Niamey, October 16, 2020 – To mark today’s World Food Day, the U.S. government is renewing its global commitments to fight hunger and malnutrition around the world. As a leader in humanitarian assistance and development, the U.S. is calling upon its partner nations and organizations to continue their efforts in ensuring that vulnerable people, such as women, children, and the poor do not suffer from malnutrition. In light of a global pandemic that threatens to reverse the gains that have been achieved in the recent past, our work has become more urgent than ever.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Initiative. In 2010, following one of the most devastating food crises in the world, Feed the Future was launched to help partner countries end the vicious cycle of chronic hunger and poverty. Over the past decade, Feed the Future has unlocked over $3.5 billion in agricultural financing, helped farmers generate more than $13.7 billion in agricultural sales, and helped develop and deploy over 1,000 innovations for agriculture and nutrition.
In Niger, over that same period, thanks to Feed the Future more than 200,000 people gained access to basic drinking water services and 90,000 gained access to basic sanitation. In addition, the U.S. government helped more than 500,000 adapt to the effects of climate change.
Elsewhere, Feed the Future was also able to accomplish significant results. In Bangladesh, poverty dropped by 37 percent and hunger by 68 percent; in Ethiopia, poverty dropped by 19 percent, stunting by 23 percent, and hunger by 33 percent; in Zambia, poverty dropped by 14 percent, stunting by 22 percent, and hunger by 6 percent.
In the decade ahead, in the face of crises like COVID-19, Feed the Future will build upon these achievements and continue in its mission to end global hunger.
The United States Agency for International Development is one of the U.S. government agencies contributing to Feed the Future. As the U.S. government’s initiative to combat global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition, Feed the Future draws on the resources and expertise of various U.S. federal departments and agencies, private companies, U.S. universities, and non-governmental organizations to solve some of the most intractable challenges of global hunger. By investing in long-term food security, Feed the Future also helps U.S. businesses compete and expand into new markets while building a more stable, secure world.
Visit www.feedthefuture.gov to learn more.
