Peter Yeo, President of the Better World Campaign and Senior Vice President of the UN Foundation, released the following statement on Ambassador McCain’s newest role as Executive Director of the World Food Programme:
Ambassador McCain is well positioned to lead the world’s largest humanitarian organization during an era of unprecedented challenges, including global food shortages exacerbated by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The world has benefitted from the extraordinary leadership of David Beasley for the past six years. We know that Amb. Cindy McCain will continue the proud tradition of strong and principled American leadership at one of the UN’s most critical organizations.
In her current role as the U.S. Ambassador to three UN organizations dedicated to food and agriculture — the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development — Amb. McCain has worked closely with the UN toward the goal of a “zero hunger” world.
Amb. McCain has traveled throughout Africa during her tenure, recently meeting with a Congressional delegation in Zambia. Amb. McCain’s relationships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will encourage continued and robust U.S. engagement with WFP. The U.S. is WFP’s largest donor, investing more than $7 billion in 2022.
In addition to fighting famine around the globe, WFP is often among the first agencies on the ground in natural disasters like the recent earthquakes that devastated Türkiye and Syria. WFP helps farming communities become more resilient to climate-related changes and strengthens food systems around the world.
Amb. McCain will replace Executive Director David Beasley, a former Governor of South Carolina, who has led the agency since April 2017. During his tenure, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Media Contact:
Kathryn Kross | kkross@unfoundation.org | 202-862-8577
