The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed Mr Ezana Kassa as its new Representative in Uganda, signaling renewed focus on strengthening agrifood systems and rural livelihoods.
FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, made the appointment with the approval of the Government of Uganda. Mr Kassa replaces Antonio Querido and succeeds Yergalem Taages Beraki, who has been serving in an acting capacity.
Mr Kassa, an Ethiopian national, brings over a decade of experience in agriculture, food security, and resilience programming across the Horn of Africa. He has worked extensively in fragile and complex environments, delivering programmes that support vulnerable communities.
He joined FAO in 2015 as a Project Manager in South Sudan. He later served as Emergency Coordinator for FAO Somalia from 2019 to 2021, where he led emergency and resilience interventions with national authorities and humanitarian partners.
Most recently, Mr Kassa worked as Senior Programme Officer for FAO Somalia. He provided strategic leadership, guided programme implementation, and led the development of the Country Programming Framework.
Before joining FAO, he held senior roles with international non-governmental organizations. He served as Country Director for Action Africa Help International and Programme Manager for Norwegian People’s Aid, managing large multidisciplinary teams.
Mr Kassa holds a Global Executive MBA from the United States International University in Nairobi, a Master of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of London, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Haramaya University.
Speaking on his appointment, Mr Kassa expressed confidence in Uganda’s agricultural potential.
“Uganda is famed as the Pearl of Africa and holds immense potential to become a beacon of food security and prosperity in the region. I am honored to join the FAO Uganda team and to work alongside the Government partners and rural communities to advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems that improve the lives of all Ugandans,” he said.
He said FAO will continue to support strategic investments aligned with global initiatives to boost productivity and strengthen rural economies.
FAO has maintained a long-standing partnership with Uganda in transforming agrifood systems and promoting sustainable development. Mr Kassa’s appointment is expected to deepen collaboration, drive innovation, and improve livelihoods for farmers and communities.
