The recently appointed Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative for Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Belize, Dr. Ana Laura Victoria Touza, is currently on an official visit to Belize from March 24 to March 28, 2025. As part of her mission, Dr. Touza held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) to discuss Belize’s agricultural priorities and strengthen FAO’s commitment to the country.
During the meeting, Dr. Touza reaffirmed FAO’s continued support for Belize, particularly in the implementation of ongoing Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs). Belize also expressed interest in initiating discussions for new TCPs for the 2025-2027 period, with a strong emphasis on further collaboration in food security, agricultural development, and climate resilience.
Key topics addressed included Belize’s request for the establishment of a dedicated FAO office in the country, reflecting the deepening partnership and FAO’s expanding role in Belize’s agricultural sector. Other critical discussions centered on improving the procurement process from FAO’s regional office in Jamaica, which has posed challenges to project implementation timelines, and enhancing FAO’s support for data management within MAFSE.
Dr. Touza, an expert in rural sociology and gender studies, brings extensive experience in agricultural and social development across Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean. She has previously served as FAO Representative in Cabo Verde and has worked with the UNDP and the World Food Programme, leading initiatives that integrate smallholder farmers into value chains. Her background in research, with a focus on gender and rural development, further strengthens FAO’s approach to inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth in Belize.
Following her engagement with MAFSE, Dr. Touza will continue her mission in Belize, participating in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) Strategic Planning Session and meeting with key stakeholders to advance FAO’s collaboration in the country.
