The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, today signed a three-year Strategic Partnership Agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This agreement commits Ireland to the provision of €75m for the period 2022 to 2024. The Agreement was also signed by Minister of State for Overseas Development Colm Brophy TD, and Mr. David Beasley, WFP Executive Director.
“I am very pleased to announce that we have signed a new Strategic Partnership Agreement with the World Food Programme that will see Ireland's contribution increase to €75m over the next three years. This represents our highest ever contribution and confirms Ireland's commitment to fighting world hunger, in conjunction with WFP”, the Minister said. Executive Director David Beasley stated that, “The UN World Food Programme is proud of its partnership with Ireland, a steadfast supporter to WFP for decades. This new multi-year Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) will extend support until 2024, providing flexible and key support particularly in Syria and those countries affected by the Syrian crisis, reaching vulnerable refugees across the region. Ireland has understood the impact of the climate crisis on food security and is a champion of nutrition. WFP thanks Ireland for the commitment made through various advocacy efforts and looks forward to continuing this partnership.”
Minister of State Colm Brophy said, Addressing hunger is a cornerstone of Ireland’s international development policy – one that is informed and influenced by our own experiences of famine and food insecurity. Ireland’s partnership with WFP is an important expression of this commitment, at a time when food insecurity is at unprecedented levels. 45 million people in 43 countries are at risk of sliding into famine. But humanitarian crises will never be solved by humanitarian responses alone. That is why we are using Ireland’s seat at the UN Security Council to advocate for political action that addresses this challenge, working very closely with the WFP.
Minister McConalogue concluded, WFP is a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, which is exacerbated by the effects of climate change and Covid-19. I want to use the signing of this agreement to highlight the importance of continued support to the WFP and to encourage Governments around the world to take steps towards giving them the reliable funding they require”.
ENDS
Note to Editors
UN World Food Programme
WFP is a United Nations organisation responsible fighting hunger worldwide and is funded exclusively from voluntary contributions. 811 million people are chronically hungry. 283 million are in hunger crises with 45 million people in 43 countries across the globe in near famine. Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger, pledges to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and is the priority of the WFP.
WFP in numbers
- 115.5 million people in 84 countries received assistance from WFP in 2020 through food or cash distributions in emergencies, nutrition support programmes and participation in activities to build resilience to climate and other shocks.
- 5.6K trucks 100 aircraft and 30 ships are on the go on any given day, enabling WFP to prevent people from falling into famine and deliver vital food and other assistance to those who need it the most.
- 17 million children across the world received nutritious meals from WFP, which allowed them to concentrate on their learning and develop their full potential.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the lead Department for the Irish Government’s relationship with the World Food Programme, the UN’s frontline humanitarian agency. The WFP-Ireland SPA 2022-2024 contains a commitment from Ireland to increase core funding to €75m. This includes a €5 million per year allocation to WFP’s trust fund for hunger-related climate change; and an €8 million annual allocation to the WFP Syrian emergency response.
In addition to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s core funding to WFP, Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs also provides funding to WFP for crisis programmes in specific countries and regions. The Department of Foreign Affairs funding to WFP is over €23 million for the period 2019-21.