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Food distribution, Jakarta, February 2006

WFP today welcomed a significant donation from Sindicatum Carbon Capital of US$ 100,000 to support food-for-workprojects in East Indonesia.

Mr Kirk Evans, South East Asia CEO of Sindicatum Carbon Capital Group (SCC), a leading turnkey developer of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) abatement projects which act to reduce the effects of climate change globally,announced the handover of US$100,000 to Angela Van Rynbach, the Representative for WFP Indonesia.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility commitment and our commitment to sustainable development in the markets where we operate, SindicatumCarbon Capital is honoured to provide direct assistance to these vital Food-for-Work projects in Indonesia. This contribution is the first step in a three-year agreement between us and the WFP”.

“This donation has come at a crucial time when elevated commodity prices are diminishing the purchasing power of WFP-targeted vulnerable groups, resulting in even poorer access to a basic, balanced diet with sufficient protein and micronutrients,” said Van Rynbach.

“This is one of the first contributions received by the World Food Programme that will help build food security for Indonesians as well as mitigate the dangers of climate change. We are grateful for this contribution from Sindicatum and we look forward to growing this partnership”.

Mr. Assaad Razzouk, Group CEO of SCC, added that “we will provide both funding and resources to the WFP in order to secure the supply of basic provisions and to mount education and capacity-building initiatives in South East Asian communities where WFP is operating” said MrRazzouk.

“As part of our agreement, we will be collaborating closely with WFP to identify additional project opportunities to achieve climate neutrality within these areas.”

Mr. Razzouk also noted that global food and fuel price rises affect the weakest and most vulnerable people and expressed his hope that the rice provided under this assistance programme would help such beneficiaries meet their basic food needs and ease the difficulties they face.

With food-for-work, villagers are able to build vital new community assets of direct benefit to them. For the hungry, every day is about finding enough food to survive: farmers cannot afford to risk trying new agricultural methods, when they can barely subsist on a small patch of land. Small scale irrigation, fish ponds and village water supply all help to sustain communities.

The special role of WFP food assistance is to give people the chance to take their first steps out of the hunger trap. Food given to the right people, at the right time, makes it possible for them to devote time and energy to development opportunities. This is never more apparent than in WFP's food-for-workprojects.

SCC is a specialist end-to-end developer and technology provider for climate change-related projects. The SCC team utilizes in-house expertise and capital resources to develop projects from conception through to implementation and long-term operation. SCC works in partnership with companies and governments to deliver cost effective means by which to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Areas of specialization include abating GHG emissions from theoil and gas, waste management and natural resource sectors, as well as biomass and energy efficiency applications.

SCC manages GHG abatement project across a pan-regional footprint comprising Southeast Asia, China, India, the Middle East and Americas. Having established a presence in Indonesia in 2006, SCC provides a full portfolio of CDM-related services to clients in Indonesia from its Jakarta office.

SCC’s institutional shareholders include Citigroup, one of the world’s largest banking groups, AIG, one of the world’s largest insurers, Black River Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill, Gulf One Bank, the leading Bahraini financial institution and CapitalE Group.

SCC leverages their collective strengths in development, finance and technology. SCC is also backed by Istithmar World Ventures, a Dubai World Company, as well as several leading US Endowments and Foundations.

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation and the United Nations frontline agency in the global fight against hunger. It first began operating in Indonesia more than 40 years ago.

After closing its office in 1996, severe drought, the economic crisis and political turmoil prompted WFP to return in 1998 to address micronutrient deficiencies and improve nutritional status of vulnerable men, women and children.

In response to a series of natural disasters which affected Indonesia, WFP was quick to respond with humanitarian food assistance and logistical support. Currently, around 750,000-targeted vulnerable people are receiving WFP food assistance across four regions in Indonesia - Jabotabek, East Java, Nusa Tenggara Barat and Nusa Tenggara Timor region.

Receiving no core funds from any source, WFP has the difficult task of relying entirely on voluntary contributions to finance its humanitarian operations.

In Indonesia, WFP needs in excess of US$ 100 million over the next three years to implement all planned programmes.

Angela Van Rynbach,
WFP Indonesia Representative - Jakarta
+ 62 21 570 9004

Paul Risley,
WFP/Asia Spokesperson - Bangkok, Thailand
+66 2 655 4115