National Governments and Aid Agencies Work to Fight Hunger

Ghana, Guatemala, Bangladesh and Cape Verde are example of countries where national governments, in collaboration with WFP and other aid agencies, are taking effecting solutions to fight the hunger problems. These solutions are adapted to the existing realities in these countries.

As for working together, WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu said that, "When we work together we have the power to bring about real change in the lives of millions of people who would otherwise struggled to feed their families."

WFP is celebrating World Food Day this year by enumerating the successes of four countries in the fight against hunger through the partnerships with WFP, local authorities and other aid agencies.

Cape Verde
WFP have been giving school feeding programs in Cape Verde for more than three decades, since 1979. Last September 7, the government officially took full responsibility and ownership of its national school meals programme. This scheme is one of the country's strategies for fighting hunger and poverty. Giving daily meals at school is an effective way to help children develop healthy minds and body.

Egypt
There is a high level of malnutrition in Egypt. According to World Health Organization, one in two children aged below five is anaemic. WFP has been in collaboration with the government and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to fortify the "baladi bread", the staple food of Egyptians, with micronutrients like iron and folic acid to curb the malnutrition of over 50 million people in the country. Baladi bread is lacking in many necessary nutrients vital to the health and development of Egyptians, especially children. After two years of joint effort, the fortified-baladi bread reached the 70 percent of the population. Just 20 cents per stack of bread is enough to feed children with food that's good for them.

Ghana
WFP bought US $780,000 worth of rice from Ghanaian farmers in order to provide mid-day meals for over 150,000 children in 304 schools in Ghana. This ensures that children would have regular meals to give them the proper nutrition they need. The purchase of Ghanain rice at fair prices is an effort to help local farmers gain more income.

Bangladesh
WFP has been working with the Bangladeshi government to reduce the damage caused by the effects of climate change such as floods. WFP is building and raising 30,000 homes above high-water levels. Moreover, women are being trained with disaster-preparedness. Some of the results of joint efforts of WFP and the Bangladeshi government are the 26,000-km raised rural roads, 17,000-km flood embankments and 1.6 million women trained in disaster-preparedness.