World Food Programme is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. The policies governing the use of World Food Programme food aid must be oriented towards the objective of eradicating hunger and poverty. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid.

UN World Food Programme Welcomes Appointment of Josette Sheeran as Executive Director

Josette Sheeran

Rome, 7 November 2006 - After full consultation with WFP Executive Board at a special session attended by all its 36 members and most other member states, the President of the Board, Ambassador Mirza Qamar Beg of Pakistan, announced that the UN Secretary-General and FAO Director-General intend to appoint Josette Sheeran as WFP’s Executive Director, with the concurrence of the Board.

“Ms Sheeran has outstanding credentials. WFP’s Member States look forward to working with her to bring assistance to

Ms Sheeran has outstanding credentials

Ambassador Mirza Qamar Beg of Pakistan
the millions of people who struggle with hunger daily,” said Ambassador Beg.

“Leading the world’s largest humanitarian organisation for the past five years has been a tremendous privilege. I am confident that Josette Sheeran’s wide experience – especially her most recent role at the US State Department and on the High Level Panel on UN reform – will serve the organisation and its beneficiaries well,” said outgoing Executive Director of WFP, James Morris.

Dedication

“I have great confidence in Ms Sheeran -- her dedication and humanitarian commitment will help WFP mobilise widespread support and concern for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from hunger each day,” he said.

“One of the greatest challenges I have faced has been to tell the story of hunger to people everywhere. Ms Sheeran’s knowledge of the news media will be a tremendous asset to raising the profile of this often neglected problem,” Morris added.

Sheeran is a citizen of the United States and has served as Under Secretary of State, Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs at the US State Department since August 2005.

Prior to that, she was Deputy US Trade Representative. She was also Managing Director of a Wall Street listed technology company, President and CEO of a Washington DC think tank and Managing Editor of the Washington Times newspaper.

Empowering

She succeeds James Morris, who has led the Programme since April 2002.

Ambassador George McGovern, credited with helping to found the World Food Programme has said, “Josette Sheeran has expressed great personal concern about the global poor and finding innovative programs and policies to empower them so they can lift themselves out of poverty.”

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency. In 2005 it assisted 97 million people, with total expenditure of US $3.1 billion. Established in 1963 as a joint programme of the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization, it provides food aid to save lives in emergencies and protect the health and nutrition of women and children at risk.

_____________________________________________________________