FAO is able to do its work thanks to the dedicated efforts of two groups of people.

On one hand, there are the people employed by the world’s governments, including the Italian government, who serve as delegates on FAO’s governing bodies. Governing bodies?

And on the other hand, there are the people who are employed by FAO to carry out the work plan set by the Organization’s governing bodies and respond to the requests of its Member Nations.

Perhaps the best-known member of FAO’s staff is the Director-General, elected by the members to serve as the head of the Organization. Find out more about FAO’s Director-General.

In total, FAO employs more than 3 600 staff members as well as many external expert consultants and project staff. They don’t just work at the headquarters in Rome. They work in countries all over the word. Want to meet some of them? Don’t be shy! Come on, meet the staff.

Goodwill Ambassadors

Some of the people who work for FAO sing and dance and play professional sports. Okay, okay, these people aren’t exactly FAO staff; they’re FAO Goodwill Ambassadors. These are celebrities who dedicate their time and energy to help attract public and media attention to the fact that more than 800 million people continue to suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition. Find out more about FAO’s Goodwill Ambassadors.

It’s a team effort

FAO staff certainly aren’t the only ones working to reduce hunger in the world. There are thousands of people working in organizations everywhere who are making important contributions to the fight against hunger.

For example, two other UN organizations in Rome work on issues of food and agriculture: The World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Find out about these Rome-based food organizations.

In fact, even though each one has a different area of expertise, all the United Nations agencies work together to support one another’s work. Find out more about the United Nations.

But FAO doesn’t just work with the governments of its Member Nations and with other UN organizations. It also works with organizations that aren’t directly connected with governments. These organizations are called civil society or non-governmental organizations.

FAO recognizes that it will take teamwork to build a world without hunger. That’s why it has joined forces with many other groups to form the International Alliance Against Hunger.