Margarita Cedeño de Fernández- Extraordinary Ambassador 

“My role as an Extraordinary Ambassador of FAO will be that of advocacy regarding the imperative need to eliminate hunger in the world today. In realizing  my personal engagement, I solemnly commit myself to be at the forefront of the global fight against malnutrition, hunger and poverty, especially at this moment marked by new challenges facing food security”.

Spouse of the President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández was nominated Extraordinary Ambassador of FAO on 16 October 2009.

Mrs Cedeño de Fernández has a Doctorate and a Law degree.  She coordinates social policies for her husband's administration, generating programmes on health and education for children, young people, single mothers and the family, in general, as a key element in society.

She has developed numerous social development projects in food and agriculture, particularly aimed at empowering women through job training in food and agriculture.

A number of social development projects implemented under her leadership are aimed at reducing extreme poverty and hunger through the promotion of basic schooling, gender equality, health coverage, and occupational partnerships.  The First Lady has also been active in promoting learning among lower-income families by facilitating reading and writing workshops and supporting existing public libraries.

Even before her nomination, as an act of commitment towards FAO’s mission, Mrs Cedeño de Fernández has participated and acted as key-note speaker in the World Food Day event organized in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in October 2009.