Guidance Note on National Hand-in-Hand Investment Forums  

1. Good Practices and Key Support to Be Provided 

• At the planning stage, provide examples of successful previous HIH national investment fora from within the region and beyond, drawing on the Agenda Repository established in 2024 and managed by the M&E Specialist.
• In organizing national HIH events, HQ focal points should advise that Governments ideally take the lead role rather than FAO. Greater risk-sharing arrangements and stronger engagement with regional development banks and development partners should also be encouraged and emphasized.
• Upon submission and successful review of a Concept Note (CN), provide co-financing, based on needs, of up to USD 10 000 for one event per country, subject to resource availability. A condition for this support is the submission of a detailed event report, including information on resources mobilized and resources under negotiation.
• Subject to funding availability, HIH HQ or regional focal points should participate in the event. This will be looked at on a case by case.

2. Follow-Up Support and KPIs

• As national events, follow-up responsibility rests primarily with the FAO Representative in collaboration with the Government (in line with the FAO reporting lines), with support and progress reporting provided by the HIH focal point in line with the KPIs and indicators outlined below.
• As good practice, within one week of the event, the HIH HQ focal point should debrief with the FAOR and collect updates on resources mobilized and resources under negotiation. This information should be integrated into the new COIN-based M&E system from June 2026 onwards, including supporting evidence in line with audit recommendations and for final review by the FAO M and E and validation by the HIH Coordinator.
• Government and media reports related to the event should be uploaded to the new HIH News section and recorded on the relevant country page under the corresponding HIH investment priorities or forum page.
• Based on the engagements initiated, and subject to government request and leadership, the FAOR should prepare a one-page matrix outlining resources mobilized and resources under negotiation, including timelines and actionable workplans with clear deliverables.
• The focal point should follow up regularly with the FAOR through the monthly updates request circulated by the HIH M&E Specialist regarding resources mobilized and resources under negotiation.

3. Indicators and KPIs

1. Key performance indicators for national HIH events include: Number of participants.
   
   • KPI: number of participants will be equal or greater than the average number of participants of national investment FORA in the same region.
2. Government leadership and the involvement of regional, national development banks and development partners.
   
   • KPI 1: Number of government participants equal or greater than the average number of government participants of national investment FORA in the same region.
     
   • KPI2: Number of regional, national development banks and development partners equal or greater than the average number of regional, national development banks and development partners  of national investment FORA in the same region.
3. Number of HIH agrifood investment cases presented.
   
   • KPI 1: Number of HIH agrifood investment cases presented in quantity and value equal or greater than the average HIH agrifood investment cases presented of national investment FORA in the same region.
4. Level of resources mobilized and resources under negotiation, including agreements signed during the event and their estimated value.
   
   • KPI 1: an increase of value of resources mobilized and under negotiation of at least 10%.
5. Follow-up action plan jointly developed by the FAOR and the relevant Ministry.
   
   • KPI 1: Follow up action plan developed at least one month after the national investment fora.
6. Timely provision of follow-up support from HQ focal points and relevant colleagues, including technical divisions and the Investment Centre.
   • KPI 1: Timely provision of follow-up support from HQ focal points and relevant colleagues, including technical divisions and the Investment Centre, within five working days when required.

4. Structured Follow-Up and Reporting

• Country-level HIH events should be reported by the Country Focal Point during the recorded HIH biweekly meetings. Reporting should include an assessment of the KPIs above, with particular attention to mobilized resources. Contributions from regional offices should also be reflected.
  
• Follow-up actions, including media coverage and Concept Notes, may be requested by the HIH Coordinator for review and publication online where the event meets the key KPIs as assessed by the focal point.
  
• Within two weeks of the event, the HQ focal point should submit any updates on resources mobilized via email to the M&E Specialist, copying the HIH Coordinator. In line with audit recommendations, supporting written evidence or relevant links regarding resources mobilized and resources under negotiation should also be provided. Until the end of 2025, this information will continue to be recorded in the Google Sheets M&E system managed by the HIH M&E Specialist, with evidence reviewed by the HIH Coordinator before going online in the HIH DB.
  
• From June 2026 onwards, the M&E system will transition to country-led reporting, in line with Council recommendations, with real-time reporting entered into the COIN corporate database by the FAOR or designated country-level specialists.
  
• Where HQ co-financing has been provided, each focal point/FAOR must submit the detailed event report to the project budget holder, copying the HIH Coordinator and M&E Specialist, for uploading into FPMIS where applicable.
  
• National Investment Fora and major outcomes, such as the Nepal 2025 experience, should be reflected in the six-monthly Council reports and updates on HIH.