(2007-13) News Release
Ottawa — The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages today announced that Canada will provide $125 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) over the next five years for food programs for children in African schools.
Minister Verner made the announcement at an event in Ottawa with Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the WFP.
"These programs that offer nutritious meals in African schools can truly make a difference to the health and well-being of African children, and can also provide an incentive to African families to send their children to school," said Minister Verner. "Canada's New Government is proud to invest $125 million over the next five years to help the World Food Programme in their goal to feed 20 million children."
Reducing hunger is a prerequisite for long-term development. Canada's contribution to the WFP will be used to purchase, deliver, and distribute food products to school children in Africa. Today's announcement builds on Canada's previous support to school feeding in Africa, which have helped to ensure that over one million children had access to nutritious meals and a primary education in Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania.
"This very generous and welcome gift allows WFP to plan ahead with the knowledge that millions of kids are guaranteed a daily school meal for years to come,” said WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran. "To see the benefits, we only have to look back at Canada's previous three-year contribution, when school enrolment increased by more than 20 percent in Canadian-supported schools, with girls' enrolment equal or higher than boys".
The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency, leading the fight against the number one risk to global health – hunger. In 2006 alone, the WFP reached 87.8 million people in 78 countries, and Canada was its fourth largest donor.
- 30 -
Information:
Richard Walker
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: (819) 953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Web site: www.cida.gc.ca (electronic version of document)
Bettina Luescher
World Food Programme Chief Spokesperson, North America
Tel: (646) 824-1112
E-mail: luescher@un.org
Web site:
www.wfp.org
