FAO Representation

FAO in South Africa

The FAO Office in South Africa was opened in 1997. The Representation Office is in Pretoria while the Regional Emergency Office (RIACSO) is in Sunninghill, Johannesburg.

FAO in South Africa has a formal agreement with the National Department of Agriculture to provide technical support to ensure food security and rural development.

The main aim of the FAO country office, which is headed by the  FAO Representative (FAORep), is to assist the government:

• to develop policies, programmes and projects to reduce hunger and   malnutrition;
  
• to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way.

As the representative of the Director-General in South Africa, the FAORep develops and maintains relations with the government and other institutions in the country and liaises on behalf of the Regional Representative (RR) or Subregional Coordinator (SRC) with (sub)regional organizations located in South Africa.

The role of the FAORep also includes interacting with the United Nations Country Team in South Africa.