Hundreds of thousands of people around the world affected by conflict, living through severe drought or even famine, and other emergencies too numerous to name—that’s who will be helped by a renewed grant agreement between Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Government of Canada.
The grant, announced virtually by Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada on Monday afternoon, is worth $75 million over three years and will be used to fund emergency response projects implemented through the 15 members agencies of Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
“In 2020, the world experienced the single largest increase in global hunger ever recorded, a trend that has only continued this year. This predictable and multi-year funding to Canadian Foodgrains Bank will help ensure that food and nutritional support is provided to those who need it most in times of crisis,” says Minister Sajjan.
“The Foodgrains Bank has a longstanding relationship with the Government of Canada. Since its beginning in 1983, the Government of Canada has funded food assistance projects in 68 countries through financial contributions to the Foodgrains Bank,” says executive director Andy Harrington.
“We and our members are immensely grateful for the additional impact the grant allows us to have in the work of delivering emergency food assistance around the world,” he adds.
The announcement was made virtually on Monday afternoon by Minister of International Development Hon. Harjit Sajjan.
This means help for people like Nimco Mohamed, a 35-year-old mother in Somalia whose toddler son was suffering from severe malnutrition. Without the emergency help provided through Foodgrains Bank member Development and Peace and with the financial support of the Government of Canada, the toddler would have been hard-pressed to survive. Thanks to special emergency food though, the toddler is now thriving.
Jan McIntyre, a longtime Foodgrains Bank supporter and farmer from near Clearwater, Manitoba, spoke at the event. “As a donor, I greatly respect and appreciate the Canadian Foodgrains Bank approach of working in partnership with local partners and organizations already present in a country. Not only does this approach bring practical value, it also respects and offers dignity to the people of the countries and communities we help. Thank you Minister Sajjan and the Canadian Government for your support of this vitally important work.”
Last year, the Foodgrains Bank provided $49 million of assistance for 989,000 people in 33 countries. In total, the Government of Canada has provided $699 million worth of emergency assistance through the Foodgrains Bank since 1983.
