The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports Eritrea to strengthen food security, improve livelihoods, and build resilience through initiatives that help transform agrifood systems and promote the sustainable management of natural resources.
Since 1995, FAO has been a key partner in Eritrea, working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Marine Resources, the Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, and other relevant ministries, as well as development partners, to advance sustainable agriculture, fisheries and natural resource management. These sectors form the backbone of rural livelihoods and the national economy, with most households depending on rainfed farming, livestock, and marine resources. In a context of climate variability and water scarcity, these sectors remain a shared priority for strategic interventions and long-term resilience building.
In close collaboration with the Government of the State of Eritrea, FAO supports the transformation of agrifood systems through climate-smart production, improved access to quality inputs and appropriate technologies, and the sustainable management of water, land, and marine resources. Key areas of support include:
- Sustainable and climate-smart agricultural and fisheries practices
- Nutrition-sensitive value chain development
- Watershed restoration and soil conservation
- Strengthening animal health services and disease prevention
- Prevention, preparedness and response to desert locust threats
FAO’s approach combines immediate productivity gains with long-term ecological health, combining field-level interventions with institutional strengthening and capacity development for national institutions, smallholder farmers, livestock producers, and fishers. This integrated approach helps communities increase productivity, reduce vulnerability to environmental shocks, and strengthens their ability to lead sustainable development at all levels.
Together, these joint efforts contribute to more resilient livelihoods, healthier ecosystems, and improved food security and nutrition outcomes in Eritrea— helping to create a more food-secure and resilient future for the country.
Ms. Ariella Glinni – FAO Representative in Eritrea
Ms. Ariella Glinni is a senior international development professional with 30 years of experience in food security, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. She served for more than two decades with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), holding senior policy, technical, and leadership roles at country, regional, and global levels across development, resilience, and humanitarian contexts.
A national of Germany and Italy, Ms. Glinni assumed the role of FAO Representative in Eritrea in September 2025. Previously, she served as Secretary of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG) and Senior Technical Officer in the Office of the Deputy Director-General at FAO headquarters, where she oversaw technical and Secretariat support to FAO Members and governing processes on global agricultural policy and related matters, and advised senior leadership on strategic initiatives across the agriculture and natural resources portfolio.
She was also Senior Policy Officer and Delivery Manager for the Regional Initiative on Improving Agri-food Trade and Market Integration at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Budapest, Hungary, and served as Senior Policy Officer at the FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia in Ankara, Türkiye.
Earlier, Ms. Glinni was Senior Programme Advisor with the global Food Security Cluster, leading inter-agency coordination, partnerships, and resource mobilization. She has substantial experience in FAO emergency and resilience programmes, having headed the Food Chain Crisis Management Unit, managed emergency responses to animal and plant health challenges, and led resilience programmes across multiple regions.
Her experience also includes posts with the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland; the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy; and work as a Tropical Agronomist in Bolivia.
Ms. Glinni holds an M.Sc. in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences from the University of Florence and a postgraduate specialization in rural development from the University of Padua, Italy. She is fluent in German, Italian, English, French, and Spanish.