UN fund for fighting hunger launches first project in Caribbean

A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) fund for increasing resources to fight hunger today launched its first technical cooperation project to promote food security in the Caribbean.

FAO jointly launched the $5 million project with the Caribbean Community, the CARIFORUM and the Government of Italy to strengthen policy, services and improve production and marketing systems accessible to small farmers. Funded by the Italian Government, the project is the first of its kind to focus on regional food security with support from the FAO Trust Fund for Food Security.

The $500 million Trust Fund, created during the 2002 World Food Summit, aims to increase the flow of resources to fight hunger. During the Summit, Heads of State and Government signed a declaration committing themselves to renewed support for the goals set during the 1996 World Food Summit, which included halving the number of hungry people worldwide by 2015.

Italy is the first UN Member State to respond to this appeal and has committed itself to providing €100 million (euros), of which €50 million have already been received. Other projects to support developing countries are in the final stages of preparation.