The Food for Peace (FFP) program, a component of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), played a critical role in addressing global food insecurity in 2017. The program’s efforts were marked by a significant increase in funding, which enabled a growing team to respond to the unprecedented food insecurity crisis.
In FY 2017, the FFP program reached nearly 70 million beneficiaries in 53 countries, providing critical assistance to individuals and communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, and economic instability. The program’s efforts were focused on providing emergency food assistance, development food assistance, and support for agriculture and livelihoods.
The FFP program’s response to the crisis was multifaceted, involving the purchase of 1.4 million metric tons of food from American farmers, provision of cash transfers or food vouchers to individuals in 50 countries, and support for local farmers in 42 countries. The program also partnered with 72 organizations and the American people to help end hunger around the world.
In terms of specific responses, the FFP program provided significant assistance to countries affected by conflict, including South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The program also responded to natural disasters, such as historic droughts in southern Africa and the strongest and costliest hurricane season in the Caribbean.
The FFP program’s leadership played a critical role in coordinating the international response to the crisis. Under the leadership of Acting Director Matthew Nims, the program chaired the Food Assistance Convention (FAC), a multilateral group of 15 humanitarian donors that seeks to end hunger and improve food security. The FAC coordinated on key crises in Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and regions impacted by El Niño, and provided assistance in 85 countries that totaled more than $3 billion in 2016.
The FFP program’s efforts in 2017 were marked by a number of notable achievements, including the averted famine in Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen, and the provision of critical assistance to individuals and communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. The program’s commitment to ending hunger and improving food security was evident in its focus on providing support for agriculture and livelihoods, as well as its efforts to promote sustainable food systems.
In terms of funding, the FFP program received significant support from Congress, enabling the program to respond to the crisis on a large scale. The program’s budget for FY 2017 was $3.6 billion, which was used to support a range of activities, including emergency food assistance, development food assistance, and support for agriculture and livelihoods.
Overall, the FFP program’s efforts in 2017 were marked by a commitment to addressing global food insecurity and promoting sustainable food systems. The program’s leadership and coordination efforts played a critical role in responding to the crisis, and its focus on providing support for agriculture and livelihoods helped to promote long-term food security and stability.