Page 27 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

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Rinat Kapev

WORKING TOWARDS ZERO HUNGER

"Creating a favourable business climate in rural areas is vital, and that is exactly
what FAO is doing." For former UN Volunteer Rinat Kapev, this is the key to spark
an interest in agricultural development among today's youth.

As a Russian UN Volunteer with FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in
Budapest, Hungary, Rinat spent over two years supporting countries like Armenia,
Serbia and Uzbekistan in building partnerships with international organizations
and other governments. His work focused on promoting agricultural development,
improving food security and ensuring sustainable natural resources management.

Rinat brought with him a truly global perspective, having studied in four countries 23
and interning with several international organizations. His assignment with FAO
began remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenge in itself, but thanks
to a strong team and a flexible mindset, he found his footing quickly. His days
were filled with everything from programme planning and bilateral meetings to
designing tools to help FAO offices monitor regional progress more effectively.

For Rinat, volunteering wasn’t about waiting to be told what to do, it meant asking
questions, taking initiative, and understanding how everyday tasks contributed to
broader development goals. “I liked my team, my job, and I was glad to use my skills
to contribute to the global goal of Zero Hunger,” he shared.

Rinat Kapev, UN Volunteer from Russia, joined FAO’s
Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Budapest,
Hungary. [Rinat Kapev, 2021]