Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko is an Angolan agronomist, economist and diplomat. She currently serves as the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission. Prior to her current role, she was a Special Advisor to the Angolan Government, namely to the Angolan Minister of Environment and the Angolan Minister of Agriculture, focusing on international cooperation. She reviously served as the Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) for 13 years.[1]

Josefa Sacko
Sacko in 2019
African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment
Assumed office
January 2017
PresidentMoussa Faki
Preceded byRhoda Peace Tumusiime
Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization
In office
2004–2017
Special Advisor to the Angolan Government
In office
2000–2004
PresidentJosé Eduardo dos Santos
Personal details
Nationality Angolan
OccupationAgronomist, economist, diplomat
AwardsCrans Montana Forum Recognition Award (2019)

Career

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Sacko has made significant contributions to agriculture and international diplomacy. She began her career as a special adviser to the Minister of Agriculture in Angola, overseeing food security, poverty reduction, and nutrition. She later served as the Secretary-General of the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO), where she managed the economic interests of 25 African coffee-producing countries. During her tenure, she established Regional Centers of Excellence to enhance the capacity of member states in genetic material conservation and coffee quality improvement across several African countries including Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Cameroon, and Zambia.[2][3][4][5]

Sacko has received several awards and recognitions for her contributions, including being named one of the 100 most influential people in climate policy in March 2019 and receiving the Prix de la Foundation 2019 at the Crans Montana African Women’s Forum for her efforts in empowering rural women. Sacko is fluent in Portuguese, French, English, Spanish, and Lingala.[6]

Honors and Awards

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  • Crans Montana Forum Recognition Award (2019)

References

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  1. ^ "H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko | African Union". AU.int. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  2. ^ "Josefa Sacko entre as 100 mais influentes de África - Economia - Angola Press - ANGOP". Angola Press (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  3. ^ "Josefa Sacko encoraja jovens mulheres a enfrentar desafios". ANGOP Angola Press. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ^ "H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko". World Bank Live. 2020-06-10. Archived from the original on 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  5. ^ "Josefa Sacko eleita entre os top 20 mais influentes na Política Climática 2019". Embaixada de Angola na Alemanha (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-11-23.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Jornal de Angola - Notícias - Josefa Sacko foi nomeada para o Fórum Crans Montana". Jornal de Angola (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-11-23.