The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D, today announced funding totalling €18 million for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) (€14 million) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (€4.6 million) in 2017.
“The €14 million funding from my Department will contribute towards the World Food Programme’s humanitarian relief operations and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger” Minister Creed stated. “While generally targeted at WFP’s much needed relief operations around the world, it will also give WFP the scope to flexibly plan and target this funding in the most strategic, efficient and effective manner possible.”
The contribution includes €10 million as part of a three year strategic partnership agreement with WFP, as well as an addition contribution of €4 million, which includes €1.5 million specifically to address urgent humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Thanking Ireland for its contribution, WFP Executive Director Mr. David M. Beasley said:
“WFP is very grateful for Ireland’s constant and consistent support. The people of the World Food Programme admire Ireland’s dedication to helping the hungry and the vulnerable and appreciate that it provides consistent, flexible and reliable funding for WFP’s work. Together, we have a model partnership that saves lives and builds resilience around the world, and WFP and Ireland will continue to work together to help achieve our common goal of Zero Hunger.”
Ireland will become a member of WFP’s Executive Board for a two year term commencing in February 2018.
In addition to Ireland’s annual subscription to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Minister Creed also announced supports for specific worthwhile projects under the auspices of FAO- to promote food security and livelihood resilience among farmers and refugees in crisis regions, including in Nigeria, Central African Republic, and among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh; as well as projects to support climate smart agriculture and international food safety standards.
“Agriculture is the backbone of rural food security and livelihoods. When addressing the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected by crisis, maintaining food production and rebuilding the agriculture sector are fundamental to preventing loss of life from severe hunger and to providing a pathway towards resilience in the midst of humanitarian crises, and beyond. For this reason FAO is very grateful to the Government of Ireland for its contribution” stated Mr. Dominique Burgeon, Director, Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, FAO.
“I am pleased that these allocations bring total Overseas Development Aid spending by my Department to €18.6m this year” Minister Creed concluded “reflecting both the importance of agriculture, food security and nutrition in international development, and the Irish Government’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Note to Editors
UN World Food Programme
WFP is a United Nations organisation responsible for the delivery of food assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world partnering with other United Nations agencies, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to enable people, communities and countries to meet their own food needs. WFP is the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, and is funded exclusively from voluntary contributions. In addition to DAFM’s core funding of WFP, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also provides funding to WFP for crisis programmes in specific countries and regions.
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
FAO is a United Nations organisation mandated to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems and increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.
Total Overseas Development Aid expenditure by DAFM 2017 | |
WFP | |
Advance payment of 2018 Strategic Partnership Agreement commitment | €10,000,000 |
WFP's response to the level three emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo | €1,500,000 |
Un-earmarked multilateral contribution | €2,500,000 |
FAO | |
FAO and related annual subscriptions | €1,890,081 |
Specific projects under auspices of FAO: | |
FAO – Nigeria - emergency agricultural and livestock assistance | €425,000 |
FAO – Central African Republic - emergency strengthening of food security, nutrition and livelihoods of vulnerable7 people | €425,000 |
FAO – Bangladesh - emergency provision of alternative cooking fuels for Rohingya refugees | €425,000 |
FAO - Support of vulnerable smallholder farmers in Africa whose food security is threatened by a Fall Army Worm outbreak | €425,000 |
FAO - Joint FAO/WHO Codex trust Fund | €500,000 |
FAO - LEAP (Livestock Environmental Assessment Partnership) | €45,000 |
FAO: GASCA (Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture Facilitation Unit) | €45,000 |
FAO: Contribution to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture | €20,404 |
FAO: Donation to the Special Funds for agreed purposes to support the participation of developing country in the meetings of the International Treaty's Governing Body | € 400,404 |
Total ODA spend by DAFM 2017 | €18,600,889 |