Norway extends partnership with World Food Programme
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press release | Date: 03/03/2016
Norway has entered into a new partnership agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) on core funding of NOK 237 million a year from 2016 to 2019. 'Sufficient core funding is crucial if WFP is to be able to respond quickly to crises. This agreement ensures predictable and flexible funding that can also be used for forgotten crises and to help people in need of food in the most vulnerable areas,' said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.
The agreement was signed in Oslo today by Mr Brende and Executive Director of WFP Ertharin Cousin.
'The aim of Norway's strategic partnership with WFP is to help to ensure that as many people as possible have secure access to food. Food assistance can also play a part in enabling children in war and crisis situations to go to school, and some of the funding from Norway will be used to provide school meals,' said Mr Brende.
In addition to this agreement on core funding, i.e. non-earmarked funds, Norway also provides food aid through WFP to individual countries experiencing humanitarian crises such as Syria and its neighbouring countries, and Yemen and Afghanistan. Norway will also provide an additional NOK 20 million in food aid to Ethiopia this year as the weather event El Niño has hit the country especially hard.
'WFP often works under very difficult conditions to reach vulnerable population groups. It is spearheading the use of innovative solutions, such as food coupons and cash payments in areas where local markets are still functioning, instead of food rations. It is able to continue working in crises that extend over a long period, and is thus a key strategic partner for Norway,' said Mr Brende.
The agreement with WFP covers the period 2016-2019, and is a continuation of a previous four-year agreement. Norway's support to WFP has increased significantly in recent years and totalled around NOK 600 million in 2015.
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organisation. It fights hunger worldwide, provides food aid in emergency situations, and works to prevent hunger. WFP assists more than 80 million people in 80 countries every year. WFP is also responsible for coordinating logistics and transport in international crisis response.
***
Further information about Norway and WFP partnership is available here.