HIBAPRESS
Morocco was elected yesterday, Monday, in Rome, as Vice-President of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); this was on the sidelines of the work of the 179th session of the conference of this UN agency.
Morocco will serve as Vice-President of the FAO Council, the executive body of the organization which includes 49 member countries and is in charge of supervising the implementation of its political programs and strategic orientations, until 2029. Youssef Balla, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the United Nations agencies in Rome, confirmed to the Moroccan News Agency that this election confirms the member states' confidence in the constructive role of the Kingdom within the reporting bodies of the "FAO" organization. During his speech at the work of this session, Balla, who chairs the Moroccan delegation participating in the conference held from December 1 to 5, highlighted the "careful" preparation of the amendments to the work program and budget for 2026-2027. In this context, he mentioned "Morocco's support for the ratification of these amendments," praising the re-allocation of $5 million to priority sectors, especially the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) and the "Codex Alimentarius" and other essential areas related to the normative and operational mandate of the organization, with the aim of strengthening direct support for developing countries and improving the overall performance of the "FAO". Balla also praised, on the other hand, the efforts made to accelerate digital transformation, enhance environmental sustainability, and improve results-based management, stressing the importance of a "modern, effective, and results-oriented Food and Agriculture Organization." During this conference, the Council will focus on studying the organization's reform and ways to improve its governance and working mechanisms, with the aim of enhancing its effectiveness and ability to respond to global challenges related to food security. The discussions of this session, which is held in an international context characterized by pressure on food markets and the exacerbation of the effects of climate change, fall within the broader framework of the "United Nations 80" initiative aimed at modernizing the United Nations system and adapting its institutions to the reality and requirements of the coming decades.
