USDA Invests $466.5M in Food Assistance, Agricultural Development Projects Worldwide

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its commitment to strengthen global food security through its two premier international development programs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made this announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 annual meeting. The programs, namely the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and Food for Progress, aim to combat hunger and poverty, address the effects of the climate crisis, and promote sustainable agricultural productivity growth.

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

Under the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, USDA will allocate $248 million in fiscal year 2024 funds to support projects in nine countries. These projects will provide critical school meals, boost literacy and primary education, with a special focus on girls. The program aims to foster sustainable agricultural productivity growth, promote climate-smart agriculture, and enhance developing countries’ ability to engage in trade, which is critical to food security.

• USDA will provide more than 37,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities to support projects in Angola, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Malawi, and Rwanda.
• The commodities will benefit approximately 1.2 million children and their family members in more than 2,800 pre-primary and primary schools.
• $24 million of the allocation will be used to support local and regional procurement of commodities to supplement the donated U.S. commodities.

Food for Progress

Through the Food for Progress program, USDA will provide $218.5 million to help seven countries strengthen their agricultural systems, adopt climate smart technologies, sustainably increase productivity, and expand international trade.

• The program will utilize 315,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities.
• The projects funded this year will benefit nearly 200,000 farmers in Benin, Cambodia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Tunisia.
• The program will focus on priority topics including climate-smart agriculture, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, access to capital, and trade facilitation.

Partnerships and Impact

Both the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programs involve partnerships with private- and public-sector organizations. USDA purchases U.S.-grown commodities and provides them to implementing organizations, including the United Nations World Food Program. The commodities are used to support local development projects and directly in school feeding programs.

McGovern-Dole Program Impact

• The United States is the largest donor to global school feeding programs.
• This year, USDA will provide more than 37,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities to support projects in nine countries.
• The projects will benefit approximately 1.2 million children and their family members in more than 2,800 pre-primary and primary schools.

Food for Progress Program Impact

• The projects funded this year will benefit nearly 200,000 farmers in seven countries.
• The program will utilize 315,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities.
• The focus will be on priority topics including climate-smart agriculture, food security, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, access to capital, and trade facilitation.

Conclusion

The USDA’s commitment to the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programs demonstrates its multi-faceted approach to combatting hunger and poverty, addressing the effects of the climate crisis, and promoting sustainable agricultural productivity growth. By partnering with private- and public-sector organizations, USDA is not only providing direct food assistance but also fostering sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing developing countries’ ability to engage in trade, which is critical to food security.

For more information about USDA’s international food assistance and development programs, please visit: https://fas.usda.gov/topics/food-security.

Source: USDA

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s programs that aim to combat hunger and poverty, improve education, promote sustainable agriculture, and address the effects of the climate crisis worldwide. These goals align with the SDGs mentioned above.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• SDG 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age.
• SDG 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• SDG 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
• SDG 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

The targets listed above reflect the specific objectives related to the SDGs mentioned in the article. They focus on ending hunger, improving education, promoting gender equality, fostering economic growth, addressing climate change, and strengthening partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of countries supported by the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and Food for Progress program
• Amount of funds allocated to support critical school meals, boost literacy and primary education, and strengthen agricultural systems
• Quantity of U.S.-grown commodities purchased and provided to implementing organizations, including the United Nations World Food Program
• Number of children and family members benefiting from school feeding programs
• Amount of U.S. commodities utilized and farmers benefiting from Food for Progress projects

These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. They provide quantitative data on the reach and impact of the programs in terms of providing food assistance, improving education, supporting agricultural systems, and benefiting farmers and communities.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: morningagclips.com