Feed the Future Initiative

It is estimated that globally almost one billion people currently experience chronic hunger. Most of these people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia where health and social problems resulting from chronic hunger are compounded by poverty and other health issues. With a world population of over seven billion people, and a predicted population of 9 billion people by 2050 The intent of the international commitment was to address food insecurity and poverty in a more comprehensive way; international efforts include supporting country-led plans for change, looking at root causes of food insecurity and poverty, increasing coordination with and the use of multi-lateral institutions, and approaching issues with the goal of increased sustainability and accountability == Focus countries and partnerships ==

The Feed the Future Initiative currently has 20 Target countries across three regions: sixteen countries in Africa, two countries in Asia and two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, • Africa: DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia • Asia: Bangladesh and Nepal • Latin America and the Caribbean: Guatemala and Honduras Feed the Future countries are chosen based on five criteria established by the U.S. State Department: • "Prevalence of chronic hunger and poverty in rural communities • Potential for rapid and sustainable agricultural-led growth • Opportunities for regional synergies through trade and other mechanisms • Host government commitment, leadership, governance, and political will; • Resource availability and commitments by host country." The 'Global Agriculture and Food Security Program' (GAFSP) multilateral funding mechanism associated with the initiative is "housed at the World Bank. Partner companies include Bayer, Cargill, John Deere, Mars, Monsanto, OX Delivers, PepsiCo., Olam and Starbucks == Assessment ==

A 2013 Government Accountability Office report indicated that "without ongoing assessments of risks on the ground .. American money, goodwill, and expertise could be squandered." ==References==