Our Team
Since Uganda joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1981, the organisation has maintained a strong partnership with the country, supporting Uganda to address its unique development priorities and agricultural challenges. In the aftermath of political instability and natural disasters, FAO’s early support to Uganda focused on emergency interventions, helping vulnerable rural communities recover their livelihoods by providing essential agricultural inputs and technical support.
With a dedicated team of 160 personnel in Uganda, FAO is committed to its strategic objective of transforming agrifood systems for sustainable development. We work closely with the Government of Uganda to deliver technical assistance, promote climate-resilient agriculture, and strengthen both institutional and community-level capacities.
Mr Yergalem Taages Beraki, a national of Eritrea, is an accomplished agricultural expert with over 15 years of experience in food security and resilience programming. He holds advanced degrees in agriculture, animal production, and food security from institutions in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Ethiopia, along with postgraduate certifications in environmental management and rural extension from Denmark and Germany. Mr Beraki began his career with the Ministry of Agriculture in Ethiopia, working in provincial and zonal offices before taking on various technical and coordination roles in Eritrea. These included positions with GTZ, FAO, UNDP, and USAID, where he provided leadership in food security analysis, post-harvest systems, and desertification control.
Mr Beraki joined FAO in 2007, serving in South Sudan, Yemen, Sudan, and the Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, where he led efforts in institutional capacity development, cross-border livestock programming, and policy support. His work has contributed to the design and implementation of community-based drought early warning systems and the strengthening of national food security coordination. As of 18 April 2025, he serves as the FAO Representative to Uganda (ad interim), bringing to the role a deep understanding of the region’s agricultural challenges and opportunities, particularly in the context of livestock emergency, rehabilitation, and development.