WFP has hailed the increasing support and commitment of 12 new European Union Member States towards achieving the number one Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty and hunger by 2015.

By 2010, the 12 new European Member States have set themselves an ODA commitment of 0.17 percent of GNI and 0.33 percent by 2015.

In 2006, contributions from these 12 countries reached a total of US$2.1 million in support of WFP operations in Georgia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Afghanistan and the occupied Palestinian territories. Poland led the donors, with contributions amounting to US$1.2 million.

“Over the past two years, we have seen a considerable strengthening of our joint partnership with these new donors and we are optimistic that further strides will be made in the battle against hunger,” said John Powell, WFP’s Deputy Executive Director for Fundraising and Communications.

“We are convinced that with such backing, we can have a real impact on this scourge and improve the lives of millions of people around the world,” he said.

The first annual consultation between WFP and the 12 new EU Member States, held in Nitra, Slovakia in January 2006, set in motion a broad range of initiatives and events to raise awareness of hunger and to promote the visibility of these countries’ efforts alongside WFP.

WFP and the EU

Over the past 12 months, events have included the translation and distribution of WFP’s educational video game for children, “Food Force”, in Hungary and Poland; the launch of WFP’s website in Czech and Slovak languages to reach local communities; a billboard campaign in the Czech Republic; visits last May by Estonian and Polish delegations to humanitarian projects in Kenya and Georgia; a mission by Polish Celebrity Partner Robert Korzeniowski to school feeding projects in Mali and his assistance in a TV spot to raise awareness about hunger and the participation of many of the new EU member countries in Walk-the-World, a global hunger awareness event.

Those attending the two-day consultation in Cyprus – representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture – expressed their enthusiasm for extending the scope of co-operation with their respective countries.

Potential partnership

They discussed innovative ways to participate in emergency work (e.g. Lebanon), humanitarian aid funding mechanisms, as well as engaging the young talent of member states to work at WFP.

“These areas of potential partnership give us hope MDG One is indeed achievable,” said Powell in his concluding remarks in Nicosia.

“We are tremendously grateful for your nations’ generous help for people affected by humanitarian crises and for the confidence you have shown in WFP’s ability to deliver life-saving aid,” he added.

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

Gregory Barrow

Simon Pluess
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41-22-9178581
Cell. +41-797743821

Jennifer Parmelee
WFP/Washington
Tel. +1-202-6530010
ext. 1149
Mob. +1-202-4223383
jennifer.parmelee
@wfp.org