New FAO Rep for Belize, Jamaica, and Bahamas Begins Tenure

Belize has a new representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (FAO), Argentinian national Dr. Mariana Touza. Dr. Touza, who has the responsibility for Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Belize, officially began her tenure last week. On April 16, she presented her credentials to Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith. According to the FAO, Dr. Touza brings more than twenty years of experience as a rural sociologist and gender specialist in international development. Her background includes extensive work in research, policy, and implementing programs across Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. Dr. Touza holds a PhD in Social Sciences, a Master’s degree in Development from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Her previous experience includes roles with the United Nations Development Programme in Honduras and the World Food Programme in Honduras, Mozambique, and Panama. In her new capacity, Dr. Touza will lead the FAO’s collaboration with governments and other partners to bolster food security, promote sustainable agriculture, and build climate resilience.