Sweden provides critical assistance for WFP resilience operations in Ethiopia | WPN World People News

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a multiyear contribution of US$10.5 million from the Government of Sweden to provide innovative solutions for building resilience of vulnerable populations in Ethiopia on Feb 19, 2018.

This contribution will enable WFP to work with government and NGO partners to strengthen the Government of Ethiopia’s logistics capacity and improve early warning, surveillance and beneficiary feedback systems. It will also support the scale-up of the satellite index insurance for small-scale farmers and pastoralists, as well as promote livelihood and resilience-building activities among refugees and host communities.

As investing in long-term resilience is essential to mitigate the effects of recurrent drought and food insecurity, WFP will collaborate with a group of diverse partners to improve the livelihoods of the most vulnerable. Led by the Government of Ethiopia’s entities responsible at federal, regional and district levels, WFP will work in partnership with Mercy Corps and Farm Africa to implement the project.

“This contribution comes at a critical time when resources for resilience interventions are urgently needed,” said Joyce Luma, WFP Country Director and Representative in Ethiopia. “Thanks to our strong partnership with the Government of Sweden, WFP will be able to continue supporting immediate humanitarian needs, while also working together to change lives through long-term food insecurity.”

Through this four-year resilience programme, interventions implemented by WFP, Mercy Corps and Farm Africa will support the Government of Ethiopia in its objective to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) – Zero Hunger.

“We believe WFP has a role to play both in humanitarian and long-term development cooperation to ensure a life of dignity for poor people,” explained Annika Nordin Jayawardena, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development co-operation at the Swedish Embassy. “We are happy to support this resilience program, where WFP and their partners will work on small-scale irrigation, farming and improving access to markets and insurance.”

In addition, Nordin welcomed the expected improvements in logistics, insurance and early warning systems nationwide, while also noting the joint commitment of WFP and the Government of Sweden in connecting humanitarian assistance with development activities.

Building resilience is now more important than ever, as there are ten million people in Ethiopia currently suffering from one of the worst droughts in decades. In response, WFP is working with the Government of Ethiopia to reach 3.7 million people in the Somali Region with emergency relief assistance. However, WFP urgently requires US$73 million through June 2018 in order to provide uninterrupted food assistance to those in need.

Sweden is one of WFP’s most resolute and committed partners. Earlier this month, Sweden made a historic commitment of approximately US$370 million in flexible funds to WFP over the next four years (2018 to 2021). The contribution is the largest ever made by a donor within a WFP Strategic Partnership Agreement.

Source:World Food Programme