Photo: ©FAO

FAO has named agricultural economist and senior manager Raimund Jehle as its new Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.

A national of Germany, Jehle has served the Organization in progressively responsible positions since joining as a policy officer at headquarters in Rome in 1999.

In 2007 he was appointed to oversee management of the field programme in the Organization’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, after an assignment under the Associate Professional Officer programme. In 2013 he became head of the regional office’s field programme management, resource mobilization and communication unit.

In parallel, Jehle served as Secretary of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe – a body that brings together representatives of the region’s 53 member countries and one member organization (the European Union) every two years to set priorities and guide the work of FAO in the region.

In 2015, Jehle assumed responsibility for the coordination of two major FAO initiatives in Europe and Central Asia:  empowering smallholders and family farms, and improving agrifood trade and market integration.

Prior to joining FAO, Jehle worked as a farmer for two years, as consultant to the European Commission’s Directorate General of Economics and Finance, in Brussels. He also worked as senior researcher in the Department of Economics and Agriculture Policy of the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, and was a research fellow at the Czech Agriculture University in Prague.

Jehle holds a PhD in Agriculture Economics and an M.A. in Agriculture Economics from the University of Hohenheim, a graduate certificate in Agriculture Economics and International Policy from Washington State University, USA, and a B.A. in Agriculture Science from the University of Bonn, Germany.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Raimund’s caliber for the role of Deputy Regional Representative in this region,” said Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia. “He combines a deep understanding of the technical issues faced by the countries of this region, with long practical experience and the ability to manage a team and get things done.”

In the role of Deputy Regional Representative, Jehle succeeds Tony Alonzi who recently retired from the Organization. He will also serve as FAO Representative to Albania, Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova.