Government Provided Staff (GPS) are national staff provided to the FAO country office by the host government to provide either professional or secretarial/clerical support to the FAO country office, mainly in the framework of the Host Country Agreement (HCA).

GPS are not FAO staff members and receive no remuneration from the Organization. However, an ad personam special compensation in the form of a salary supplement or incentive payment may be provided.

The number of staff to be provided by the government is stipulated in the HCA for the establishment of the FAO Representation. The number can be subsequently increased or decreased as a result of negotiations between FAO and the government. The secondment of additional GPS is subject to prior approval by the Regional Office (also by OSD in case of changes to the HCA) and should also be based on the following considerations:

• The additional GPS should bring tangible value added to the core functions covered by the RP staff;
• The arrangement is to replace an existing FAO staff position with the proposed government staff;
• The government agrees to provide additional staff for specific functions and tasks on a cost-neutral basis i.e., without the need for a salary supplement.