The FAO Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) has been located in Panama City since 2007.

Recognizing that the solution to the problem of hunger is primarily one of political will, the SLM presence serves to facilitate the coordination of the Organization’s work with various regional institutions and with Governments.

At the same time, the Subregional Office liaises with FAO’s National Representatives in the Subregion, coordinates implementation of regional projects and provides technical support to Governments through local rural development approaches.

SLM is working to foster partnerships with various United Nations System Agencies, particularly the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is developing synergies designed to enhance impact through joint programmes. It has also developed partnerships with both the public and private sectors, and has reached significant agreements with subregional research centres as well as with other regional interlocutors concerned with individual Government perspectives.

SLM is serving Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.