Angola: Angola's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) has released a campaign booklet outlining the candidacy of diplomat Josefa Sacko for Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the 2027-2031 term. The publication details Sacko's professional background, strategic vision, and primary leadership goals following the African Union's unanimous endorsement of Angola to represent the Southern African region.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the election for FAO Director-General is scheduled for July 2027 in Rome, Italy. Other declared candidates include Maurizio Martina of Italy, current Deputy Director-General of the FAO; Luis Planas, Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Phil Hogan of Ireland, former European Commissioner for Agriculture and Trade; and Mehmet Mehdi Eker, former Minister of Agriculture for Turkey.
Angola's endorsement was finalized during the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa after Morocco and Uganda withdrew their respective bids in support of Sacko. Foreign Minister Tete Antonio commended both nations, calling the move a clear display of political solidarity among African states.
Titled 'A Continental Ambition for Global Food and Agriculture Governance,' Sacko's platform emphasizes an inclusive approach aimed at delivering measurable outcomes across member states while aligning the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 with the African Union's Agenda 2063.
The proposal is structured around four main pillars: boosting production through inclusive agrotechnologies and knowledge transfer, eradicating hunger and malnutrition in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, advancing sustainable water management and climate change adaptation, and expanding productive opportunities for women and youth in agriculture.
Sacko's platform also advocates for institutional reforms to streamline FAO operations, calling for greater coordination between headquarters in Rome and regional offices. The plan prioritizes strengthening local technical capacity to respond to geopolitical, climate, and food crises under the principle of subsidiarity and respect for national sovereignty.
Additionally, the strategy seeks to diversify funding sources through partnerships with international financial institutions, the private sector, academic institutions, and producer organizations. It also highlights the blue economy, emphasizing the sustainable development of marine and freshwater resources to improve livelihoods in coastal communities.
An agricultural engineer by training, Sacko earned a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Nigeria in 1982. She served as Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) from 2000 to 2013 and was the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment from 2017 to 2024.
Since March 7, 2025, Sacko has served as Angola's ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to Rome-based UN agencies, including the FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Program (WFP).
