Jordan’s Princess Basma bint Ali named FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa

Amman – Princess Basma bint Ali of Jordan was today named a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa.

In her new role the Princess will help FAO raise awareness about the importance of transforming the world’s agrifood systems, to overcome the challenges of persisting and growing hunger.

FAO’s Director-General QU Dongyu noted that Her Royal Highness has been a long-time supporter of FAO and a passionate and articulate advocate of biodiversity conservation worldwide and said, “Her Royal Highness has systematically raised awareness among Jordanians and all the people of the Near East and North Africa about the importance of preserving native plants and ecosystems and promoting biodiversity research and environmental learning, which are at the core of ensuring sustainable agrifood systems and improving food security.”

While conferring the title of Goodwill Ambassador on Princess Basma, the FAO Director-General described her as “an exceptional individual” and emphasized that he – and FAO – were delighted that she was committing to work even more closely with FAO.

“It gives me great pleasure to be honoured, as I am fully aware of the responsibility to participate in the dissemination of the organization’s vision of creating a world free from hunger and poverty,” said Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Ali.

FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, AbdulHakim Elwaer said, “In the upcoming months, together with Her Royal Highness, we want to focus on issues relating to supporting a better environment and better life, including the importance of protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and combatting climate change through more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable practices, leaving no one behind.”

HRH Princess Basma bint Ali was formally designated as FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa during an online event that saw the participation of H.E. Khaled Hneifat, Minister for Agriculture of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H.E. Ely Salem Zeineb, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to FAO and Chairperson of the Near East Regional Group; Mr Khaled Abu Hammour, Deputy Permanent Representative and Agricultural Attaché, Permanent Representation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Rome; Mr Eunsik Park, Director-General of the International Affairs Bureau of the Korea Forest Service and Secretary-General of the XV World Forestry Congress Secretariat. They were joined by members of FAO’s core leadership. The event was moderated by Dalia Abulfotuh, an economist with FAO’s Regional Office for Near East and North Africa.