Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The United Nations on Friday announced the appointment of US agriculture official Luke Lindberg as the next executive director of the World Food Programme, the Rome-based UN food agency. Lindberg, who is currently the US Department of Agriculture’s undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, will replace Cindy McCain.
The appointment was announced jointly by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu after WFP’s board confirmed its agreement. Lindberg, 37, will take charge at a time when the agency is facing funding pressure even as hundreds of millions of people remain affected by acute hunger.
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WFP, which describes itself as “the world’s frontline responder to hunger”, depends on donations for its work in conflicts, crises and emergencies. The agency has said that as many as 266 million people are facing acute hunger, but because of funding cuts it aims to help only 110 million this year.
The United States has for many years been the largest donor to the UN food agency, and an American has led WFP since the early 1990s. Lindberg has been in his USDA post for just over a year, and President Donald Trump nominated him to head the agency.
A native of South Dakota, Lindberg founded and served as president of the South Dakota Trade Association, where he oversaw the expansion of exports from the state. He also served as chief of staff and chief strategy officer at the US Export-Import Bank during the first Trump administration. He is the son-in-law of Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Guterres and Qu expressed deep appreciation to McCain, the widow of late Arizona senator and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, “for her leadership and dedicated service to WFP”. She stepped down in February after suffering a mild stroke in October 2025. “She has led the programme through one of the most demanding periods in its history, serving as a steadfast voice for people affected by conflict, disaster and severe hunger – and for the courageous personnel serving them on the front lines,” they said in a joint statement.
The two officials also thanked Carl Skau, WFP’s deputy executive director, who will remain in the role until Lindberg takes over. Skau has been serving as acting chief since McCain left, as the agency prepares for a leadership transition at a time of rising need and tight funding.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
