The Angolan government formally submitted, on Monday 12 October in Rome, the candidacy of Ambassador Josefa Sacko for the post of Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), with announced support from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The presentation took place at FAO headquarters, at an event organised by Angola on the sidelines of the World Food Forum, which is being attended by Angolan President João Lourenço.

The candidacy was launched by Minister of Foreign Affairs Téte António, who underscored the importance of science, innovation and technology for agricultural development and food security.

An agricultural engineer by training and currently Angola's ambassador to Italy, Josefa Sacko has put forward a platform centred on strengthening family farming, increasing the participation of women and youth, and modernising agri-food systems.

According to the Angolan government, the candidacy is one of the priorities of national diplomacy in multilateral forums linked to agriculture, food, and sustainable development.

African Union Experience Underpins Candidacy

Angola has highlighted Josefa Sacko's professional background, which includes serving as Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organisation and as African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment.

Among the priorities presented by the candidate are improving smallholder farmers' access to the means of production, creating employment opportunities for youth, and promoting generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

Her platform also includes the digitalisation of agri-food systems, the use of artificial intelligence, strengthening adaptive capacity to climate change, and mobilising financing for sustainable and economically viable projects.

During the presentation, Téte António argued that the FAO must continue to be "an organisation that places science, innovation and technology at the service of agriculture."

The minister added that the organisation should support smallholder farmers and rural communities, promote investment, facilitate access to financing and markets, and strengthen cooperation between countries and regions.

According to the Angolan government, this vision seeks to align the FAO's work more closely with the concrete needs of its member states, contributing to agri-food systems that are more productive, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.