Angola has officially launched the campaign to nominate its Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy and Permanent Representative to UN agencies in the country, Josefa Correia Saco, for the position of Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In addition to the FAO, Saco represents Angola to the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Speaking at the launch event in Luanda, Angolan Foreign Minister Téte António presented the profile of the agricultural engineer and economist, highlighting her extensive experience in agriculture, sustainable development, and public policy, as well as her distinguished continental career.
António noted that her professional trajectory is marked by leadership, a strong inclination toward dialogue, and the ability to build consensus—qualities he described as crucial for addressing current global challenges, particularly in the areas of food security and climate change.
Throughout her career, Saco has gained extensive experience in the food and agriculture sector, having held key positions both in Angola and internationally.
The Angolan diplomat served as the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment from 2017 to 2025. Prior to that, from 2004 to 2017, she was Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization.
According to the Angolan foreign minister, the country believes it is essential for the FAO to be led by a figure with a strategic vision capable of delivering effective and comprehensive responses aligned with the needs of member states.
Téte António also emphasized the importance of increasing women’s representation in leadership positions within multilateral organizations. He pointed out that women play a leading role in agriculture, food security, and sustainable resource management—particularly in Africa—yet their contributions are not always reflected at decision-making levels.
He added that the current context calls for correcting this imbalance by promoting competent, inclusive leadership that reflects the role of women in modern society.
The Angolan foreign minister further stressed that this nomination reflects a commitment to stronger African engagement in the governance of international organizations, in line with efforts to consolidate the continent’s position within the multilateral system. He reaffirmed Angola’s commitment to multilateralism in addressing global challenges and opportunities, and called on member states to support a shared vision for a stronger FAO that is more responsive to the needs and aspirations of people across all regions.
An official document indicated that Angola submitted Josefa Correia Saco’s candidacy to the African Union’s nominations committee during the Executive Council meeting held on February 11, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.