WFP launches new 5-year poverty eradication plan

WFP country director, Eddie Rowe said the programme was also aimed at reinforcing national social protection efforts.

“We are delighted with the collaboration between WFP and the government in our bold and shared vision of a hunger-free Zimbabwe,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira said: “WFP’s efforts support the government’s social protection strategy, so that vulnerable populations across the country are able to meet their basic needs all year round, and thus minimise the need for humanitarian responses in future.”

The programme is aimed at benefiting food-insecure rural households, including refugees, children and smallholder farmers, through provision of emergency food aid and agricultural inputs.

United Nations resident co-ordinator, Bishow Parajuli described the WFP-Zimbabwe five-year strategic plan as “an excellent example of UN agencies working together to achieve zero hunger by supporting national food and nutrition security programmes through the 2016-2020 Zimbabwe-United Nations Development Assistance Framework”.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger globally, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.

Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.