FAO In-Touch Article published

This long-standing staff initiative that puts its members in direct contact with small-scale community-based development projects, financed by contributions from colleagues at FAO and the other RBAs, who pledge to contribute 1 percent of their salary each month

Established in 1976 by a small group of UN colleagues in Geneva, the 1% for Development Fund assigns 1 percent of participating members’ salaries/pensions to small-scale development projects in underprivileged communities around the world.

Inspired by a UN resolution calling on the world’s largest economies to earmark 0.7 percent of their GNP for official development assistance, our colleagues in Geneva wanted to show that UN staff could do the same or even better. Funds were subsequently established in Rome, New York, and Vienna in 1983, 1985, and 1986 respectively by UN staff working in these cities.

The Rome-based fund presently counts 65 members. The entirety of their contributions, around USD 47 000 annually, is allocated directly to projects without any overhead costs since the Fund is managed by the members themselves, all volunteers. Since its inception almost 40 years ago over USD 2 000 000 has been disbursed by the Rome 1% Fund to over 450 small-scale development projects.

The Fund finances small-scale development projects in line with the Organization’s mandate. It also offers members the chance to contact colleagues outside their work circle and beneficiaries, enabling the sort of hands-on experience often lacking in administrative work.  

Development project requests are received through colleagues or directly on the 1% Fund’s web page. All proposals are screened by a Project Appraisal Group and all Members are invited to approve projects by email votes.

Recent projects include: Women's Economic Empowerment through Fish Farming, Kigoma Region, Tanzania; Expansion of Community Beekeeping in Northern Guatemala; and Provision of improved toilet facilities, school furniture and solar panels for the École d’Afrique, Bujumbura, Burundi. 

Anyone with a contractual relationship, including programme, project staff, consultants and retirees, with FAO, IFAD, and WFP - can join and pledge 1% of their net salary. Members can also choose to participate actively in the work of the Fund by helping to evaluate and monitor small-scale projects or by sharing expert knowledge.

FAO staff members' contributions can be automatically deducted from their payroll, with other methods of payment available tailored to staff and non-staff members alike.

To enrol in the 1% for Development Fund please send an email to [email protected] and you will be guided through the simple enrolment procedure.