WFP gains US$6m support from Japan to boost nutrition response in Ghana, The Gambia
WEST AFRICA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$6 million contribution from the Government of Japan to boost food security in Ghana and The Gambia.
In Ghana, the international agency will channel US$4.5 million towards a public-private partnership project which aims to make quality nutrition and health services available to 250,000 people.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, WFP will partner with three private sector Japanese firms, The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF)/KOKO Plus Foundation (KPF), NEC Corporation and Sysmex Corporation, to produce nutritious foods and micronutrient supplements and carry out nutrition education for the most vulnerable women, children and adolescent girls in rural food insecure areas of the country.
“Partnership is key to addressing food and nutrition needs and ultimately achieving Zero Hunger.
“Thanks to the continued generosity of the People of Japan, we will collaborate more with public and private sector partners in order to generate innovative hunger solutions in Ghana,” said Anna Mukiibi-Bunnya, WFP Representative ad interim in Ghana.
Under the project, about 7,500 vulnerable pregnant women and nursing mothers, children and adolescent girls, will receive nutrition education and counselling, as well as nutritious foods.
The women will also be enrolled in activities that will enable them to earn more money and sustain their ability to continue buying locally produced nutritious foods when the project ends. Additionally, 250,000 people in 90 districts will continuously be educated and counselled on good nutrition practices under a widely rolled out social and behaviour change communication component.
Meanwhile in The Gambia, the US$1.5m support is aimed to provide nutrition response to 40,000 vulnerable food insecure people.
With this contribution WFP will provide fortified blended foods to malnourished children under 5, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and mothers living with HIV to address moderate acute malnutrition.
WFP will also support nutrition education and awareness raising to increase the knowledge and skills of caregivers, mothers, adolescent girls, households and community leaders in best feeding practices.
“We are grateful for Japan’s generous contribution to our work in The Gambia.
“This support came at a critical time when COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal climate shocks including flash floods and windstorms are causing the hardest blow in families’ food security situation,” said Yasuhiro Tsumura, WFP’s Representative in The Gambia.
The latest food security analysis estimated that 600,000 people (30 percent of The Gambia population) are food insecure with 114,000 men, women and children severely affected during the lean season period, June-August 2021.
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