On November 8th, H. E. Ambassador Paul Beresford-Hill and H.E. Michael P. Murphy, KM, Permanent Representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the African Union, held a reception in honor of H.E. David M. Beasley, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

During the reception, Ambassador Beresford-Hill and Ambassador Murphy presented Ambassador Beasley with the Order of Malta Grand Cross Pro Merito Melitensi Award. The award was given in recognition of his humanitarian activities, particularly his leadership of the World Food Programme which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.

Ambassador Beasley has led the WFP since April 2017, and during that time has worked diligently to answer the call of an ever-expanding number of people who need food assistance due to man-made and natural disasters, including wars, famine, and recently, a global pandemic. Before coming to the WFP, he spent a decade working in more than 100 foreign countries on projects designed to foster peace, reconciliation and economic progress. As governor of South Carolina from 1995 to 1999, Beasley helped revitalize and reshape the state’s economy, which led to one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, and a dramatic increase in private sector capital investment.  His lifetime of public service began when he was elected to serve in the SC House of Representatives at the age of 21–and still a student at South Carolina Law.

The Grand Cross Pro Merito Melitensi is awarded sparingly and, among other American recipients, are George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Grace Kelly.