Hand-in-Hand Analysis

The Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Geospatial Platform is the enabling tool for the FAO flagship HiH Initiative unlocking over millions of data layers more targeted, evidence-based agricultural interventions. This Digital Public Good provides open-access geographic information, key food security indicators and agricultural statistics sourced from FAO and from external organizations such as NGOs, academia, the private sector, and space agencies, including key FAO flagship databases such as FAOSTAT data on food and agriculture for over 245 countries and territories from 1961 to the most recent year available. The platform is developed and scaled up by the Digitalization and Informatics Division to serve the data and analytical needs of the HiH Initiative. Since the launch of the platform in 2020, over 65 countries and institutions have participated in workshops to learn how leveraging data and technology can contribute to digital agriculture transformation and rural development.

Hand-in-Hand is an integrated effort to support the implementation of nationally led, ambitious programmes to accelerate agrifood systems transformations by eradicating poverty (SDG1), ending hunger and malnutrition (SDG2), and reducing inequalities (SDG10). It uses advanced geospatial modeling and analytics, as well as a robust partnership-building approach to accelerate the market-based transformation of agrifood systems — to raise incomes, improve the nutritional status and well-being of poor and vulnerable populations, and strengthen resilience to climate change. The Initiative prioritizes countries and territories where poverty and hunger are highest, national capacities are limited, or operational difficulties are greatest due to natural or man-made crises. Areas of intervention have included developing value chains for priority commodities, building agro-industries and efficient water management systems, introducing digital services and precision agriculture, reducing food losses and waste, and addressing climate challenges and weather risks.