement shall be subject to revision by agreement between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Article XX
Entry into Force
This Agreement shall come into force on its approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.