The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is calling for $1.2 billion in initial investments to support the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Program, a measure to prevent global food crisis and ensure nutritious food for all, both during and after the pandemic.
This was made known in a virtual dialogue meeting with the private and public sectors organized by the FAO, titled; “Joint Action on COVID-19: Boosting Our Food and Agricultural Response .”.
The open global dialogue was hosted to create awareness about the FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Program, and how volunteers and donors can partner with the FAO to prevent a global food shortage, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
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The international organization called for new and reinforced partnerships to provide an agile and coordinated global response to the impacts of the pandemic, including the mobilization of resources and collaborations at the national, regional and global levels.
The FAO with its Latin motto, “‘fiat panis” translates to “let there be bread “, is an agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to improve nutrition and achieve food security for all.
In his remarks , Qu Dongyu, FAO director-general, said, ‘business as usual’ approach can no longer be employ anymore and that hard work is required to limit COVID-19’s damaging effects on food security and nutrition.
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“… We need to be: more country -driven, innovative, and work closely hand -in -hand. This is how FAO has built its COVID-19 comprehensive response and recovery programme, and today we are asking you to join us.” Dongyu said.
FAO’s deputy director-general, Beth Bechdol, lauded the Food Coalition as an exemplary approach to leveraging high-level capital and political will to avoid an escalation of the pandemic from a health crisis to a food crisis.,”.
