FAO Chief and Kenya’s First Lady Arrive in Addis Ababa for UNFSS+4

Addis Ababa, July 26, 2025 (FMC) — The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu and Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto have arrived in Addis Ababa to attend the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), scheduled to take place from July 27 to 29, 2025.

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, Mr. Qu Dongyu was welcomed by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Health, Dr. Saharla Abdulahi, while First Lady Rachel Ruto was received by State Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Huria Ali.

Their arrival marks part of a broader influx of high-level delegates, policymakers, development partners, and civil society leaders gathering in Addis Ababa for the global summit.

Co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia, the Government of Italy, and United Nations agencies including FAO, WFP, and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the UNFSS+4 aims to take stock of progress made since the inaugural Food Systems Summit in 2021 and to accelerate action toward achieving sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.

Ethiopia is expected to showcase its notable national achievements in agriculture and food systems transformation, including the expansion of irrigated wheat and rice production, implementation of the YeLemat Trufat (Bounty of the Basket) program, and the climate-focused Green Legacy initiative, which has seen over 40 billion seedlings planted since 2019.

The summit also comes at a time when global food systems face mounting challenges from climate change, conflict, and economic pressures, making the Addis Ababa gathering a critical moment for reaffirming international cooperation and commitment to achieving zero hunger and resilient food systems worldwide.