File photo shows Spanish actor and director Antonio Banderas poses with the "President Award" during the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 10, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters]

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Wednesday appointed Spanish actor Antonio Banderas as Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against poverty.

In his new role as an advocate for the poor, Antonio Banderas will push for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight globally-agreed targets with a 2015 deadline to halve world poverty, with a focus on Africa and Latin America.

"Poverty robs us of our potential as a people, preventing us from being all that we can be," said Banderas, according to a press release from UNDP. "This is why it is so important to mobilize all of our efforts to defeat it, especially if today we have the knowledge, the tools and the resources to do it, "he said.

As Goodwill Ambassador, Banderas will also raise the profile of the MDG Achievement Fund, set up in 2006 with a 700 million U.S. dollars contribution by Spain to accelerate progress on reaching the goals.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark welcomed the actor's appointment. "His proven commitment to the causes of the less fortunate make him an ideal advocate for our work," she said.

A passionate football fan, he said he is thrilled to join the ranks of Zidane and Didier Drogba, also UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors. Other UNDP Goodwill Amabassadors include tennis star Maria Sharapova, Japanese actress Misako Kono and Crown Prince Khaakon Magnus of Norway.

Banderas was born in Molaga, Spain, and is a much acclaimed actor, writer, singer and producer. His films include Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire, Philadelphia, the Mask of Zorro, Spy Kids and the Shrek sequels.