Agriculture and Food Security Across Borders

Kosovo, Serbia, the Great Lakes region, Burundi, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lebanon… so many countries and regions whose recent history has been marked by severe crises, leaving profound consequences for rural populations, agriculture and food security. Étienne Careme, a senior official at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), reflects on his almost 30 years serving international cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian aid in focus

With a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a specialized course in Development Cooperation from the Free University of Brussels (ULB), Étienne Careme undertook a two-month placement at the United Nations in Rome. He was assigned to a department working on data relating to food distribution for the World Food Programme (WFP) and gained insight into how the United Nations operates. This experience gradually sparked his interest in humanitarian aid, particularly in the FAO’s mandate.

Back in Belgium, he spent two years working for the former Directorate General for Development Cooperation (AGCD) in Brussels. He then helped set up an organization active in the area of international crises that collaborates with European institutions. 'This was an opportunity for me to familiarize myself with international institutions and to explore initial opportunities for cooperation with the FAO.’ Assignments began to emerge; his new path took shape.

His first assignment as a consultant for the FAO followed and took him to Kosovo in 2000. ‘There, I spent several months helping to select beneficiaries and gained my first experiences. We had to ensure that the aid reached the people who needed it.’ Further missions in Serbia and the Great Lakes region (Kenya and Burundi) followed this first consultancy assignment. ’There, I primarily supported the authorities with their communication and in articulating their aid requirements to the United Nations bodies

.’

Reconstruction in Afghanistan

He participated in a long-term assignment in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2008. The first Taliban regime was just overthrown, paving the way for international reconstruction efforts. ‘The need was enormous. We implemented emergency, reconstruction, and development programmes to promote the agricultural sector and support the rural population in gradually and sustainably restoring their livelihoods.’ The staff cooperates in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and its specialist departments, as with most FAO missions and – in the case of Afghanistan – with farmers and breeders.

However, the new opportunities for action in the country did not remove the danger associated with an unstable security situation. Travel required close coordination with local authorities and officials. ‘We had to remain constantly vigilant and demonstrate a high degree of adaptability. Security determined our travel arrangements, our day-to-day organization and, sometimes, our ability to reach the communities we wanted to help.’

Ten years in Cambodia

Étienne Careme arrived in Cambodia in 2008 and remained there until 2017. It was his longest assignment to date and a significant milestone in both his professional and personal life. After years devoted to emergency relief efforts, the focus has now shifted to long-term work. His work centered specifically on programmes for rice cultivation and fisheries: sectors that are crucial to the livelihoods of the rural population and the country’s food security.

‘Long-term programmes of this kind require us to measure results not solely by the immediate aid we provide to the population. We must also build capacity, support institutions, and create conditions that strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of communities.’

What are the benefits of long-term commitment? ‘The chance to develop a much deeper understanding of the context, the institutions and the people you are working with. Furthermore, you can accompany the programmes over a longer period, observe their results and ongoing challenges, and make adjustments where necessary.’

The assessment at the end of the trip is positive. ‘Cambodia was an important part of my life: ten years in which I consolidated my experience in the comprehensive management of agricultural programmes. My professional experience is not the only reason I feel a deep connection to the country. The valuable personal relationships I forged during my stay also strengthened this connection.’

Put to the test by the crises in Lebanon

Étienne Careme has worked in Lebanon since 2018 and been the FAO’s activities in a country amid a crisis. ‘The severe destruction in the south of the country in 2024 made us hope that we could focus our work entirely on reconstruction and rehabilitation in 2025. However, the resurgence of the conflict in 2026 has further exacerbated displacement, destruction and damage to agricultural land and livelihoods.’

Against this backdrop, the FAO is targeting its initiatives in several key areas, based on a strategy agreed with national and local authorities:

• Emergency aid for farmers affected by the conflict or who have been displaced, specifically through financial support for the purchase of seeds, other agricultural inputs or animal feed.
• Support agricultural value chains to increase farmers’ incomes, enhance their market position, promote the collective organization of producers and facilitate access to local and export markets.
• Sustainable development of the fisheries sector along the Lebanese coast.

Small, vulnerable farms are the main recipients of this technical and financial support. ‘What I like most about this work is reaching out to people and understanding their needs – whether they are farmers, cooperatives or other producer organizations. Every presents a crucial challenge that concerns people and families and securing their livelihoods.’

On the ground, social life and mobility are constantly adapting to the security situation. ‘If no threats are announced on the news, we can go out, for example, to a restaurant, to enjoy a meal or a drink. But our daily lives are punctuated by security alerts, which are, in a way, our risk forecast.’ Étienne Careme has witnessed several dramatic events and, like many people in Beirut, follows the necessary precautions. He continues to do so even when everyday life returns to its usual rhythm.

New prospects

High risks require elevated levels of protection. ‘My membership of the OSS reinforces my sense of the connection I maintain with the Belgian social security system, which has remained stable for generations.’

Étienne Careme has spent eight years in Lebanon and is now considering the next step in his career. ‘I would like to put my experience to use in more senior roles, perhaps as an office manager, or explore a new location. I have a strong preference for South-East Asia.’

He has also undertaken further training in health coaching alongside his work at the United Nations. ‘This lets me help people directly to understand their needs better and look after their wellbeing. It’s a field that, in a sense, builds on my interest in supporting people at an level to bring about concrete change.’

Stock photo: AFGHANISTAN 2025. Launch of seed commercialization initiative via electronicvouchers ©FAO (New window)