Note of regret for the passing of former FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf

It is with deep regret that the Brazil Africa Institute receives the news of the passing of Senegalese diplomat Jacques Diouf at the age of 81, who served as Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO) between 1994 and 2011.

Diouf was FAO Director-General for three consecutive terms of six years each. During this period, he sought the collaboration of private entities and celebrities in collecting investments for the Organization’s campaigns and projects.

FAO has a prize named after him. The Jacques Diouf Award biennially awards major contributions to global food security.

“On behalf of the FAO family I wish to share our condolences to the family of Jacques Diouf who gave considerable time, passion and expertise to the cause of eradicating hunger around the world,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. 

In 2014, Diouf held his last official role at FAO when he was appointed a special envoy for the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.

“We were saddened by this news. Diouf was one of the great global motivators for food security and campaigns against hunger. His efforts have certainly served as a basis for future FAO work in Africa and around the world,” said Brazil Africa Institute president João Bosco Monte.