Japan supports WFP to secure nutrition for children and assist crisis-affected population in Guinea-Bissau

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed contributions totalling US$2.8 million from the Government of Japan to deliver lifesaving saving assistance, resilience-building support and the development of human capital in Guinea-Bissau.

WFP will use US$2.25 million from the contribution to continue supporting the national school feeding programme for 180,000 school children across the country by providing canned fish from Japan and other locally produced foods purchased from women and young smallholder farmers.

US$ 50,000 will be used to purchase premixed corn and soy flour with micronutrients for the treatment of 2,000 children under the age of 5 who suffer from moderate acute malnutrition in the regions with the highest rates of stunting or chronic malnutrition.

“We are grateful for Japan’s generosity and continued support to the people of Guinea Bissau,” said Kiyomi Kawaguchi, WFP Representative and Country Director in Guinea Bissau. “This contribution will help us fight malnutrition especially stunting which affects children’s physical and intellectual growth. Nutritious food will give children a chance for a productive future.”

“Japan’s contribution is in line with the principles set out by the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which aims to ensure basic human security and puts education and nutrition at the centre of our concerns,” said H.E. Mr. Tatsuo Arai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan.

In addition to nutrition and school feeding, the contribution will also support improvement of food security in the long-term.  US$ 500,000 will be devoted to post-emergency recovery and resilience building for 8,000 food insecure people who are already affected or at high risk of shocks such as floods, droughts, and crop failure. WFP will provide food and implement value chain improvement activities and training to build resilience and income.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.