MARIO ARVELO CANDIDATE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR CHAIR OF THE FAO COUNCIL 2021-23
CANDIDATE PROFILE Mario Arvelo is a Career Diplomat currently serving as Ambassador to the Rome-based United Nations agencies fighting hunger and malnutrition Ambassador Arvelo has been elected Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the UN Committee on Agriculture (COAG), of the Global Soils Partnership (GSP), the FAO Commission on Finance, Budget and Reform, and the Group of 77 plus China (G77 + China), among other global leadership positions.
He is a lawyer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra of Santo Domingo, and a political scientist from Northeastern University of Boston, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar, specializing in International Relations. He completed a certificate program in Diplomacy from the Instituto de Educación Superior en Formación Diplomática y Consular (2020) and courses on Global Economic Trends (Georgetown University, 1997), Institutions of the European Union (APEC University, 1994), International Trade (APEC, 1993), International Negotiations (Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, 1993), and Comparative Labor Law (PUCMM, 1989).
ABOUT DIGIPATRON PROMOTIONAL MEDIA Mario Arvelo congratulates FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu upon his election in 2019.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO In his institutional involvement with FAO, Arvelo maintains close contact with Director-General Qu Dongyu and follows up on several multilateral governance tasks. During Ambassador Arvelo's tenure, the Dominican Republic has joined the governing bodies of the three Rome-based United Nations agencies: the FAO Council, the IFAD Executive Board, and the WFP Executive Board. Ambassador Arvelo is the Deputy Chair of the Appeals Committee (with jurisdiction for FAO and WFP) and sits on the CFS Executive Bureau, and on three international steering committees: for the UN Decade of Action on Family Farming, the Mountain Partnership, and the World Banana Forum.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES IN MULTILATERAL GOVERNANCE As well as leading CFS, COAG, GSP, the Second Commission, the G77 + China, among other FAO-based platforms and governing bodies, Ambassador Arvelo has carried out responsibilities as: Acting Chair and Vice-Chair of the Programme Committee. Acting Chair of the High-Level Conference ‘Food security: the challenges of climate change and bioenergy’. Co-Chair of the High-Level Meeting FAO/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ‘Investing in food security in a global economy’. Chair of the negotiations of the International Codes of Conduct for Pesticide Management, and for Food Losses and Waste. Multiple leadership positions at the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (twice as Vice-Chair, Acting Chair, and currently as Rapporteur for 2020-22). Chair of the International Technical Consultation ‘Agricultural Information and Knowledge Management'. Chair of the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC). Chair of the Central American Integration System in Rome.
COUNTRY ACHIEVEMENTS For the first time in history, the Dominican Republic brought the link between food security and peace to the UN Security Council. In April 2020, the Dominican Presidency of the UNSC convened a global debate on "The protection of the civilian population against hunger caused by conflicts". During the special meeting, where FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and WFP Executive Director David Beasley made presentations, the Dominican Republic called for the application of the CFS Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises. Under the leadership of the Dominican Republic, the Security Council unanimously adopted the 2020/6 Presidential Statement on the Protection of Civilians from Conflict-Induced Hunger.
VISION: A strong FAO, both at headquarters and in the decentralized network, which is able to fulfil its mandate to the fullest and continue serving all its members, big and small, rich or poor.
As my track record shows, if elected as Chair of Council I would be fiercely independent both from management and from any source of influence or pressure. My objectives are:
To listen to each and every member —with inclusiveness, transparency, and sensitivity to their political, social, and cultural differences— and facilitate decision-making by consensus. To represent Council members, guarantee effective processes, compliance with the basic texts, a bottom-up approach, multilingualism, and to build bridges between member States and management. To remind everyone, always, that FAO belongs to its members, and that our moral and political obligation is to eradicate food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition as we all, together, implement the 2030 Agenda.
“As the only developing country candidate for Chair of the FAO Council, I am honored to be the sole nominee from the Global South.”
DIPLOMATIC POSTS Since 2004 // Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the Rome-based United Nations agencies (FAO, IFAD, and WFP) 2002-04 // Ambassador, Alternate Representative to FAO, IFAD, and WFP (Dominican Embassy in Italy) 2001-02 // Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Dominican Embassy in Chile 1999-2001 // Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Dominican Embassy in Japan 1997-99 // First Secretary, Alternate Representative to the Organization of American States in Washington DC
Further information on Ambassador Arvelo's experience in the public and private sectors, civil society, academia, and other areas, including his publications and participation in international panels of experts, can be found in all six official UN languages at www.marioarvelo.com
Ambassador Mario Arvelo presenting credentials to FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf in April 2005
ABOUT DIGIPATRON PROMOTIONAL MEDIA
MARIO ARVELO CANDIDATE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR CHAIR OF THE FAO COUNCIL 2021-23 +39 380 250 4006 mision@rdroma.org @marioarvelo www.marioarvelo.com