Egypt Secures Historic Leadership Role at FAO

In a landmark moment for Egypt’s diplomatic engagement on the international stage, the country has, for the first time in the history of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), been elected to lead its Executive Council.

Egypt’s Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to UN agencies in Rome, Ambassador Bassam Rady, announced that Mena Rizk, Deputy Permanent Representative of Egypt to the FAO, was elected Chair of the Executive Council for a four-year term during the FAO’s General Conference held in Rome. 

The decision was made by unanimous consensus, following a highly competitive election involving five candidates from across all major FAO regional groups—including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Rizk's election marks a historic first: he is the first Egyptian—and the youngest ever—elected to the FAO Executive Council Chairmanship since the organization’s establishment in 1945. At just 38 years old, his appointment also reflects a strategic shift in Egypt’s foreign policy approach toward empowering younger generations in international forums.

“This success is not just personal or national—it is a reflection of Egypt’s vision under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to invest in and prepare young professionals for global leadership,” Ambassador Rady said. “Rizk’s candidacy was carefully prepared by the Egyptian Embassy in Rome and aligns with the broader national goal of building highly qualified diplomatic cadres capable of representing Egypt on the global stage.”

The election result is widely seen as a testament to Egypt’s growing international credibility in fields such as agriculture, water, and food security—sectors that have become increasingly urgent on the global agenda. Ambassador Rady noted that the embassy’s diplomatic efforts over the past months were instrumental in garnering support for Egypt's bid, reinforcing the country’s qualifications to guide the FAO Council during a period of mounting international concern over food systems and sustainability.

The FAO’s Executive Council serves as the organization’s main governing body, responsible for setting strategic direction and policy oversight. It includes only a quarter of the FAO’s 194 member states, elected for three-year terms. Egypt not only retains its elected membership but now leads the council itself, in addition to chairing the organization’s Finance Committee.

Egypt’s recent presence in the FAO has been marked by a string of significant achievements. The Egyptian Central Auditing Organization has been appointed as the FAO’s official financial and legal auditor, and the Egyptian Food Bank was awarded the organization’s annual honorary prize for its contributions to combating hunger.

Further cementing Egypt’s growing influence within the FAO, the organization is also preparing to hold its annual conference for regional and country offices in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital later this year—a recognition of Egypt’s emerging status as a regional hub for agricultural development and food policy.

“These successes reflect Egypt’s rising stature in global development forums and the credibility it has built within international organizations,” Ambassador Rady stated. “They also highlight the increasing importance of Egyptian leadership in shaping the future of food security and sustainable agriculture.”

The election of Mena Rizk is being hailed not only as a diplomatic victory for Egypt but also as a sign of generational change and renewed energy within the FAO—an institution at the heart of the global response to hunger, agricultural sustainability, and climate-resilient food systems.