Mediation Hub or Active Agent? FAO’s Commitment to Rural Welfare During Its First Thirty Years

Abstract: This essay examines Food and Agriculture (FAO)’s work in the rural welfare sector, with its focus on social aspects of development, between its establishment and the 1970s. Following the organization’s evolution and changes, FAO’s role is studied within a broader picture comprising the whole UN system and the other specialized agencies that formed part of a joint program for technical assistance, funding all field activities in less developed countries. The article is based on a thorough analysis of official reports and archival material available at the organization’s headquarters in Rome. The essay examines the role and influence that FAO had on such types of activity and assesses whether it acted as an autonomous and active agent, or as a hub mediating and embracing different approaches, interests, and trends.