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Jacques Diouf
Jacques Diouf.jpg
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
In office
1 January 1994 – 31 December 2011
Preceded by Edouard Saouma
Succeeded by José Graziano da Silva
Deputy Manoj Juneja (India) (Operations): 2011 – present.
Deputy Ann Tutwiler (US) (Knowledge): 2011 – present.
Deputy Changchui He (China) (Operations): 2009 – 2011.
Deputy James G. Butler (US) : 2008–2010.
Deputy David A. Harcharik (US) : 1998–2007.
Deputy Vikram J. Shah (ad personam) (UK) : 1992–1995.
Deputy Howard Hjort (US) : 1992–1997.
Personal details
Born (1938-08-01)1 August 1938
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Died 17 August 2019(2019-08-17) (aged 81)
Paris
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Jacques Diouf (born August 1, 1938 – died August 17, 2019) was an important person from Senegal. He was a diplomat, which means he represented his country in talks with other nations. He is best known for being the Director-General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for many years, from January 1994 to December 2011. The FAO is a big organization that works to end hunger and improve food security around the world. Jacques Diouf passed away in 2019, shortly after his 81st birthday.

His Education Journey

Jacques Diouf started his schooling in his hometown of Saint-Louis, Senegal. After that, he moved to France to continue his studies.

He earned several degrees related to agriculture and social sciences. He studied at famous schools like the Ecole nationale d'agriculture and the Ecole nationale d'application d'agronomie tropicale. He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Sorbonne, which is a very old and respected university in Paris. His studies focused on how farming and rural areas work in society.

His Career and Leadership Roles

Jacques Diouf began his career at a young age, around 25. In 1963, he worked as a director for an agricultural program in Paris and Dakar.

From 1965 to 1971, he led the African Groundnut Council in Nigeria. This group helped countries that grew groundnuts (peanuts). Later, from 1971 to 1977, he was the executive secretary of the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), which is now called the Africa Rice Center. This organization helps improve rice farming in West Africa.

Diouf then served his home country, Senegal, as the Secretary of State for Science and Technology from 1978 to 1983. This meant he helped guide Senegal's progress in science and new technologies. He also became a member of the National Assembly of Senegal, which is like their parliament, and led its Foreign Relations Committee.

From 1985 to 1990, he was the Secretary-General of the Central Bank for West African States. This bank helps manage money for several West African countries. Just before joining the FAO, he was Senegal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1991 to 1993. This role meant he was Senegal's main voice at the UN.

Leading the FAO

On November 8, 1993, Jacques Diouf was chosen to be the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He started his first six-year term in January 1994. He was so effective that he was re-elected twice! His last term ended in December 2011. His work at the FAO focused on fighting hunger and improving food systems worldwide.

Other Important Roles

Throughout his career, Jacques Diouf also took on many other important responsibilities. He often served on boards and committees that helped guide international organizations.

For example, he represented Africa in a group that advised on international agricultural research. He was also a member of the boards for several international agricultural centers, helping them with their work. He advised the World Bank and the World Resources Institute on important global issues.

He also helped guide scientific and technological development in Africa by chairing various foundations and centers. These roles showed his dedication to improving life through science, technology, and agriculture.

Honors and Challenges

Jacques Diouf received many awards and honors from governments around the world. These included the Légion d'honneur from France, which is a very high award. He also received many honors from countries in Africa and Latin America, recognizing his important contributions.

Like any leader of a large organization, Diouf faced challenges. In 2006, a senior manager at the FAO shared concerns about how the organization was being managed. The manager felt that the FAO needed to change more to keep up with new times and that its leadership could be more open. These kinds of discussions are common in large organizations as they try to improve and adapt.

Working for Peace and Food Security

Even though he was a Muslim, Jacques Diouf took part in a special meeting organized by the Catholic Church in Rome in 2009. This meeting, called a synod, discussed important issues that affect everyone, not just religious matters. They talked about things like food security (making sure everyone has enough to eat), improving health care in Africa, and finding ways to solve conflicts and bring peace to the continent. This showed his commitment to working with different groups for common good.

Awards and Decorations

Jacques Diouf received many awards from different countries and organizations throughout his life. These awards recognized his hard work and dedication to improving agriculture, science, and international relations. Some of the notable honors he received include:

Images for kids

  • Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia) - ribbon bar

    Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia, 1977)

  • Legion Honneur Officier ribbon

    Officer of the Legion of Honour (France, 1978)

  • Palmes academiques Officier ribbon

    Officer of the Order of Academic Palms (France, 1979)

  • Ordre de la Valeur (Cameroun) GO 2nd type ribbon

    Grand Officer of the Order of Valour (Cameroon, 1995)

  • Order of Merit - Commander (Central African Republic)

    Commander of the Order of Merit (Central African Republic, 1995)

  • Cote d'Ivoire Ordre national Commandeur ribbon

    Commander of the National Order of the Ivory Coast (Ivory Coast, 1995)

  • LTU Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas - Grand Cross BAR

    Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania, 1996)

  • Orden del Mérito Agrario, Pesquero y Alimentario ribbon

    Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain, 1996)

  • Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay - ribbon bar

    Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Uruguay, 1996)

  • Ordre de l'Etoile d'Anjouan Commandeur ribbon

    Commander of the Order of the Star of Anjouan (Comoros, 1997)

  • ARG Order of May - Grand Cross BAR

    Grand Cross of the Order of May (Argentina, 1998)

  • Order of Solidarity (Cuba) - ribbon bar

    Order of Solidarity (Cuba, 1998)

  • Order of the Grand Star of Djibouti - ribbon bar

    Order of the Grand Star of Djibouti (Djibouti, 1998)

  • Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon

    Commander of the Legion of Honour (France, 1998)

  • Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (Suriname) - ribbon bar

    Grand Cordon of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (Suriname, 1998)

  • VEN Orden Henri Pittier

    1st Class the Order of Henri Pittier (Venezuela, 1998)

  • Order of the Dragon Plant - 1st Class (Cabo Verde)

    1st Class the Order of the Dragon Plant (Cape Verde, 2000)

  • Order of the Two Niles (Sudan) - ribbon bar

    1st Class of the Order of the Two Niles (Sudan, 2000)

  • Order of the Quetzal - Grand Cross (Guatemala) - ribbon bar

    Grand Cross of the Order of the Quetzal (Guatemala, 2001)

  • Ordem Nacional das Colinas do Boé

    National Order of Merit, Cooperation and Development (Guinea-Bissau, 2001)

  • MCO Order of Saint-Charles - Commander BAR

    Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles (Monaco, 12 October 2002)

  • GEO Golden Fleece Order BAR

    Order of the Golden Fleece (Georgia, 2003)

  • MRT Commander Order of National Merit

    Commander of the National Order of Merit (Mauritania, 2003)

  • Order of the White Elephant - 1st Class (Thailand) ribbon

    Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant (Thailand, 2003)

  • PAN Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa - Grand Cross BAR

    Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Panama, 2004)

  • PHI Order of the Golden Heart var2 Grand Cross BAR

    Grand Cross of the Order of the Golden Heart (Philippines, 2004)

  • JOR Order of Independence GC

    Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (Jordan, 2005)

  • MDG National Order - Commander BAR

    Commander of the National Order of Madagascar (Madagascar, 2005)

  • Mali Ordre national du Mali Commandeur ribbon

    Commander of the National Order of Mali (Mali, 2005)

  • BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Cross BAR

    Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil, 2006)

  • OPMM-gc

    Grand Cross of the Order pro merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta, 2006)

  • HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 3class BAR

    Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Hungary, 2007)

  • JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR

    Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan, 29 April 2012)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jacques Diouf para niños

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