Regional Representative

Mr. Rene Orellana Halkyer was appointed by the FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, as Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), effective 1 November 2025.

Biography

Rene Orellana Halkyer, a Bolivian national, holds a PhD in Law with a specialization in Interlegality and Legal Fields from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He also holds a Master's degree in Climate Change Law and Economics from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Argentina, a Master's degree in Energy and Environmental Policy and Management from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Mexico, and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University from San Simón in Bolivia.

Before joining FAO, he served as Regional Manager for Mexico and Central America and Representative in Mexico at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), a position he held since March 2022.

In 2019, he was Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and Representative to the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI).

Ambassador on Special Mission with Plenipotentiary Representation for Environment and Development Issues to the United Nations and served as Minister of Development Planning from 2015 to 2017.

He was Minister of Water between April 2008 and January 2009, Minister of Environment and Water between April 2009 and January 2010, and Deputy Minister of Basic Services in 2006.

Mr. Orellana Halkyer served as advisor to the Executive Directorate of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay in the World Bank Group.

He chaired the G77+China at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on behalf of Bolivia at COP20, was a member of the ministerial facilitation team for the Paris Agreement (COP21) and participated in the formulation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

His professional career demonstrates a strong commitment to the transformation of agrifood systems to make them more sustainable, climate action, international cooperation, and the strengthening of public governance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

News

United Nations: Latin America and the Caribbean faces increased food insecurity risks due to El Niño

14/05/2026

During a high-level roundtable, FAO, IFAD, and WFP underscored the need to prepare for extreme climate events.

FAO and ECLAC warn that Latin America and the Caribbean are facing a water crisis affecting more than 100 million people

20/04/2026

As part of the Ninth Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, both organizations called for strengthening sustainable, efficient and inclusive water management through evidence-based policies, highlighting water’s critical role in food security, climate resilience, and in accelerating progress toward SDG 6 and SDG 2 in Latin America and the Caribbean.

FAO, UNEP and WFP call for transforming cities into engines of the circular economy

20/04/2026

As part of the 2026 Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, the side event “From Waste to Resources: Circular Economy and Green Cities” was held to discuss how to promote sustainable, resilient and inclusive urban agrifood systems.