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Permanent Mission - Team, Structure & Goals

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Team of the Permanent Representation in Rome in February 2023.
Team of the Permanent Representation in Rome in February 2023.© StäV Rom

Permanent representations are diplomatic missions to international organizations. They represent Germany at the United Nations (UN) in New York and its European offices and sub-organizations in Rome, Geneva and Vienna, but also at the EU and NATO in Brussels, at the OECD and UNESCO in Paris and at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Head of the Permanent Representation in Rome is Ambassador Joachim Bleicker. The team comprises 8 staff members from the Federal Foreign Office (AA), the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

In Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) of the United Nations have their headquarters.

  • As regards FAO, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has the lead responsibility within the German government.
  • For WFP and IFAD, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is in charge.

Staff members of the Permanent Mission in Rome hold seats and votes in the governing bodies of the three Rome-based UN institutions (RbAs), where they play a key role in steering the work of these institutions. Additionally, Germany's interests are represented in these committees.

With Germany being one of the most important donors and partners in all three organizations, the German position carries considerable weight there.

Thematic focal points of the work of the Permanent Representation in Rome are

  • international agricultural and food policy,
  • rural development issues along with
  • humanitarian assistance.

A particular focus is on the 2030 Agenda. For many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of this Agenda, the UN location in Rome is the key forum for implementing and monitoring the achievement of the goals.

Responsibilities for content

For FAO: Dr. Oliver Mellenthin, also Deputy Permanent Representative

For IFAD: Ronald Meyer, Executive Director

For WFP: Alexander Ernst

For CFS: Dr. Astrid Epp

Office Organization

Claudia Tonnini (team secretary)

Katherina Niemann (filing office; website editing; administration of the German WFP funds; contact for trainee and internship programme)

The permanent team members are usually supported by two interns as part of the Federal Foreign Office’s training programme.

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