United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture
Encyclopedia
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture is the head of the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome
and thus is the United States
ambassador
to the three United Nations
agencies for food and agriculture located in Rome
, Italy
: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development
, and the World Food Programme
. One formal title of this position is United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture with the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service.
. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan
created the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome and split out this role to a separate, ambassador-rank position. (Due to its heritage, the new position has occasionally been known as the United States Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.) As with regular ambassadorial posts, nominations are made by the President of the United States
and confirmation by the United States Senate
is required. As head of the mission, the ambassador sees over staff from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development.
The U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome is a part of the "Tri-Mission Community" in Rome, along with the Embassy of the United States of America to the Italian Republic (headed by the United States Ambassador to Italy
) and the Embassy of the United States to the Holy See
(the United States Ambassador to the Holy See
position was also split out and elevated to ambassador rank at the same time as the UN Agencies one was). The three ambassadors sometimes engage in joint activities.
As of 2010, there have been nine Ambassadors to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, who are typically appointed for three-year terms. The position has attracted some well-known Americans: Millicent Fenwick
, the first to hold it at the ambassador rank, was a nationally prominent former member of the U.S. House of Representatives; George McGovern
was a former United States Senator and the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee
; and Tony P. Hall
was a long-time sitting member of the House who resigned his seat in order to take on the role. Several of the nominees, especially including McGovern and Hall, had long prior involvements with food, agriculture, and hunger issues. The person currently holding the position is Ertharin Cousin
, since August 17, 2009.
United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome
The United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome serves as a link between the Rome-based international organizations and the U.S. government. With staff representing the Departments of State, Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development, the U.S...
and thus is the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the three United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies for food and agriculture located in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development , a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries...
, and the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
. One formal title of this position is United States Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture with the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service.
History
Originally, there had been a U.S. permanent representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization. However, this position had not held ambassador rank, but instead had been part of the Embassy of the United States of America to the Italian Republic and had reported to the United States Ambassador to ItalyUnited States Ambassador to Italy
Since 1840, the United States has had diplomatic representation in the Italian Republic and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Italy, with a break in relations from 1941 to 1944 while Italy and the U.S. were at war during World War II. The U.S. Mission to Italy is headed by the Embassy of the...
. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
created the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome and split out this role to a separate, ambassador-rank position. (Due to its heritage, the new position has occasionally been known as the United States Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.) As with regular ambassadorial posts, nominations are made by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
is required. As head of the mission, the ambassador sees over staff from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Agency for International Development.
The U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome is a part of the "Tri-Mission Community" in Rome, along with the Embassy of the United States of America to the Italian Republic (headed by the United States Ambassador to Italy
United States Ambassador to Italy
Since 1840, the United States has had diplomatic representation in the Italian Republic and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Italy, with a break in relations from 1941 to 1944 while Italy and the U.S. were at war during World War II. The U.S. Mission to Italy is headed by the Embassy of the...
) and the Embassy of the United States to the Holy See
Embassy of the United States to the Holy See
The Embassy of the United States of America to the Holy See is the American diplomatic mission to the Holy See . Formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See were established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II...
(the United States Ambassador to the Holy See
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
A U.S. Ambassador serves as that country's official representative to the Holy See since formal diplomatic relations began in 1984. Before the establishment of official relations, Myron Taylor served during World War II as an emissary for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1951, President Harry S....
position was also split out and elevated to ambassador rank at the same time as the UN Agencies one was). The three ambassadors sometimes engage in joint activities.
As of 2010, there have been nine Ambassadors to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, who are typically appointed for three-year terms. The position has attracted some well-known Americans: Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Hammond Fenwick was an American fashion editor, politician and diplomat. A four-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, she entered politics late in life and was renowned for her energy and colorful enthusiasm...
, the first to hold it at the ambassador rank, was a nationally prominent former member of the U.S. House of Representatives; George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
was a former United States Senator and the 1972 Democratic Party presidential nominee
George McGovern presidential campaign, 1972
George McGovern, a United States Senator from South Dakota, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the 1972 presidential election.-Leading up to the announcement:...
; and Tony P. Hall
Tony P. Hall
Tony Patrick Hall is an American politician who served as a Democrat from Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 20 years....
was a long-time sitting member of the House who resigned his seat in order to take on the role. Several of the nominees, especially including McGovern and Hall, had long prior involvements with food, agriculture, and hunger issues. The person currently holding the position is Ertharin Cousin
Ertharin Cousin
Ertharin Cousin is the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, serving in Rome, Italy, and chief of the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome...
, since August 17, 2009.
Ambassadors
The following is a chronological list of those who have held the position since its elevation in rank:- Millicent FenwickMillicent FenwickMillicent Hammond Fenwick was an American fashion editor, politician and diplomat. A four-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, she entered politics late in life and was renowned for her energy and colorful enthusiasm...
(June 13, 1983 – March 1987) - Fred J. EckertFred J. EckertFred J. Eckert is a former one-term United States Representative from New York. He was born in Rochester, New York on May 6, 1941, graduated from North Texas State University in 1964 and took postgraduate courses at New York University and at the New School for Social Research from 1965 to 1966...
(1987 – 1988) - George McGovernGeorge McGovernGeorge Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
(April 1998 – October 2001) - Tony P. HallTony P. HallTony Patrick Hall is an American politician who served as a Democrat from Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 20 years....
(September 2002 – April 2006) - Gaddi VasquezGaddi VasquezGaddi Holguin Vasquez was the 8th United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, in Rome, Italy. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 2006. Vasquez was sworn into office on September 7,...
(September 7, 2006 – January 2009) - Ertharin CousinErtharin CousinErtharin Cousin is the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, serving in Rome, Italy, and chief of the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome...
(August 17, 2009 – Incumbent)