Beyond Food Security: the Challenges for the Next FAO Director-General

The elections for the next director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will take place in June 2019. The FAO, the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, works to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough food to lead active and healthy lives. With over 194 member states, the FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

While the formal election process involves only member states, Chatham House, in partnership with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), is organizing a public forum to encourage the candidates to set out their vision for the FAO in front of a wider public audience including stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors as well as farmers. This event aims to stimulate public debate on the FAO’s future role, in particular, what it needs to do to address key issues in food and agriculture and to help achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The FAO’s role will be critical in addressing not just SDG 2 on zero hunger but also other SDGs relating to poverty, economic growth, climate change and the environment on land and below water.

Chatham House and ISPI cordially invite all those with an interest in food, agriculture and sustainable development to register for this event and engage with the prospective candidates.

This event will also be webcast on the ISPI website, and shown on the Chatham House site.