WFP Reaffirms Its Commitment To Zero Hunger In Bangladesh | WPN World People News

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is launching a new four-year Country Strategic Plan (CSP) 2017-2020 designed to strengthen and support the Government of Bangladesh in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of “Zero Hunger “by 2030.

WFP is the first United Nations agency to align its corporate strategy (2017-2021) with the SDGs. The CSP operationalizes this strategy by outlining exactly how WFP will work with national governments to achieve the SDGs.

The CSP Bangladesh is budgeted at USD 201.6 million and reflects an evolution in WFP’s way of working from being a deliverer of food assistance to an enabler of governments to achieve national hunger solutions. WFP will work to improve malnutrition, to ensure access to food, to support sustainable food systems, and to support emergency preparedness activities. WFP will be capitalising on decades of operational experience in Bangladesh and around the world to support the government with technical assistance, operational know-how and evidence to inform policies. A large proportion of WFP’s activities will still be dedicated to the direct distribution of food or cash assistance, particularly to food insecure populations in Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

“Bangladesh’s progress in reducing poverty, hunger and undernutrition is highly impressive and the Government has committed to continue this journey for the country to achieve its full social and economic potential.” said WFP Representative Christa Räder. “Over the next four years WFP aims to support the Government in enhancing its social safety nets for women and children towards nutrition outcomes. We will also continue to maintain and enhance our capacities to efficiently respond to humanitarian challenges. ”

“The Government is committed to increase institutional and financial support for development and values WFP’s enhanced focus on capacity support to national safety nets that reach millions of the most disadvantaged in this country, such as School Feeding in poverty prone areas and the Vulnerable Group Development Programme.” said Honourable Minister, Ministry of Finance, Mr Abul Maal A. Muhith.

The CSP was developed through extensive consultations with the Government and development partners and responds to recommendations resulting from the independent Strategic Review of Food Security and Nutrition in Bangladesh, a study conducted by a team of national experts under the leadership of Professor S.R. Osmani of Ulster University in 2016.

The CSP was approved by WFP’s Executive Board in Rome in February and came into effect from 1 April 2017.

Source:World Food Programme