Princess Basma Bint Ali named FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali was on Wednesday named a Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa.

In her new role, the princess will help FAO raise awareness of the importance of transforming the world’s agrifood systems, to overcome the challenges of persisting and growing hunger, according to a FAO statement.

FAO’s Director General Qu Dongyu noted that Her Royal Highness has been a long-time supporter of FAO and a passionate and articulate advocate of biodiversity conservation worldwide.

“Her Royal Highness has systematically raised awareness among Jordanians and all the people of the Near East and North Africa about the importance of preserving native plants and ecosystems and promoting biodiversity research and environmental learning, which are at the core of ensuring sustainable agrifood systems and improving food security,” he said.

While conferring the title of Goodwill Ambassador on Princess Basma, the FAO director-general described her as “an exceptional individual” and emphasised that he — and FAO — were delighted that she was committing to work even more closely with FAO.

“It gives me great pleasure to be honoured, as I am fully aware of the responsibility to participate in the dissemination of the organisation’s vision of creating a world free from hunger and poverty,” said Princess Basma.

FAO’s Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, Abdul Hakim Elwaer said: “In the upcoming months, together with Her Royal Highness, we want to focus on issues relating to supporting a better environment and better life, including the importance of protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and combatting climate change through more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable practices, leaving no one behind.”

Princess Basma has been actively working on biodiversity conservation in Jordan for over 30 years. In 2021 Princess Basma was appointed as the chairperson of the board of trustees of the Hashemite Fund for Development of Jordan Badia to help steer socio-economic capacity-building through local community-based sustainable development. 

Princess Basma has also founded several non-profit, non-governmental environmental entities, including the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan, in 2008, to conserve Jordan’s native flora.  She co-founded the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan in 1995 to protect Jordan’s coral reef. Princess Basma serves on several national and international boards of environmental entities, including, as chair of the National Biodiversity Committee of Jordan (Ministry of Environment).  

Princess Basma has been awarded many medals for her work, the last of which was the Order of the State Centennial in 2022, as well as the Henry Shaw Medal by the Missouri Botanical Garden for her pioneering work in raising awareness among Jordanians about the importance of conserving native plants and protecting the environment. In 2002, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) elected her as a laureate in the Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievements. In 1998, she became the first Arab woman to receive the title of Hero for the Planet from Time magazine.

Princess Basma earlier served for 12 years in the Jordanian Armed Forces, reaching the rank of Major. She was awarded the Order of Merit Decoration in 1998 and the King Hussein Gold Medal for Excellence in 1995.