Engaging with government and Canadians to end global hunger

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
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Engaging governments is not short-term work. It’s about building relationships with elected officials, civil society, even within our own sector.

The Foodgrains Bank would like to see Canada allocate 0.7 percent of its Gross National Income to Official Development Assistance (ODA). With the recent increase in ODA, it is currently a little over 0.3 percent, and this past year saw some unexpectedly good steps forward.

Led by our public policy team, the Foodgrains Bank has been advocating with the government for international climate finance for a decade. This is money the government dedicates to addressing climate change in developing countries. In conversations with government leaders, we’ve asked that money be directed to support small-scale food producers adapt to the erratic weather patterns they are now experiencing in their own communities.

Edmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson (top, right) and legislative assistant Laveza Khan (bottom, right) met with Fayo Banjoko (top, left), Amy Zavitz (top, middle) and Emily Eising (bottom, left) from Youth Hunger on the Hill.

In February 2022, the Minister of International Development, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, announced that $315 million will be dedicated to climate adaptation in sub-Sarahan Africa to increase resilience through nature-based solutions. This fund can address the environmental challenges that caused an increase in global hunger. This means our members can now apply for some of this money to support the ongoing work of their local partners, such as conservation agricultural training and the ability to create innovative new projects.

Many Foodgrains Bank supporters lent their voices to make this announcement happen. Through our 2021-22 year, 151 people sent letters through our online letter builder to MPs, asking for this very thing.

MP Mike Lake (Edmonton Wetaskiwin) and his staffer Holly Shields (bottom row) huddled virtually with Hunger on the Hill participants Fayo Banjoko, Gabrielle Edwards and Jill White (top row).

As part of a learning and advocacy training event, 15 Foodgrains Bank supporters, including 11 young adults, met with MPs and government leaders to share their concern for people who produce food for a living, and yet continue to be vulnerable to hunger.

Canadians taking advocacy action means concrete results in the fight against global hunger.

This story was featured in the 2022 Annual Report. Download or order your copy here.

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