Cindy McCain, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations food agencies in Rome, has been chosen to lead the World Food Programme over the next five years, replacing David Beasley when he steps down in April, according to three well-placed diplomatic sources.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to inform the food agency’s 36-member state executive board when it convenes in Rome on Monday for its first annual meeting. He is not likely to publicly announce the decision before later next week.
The appointment, which begins April 5, places Washington D.C. royalty at the head of a U.N. agency that depends heavily on United States financial support to carry out its global mission.
McCain, the widow of the late Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, currently serves as U.S. ambassador to WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
She was considered the top U.S. choice to lead the agency, which the Biden administration was eager to replace with its own candidate despite Beasley’s fundraising success as WFP chief. David Lane, who also previously served as U.S. ambassador to the Rome-based agencies, was also under consideration for the role, which is officially named by the U.N. secretary-general but heavily influenced by White House preferences.
One WFP watcher privately expressed concern about McCain’s lack of experience running a sprawling international relief agency. But she has good relations with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, whose support for the agency will be crucial.
“Ms. McCain brings a deep understanding of global affairs and humanitarian work after her years working with NGOs and lately in her diplomatic role. Her biggest challenge at WFP will be to lead change to strengthen and improve its vast management systems,” Catherine Bertini, a former executive director of the World Food Programme, told Devex.
McCain will enter the agency at a critical time, as the world faces an unprecedented food crisis driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, other conflicts, and climate change. WFP has been forced to cut critical rations to vulnerable people in places such as Yemen and Myanmar for lack of funds, despite Beasley’s record-breaking fundraising.
