Brussels, 27/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the agencies of the United Nations are to put up a common front against food insecurity and malnutrition throughout the world, and will step up their coordination to provide help to some 925 million people who, in the 21st century, are still not getting enough food. This cooperation will now come under a strategic new framework, which was signed in Rome on Monday 27 June at the annual meeting of the FAO to promote synergies between the partners, ensure continuity between emergency aid, rehabilitation and long-term development actions.
This new strategic framework for cooperation between the Commission, the FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development reinforces the partnership between the three key organisations in the fight against food insecurity and one of the largest international donors in the area. The signatories hope that the international community will now be better armed to improve food security both in the short term and in the long term.
“Fighting hunger and food insecurity remains at the top of the EU priorities, which will be reflected in the upcoming proposals on the future EU development policy. Joining forces with UN agencies is the most effective recipe, which already created success stories such as the eradication of rinderpest this year”, said Andris Piebalgs, European Development Commissioner, at the signing of the agreement. Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, stressed that a growing number of people are affected by natural disasters and conflicts, and that resources are limited. “A challenge of this magnitude requires the cooperation of all of us who share the same goal - to ensure that we deliver aid in the most efficient and effective manner”, she said.
Humanitarian food aid represents the largest section of the EU's humanitarian budget, with some €1.1 billion made available between 2007 and 2010. For 2007-2013, nearly €250 million were granted each year via the thematic food security programme. The European Development Fund has already channelled over €1 billion into Africa alone. The Food Facility of €1 billion, which was set in place in 2008, provides aid to countries hit by crisis. (A.N./transl.fl)