WFP has thanked Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for a generous €11.5 million contribution to development projects across the globe ranging from free school meals to nutritional support for people living with HIV and AIDS.

This brings Germany’s contribution to WFP development projects to €23 million in 2007.

“This significant contribution will help those people in the hunger zones that might not always make the news headlines but are nonetheless in need” said Monika Midel, Director of WFP’s Berlin Office.

For example, some of the money will stave off the closure of a WFP programme providing a nutritious school meal to 70,000 very poor children in Benin, West Africa.

Appeal

WFP appealed last week for €729,000 (US$1 million) to keep children fed in school.

“The German government understands the importance of the role in providing food assistance to help the poorest of the poor take part in the development of their local economies,” said Midel.

“Food assistance is a way of making poverty reduction sustainable,” she said.

Multilateral contribution

Germany’s contribution was made in cash and is multilateral; a valued category of aid that gives flexibility and allows WFP to purchase food on the cheapest – preferably local or regional – markets.

By procuring food locally, WFP supports farmers and markets in developing countries and is able move food quickly and economically to people in need of it.

Half the contributions made to WFP in 2006 have been in cash, and 77 percent of WFP’s local purchases were made in 70 developing countries.

Nepal post-conflict relief

An additional €1million has been provided by Germany for WFP’s post-conflict relief and recovery operation in Nepal, and a further €750,000 for food assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) following severe floods.

Germany has traditionally been amongst the top ten donors to WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian relief agency, and a staunch supporter of food assistance as a way of supporting development.

In 2006 it gave €47.1 million and has contributed a total of €35.8 million to WFP so far this year.

The German government also proved its commitment to the world’s 850 million hungry poor when took advantage of its six-month Presidency of the European Union by hosting an international conference on food aid last May.

Ralf Suedhoff
WFP/Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 206 149-12
Cell. +49 (0)160 9491 2547

Brenda Barton
Deputy Director
Communications
WFP/Rome
Tel. +39-06-65132602
Cell. +39-3472582217
(ISDN line available)

Gregory Barrow
WFP/London
Tel. +44-20-72409001
Cell. +44-7968-008474

Christiane Berthiaume
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178564
Cell. +41-792857304

Jennifer Parmelee
WFP/Washington
Tel. +1-202-6530010
Ext. 1149
Cell. +1-202-4223383

Bettina Luescher
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-212-9635196
Cell. +1-646-8241112