ActionAid USA applauds the inclusion of a $150 million contribution to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) in the package responding to the war on Ukraine. This multilateral fund is a critical tool in addressing the root causes of hunger and supporting the resiliency of family farmers to feed their families and communities. We strongly urge the U.S. government to follow this important step with a multi-year commitment to the GAFSP, while also working to address the root causes of food insecurity as the world faces yet another food crisis.
Niranjali Amerasinghe, Executive Director of ActionAid USA, said:
“Including GAFSP in this aid package is an important acknowledgment of the need to address the root causes of hunger and not just stumble from food crisis to food crisis.
Truly addressing this food crisis means not just emergency assistance, but investing in a more sustainable, just, and resilient food system.”
ActionAid’s recent research shows that the cost of food, fuel, and fertilizer in some of the world’s poorest communities is soaring, with families spending double, triple and in some cases nearly four times what they were paying before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These farmers and communities need urgent support, both to get through this immediate crisis and to invest in their long-term resiliency.