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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, today announced that €30 million will be allocated to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), specifically to respond to the mounting humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa. The region is facing a prolonged period of extreme need because of drought, conflict, and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Following the announcement this week of a new €105 million Strategic Partnership Agreement with WFP from 2025-2027, the Minister has underlined the importance of this collaboration for the Horn of Africa.
Speaking from Ethiopia, where he is in the middle of a three-country international development mission to Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan, Minister McConalogue said:
“The scale of humanitarian crisis across the Horn of Africa is devastating. The threat of further deterioration for those people most affected due to conflict, climate change and the crippling impact of inflation on basic foodstuffs cannot be ignored. My visit to Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan has laid bare for me the imperative for Ireland to act now and scale up our humanitarian response. WFP is one of Ireland’s best placed partners to save lives.”
The commitment of €30 million for the Horn of Africa falls within the overall Strategic Partnership Agreement, and the funds will be specifically earmarked for Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia between 2025-2027.
Earlier in the day the Minister travelled to Semera, Afar region, one of the most impoverished of Ethiopia’s regions, where a primarily pastoralist population (90%) is facing significant food security challenges.
Following a meeting with local farmers being supported by WFP to adopt sustainable climate resistant agricultural practices the Minister said:
“My meeting with small-holder farmers in Semera underlines the many similarities between Ireland and Ethiopia. We both have rural and agricultural backgrounds, with farming playing a key role in our economies and societies. Ireland’s support of WFP anticipatory action measures enables WFP to develop smallholder farmer resilience and to build agricultural capacity.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the lead on Ireland’s engagement with the World Food Programme (WFP) and has a seat on the Executive Board for 2023-2024. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. The Department also leads Ireland’s engagement with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The Department, through a rolling series of three-year Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs), provides core funding to the WFP.
WFP reached 160 million people in 2022, with a presence in over 120 countries and territories. WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to fight hunger and for its contribution to enabling conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas. It relies entirely on voluntary funding, with Governments being its principal donors. Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger, pledges to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and is the priority of the WFP.
Minister McConalogue earlier this week announced a funding commitment of €105m to the World Food Programme (WFP) from Ireland for the period 2025 to 2027 : McConalogue announces 40% increase in Ireland’s contribution to UN’s World Food Programme
The Government of Ireland’s International Development Programme, through its Embassies in Ethiopia and Kenya, continue to provide significant funding to countries in the Horn of Africa, to meet myriad development and humanitarian challenges. Total ODA funding to countries in the Horn (Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya) amounted to €102.8 million in 2022. Additional information at: www.irishaid.ie
Minister McConalogue meets with district officials and communities in Afambo district, Afar region of Ethiopia to hear about WFP’s work with local smallholder farmers to enhance resilience and livelihoods.
Minister McConalogue interacts with local farmers and pastoralists to hear about how they have boosted livelihoods and built resilience in the face of climate shocks in Afambo district, Afar region.
Minister McConalogue hears from the local community in Afambo woreda on the benefits of the irrigation canal built by the Government. WFP is training farmers on farming best practices to boost their productivity. Water is critical to irrigate crops and provide pasture for livestock.
Minister McConalogue walks along the Awash river in Afar region on Ethiopia, where WFP is supporting farmers to tap into local water resources to irrigate farms.