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South Sudan + 8 more

12 projects totaling $3 million committed in last two months

October 19, 2018

Over 69,000 people in nine countries will benefit; includes humanitarian response in South Sudan and longer-term agricultural support for families in northern Kenya affected by frequent drought

Over 69,000 people in nine countries will benefit from twelve projects totaling $3 million committed by Canadian Foodgrains Bank in August and September

The projects are being implemented by Foodgrains Bank members Canadian Baptist Ministries, Development and Peace—Caritas Canada, Emergency Relief and Development Overseas, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, Tearfund Canada and World Renew, in collaboration with their local partners.

One project, in Kapoeta North, South Sudan, is providing emergency food vouchers to 1,700 households (about 8,500 people). The households are made up of some of the most vulnerable people among the over 7 million people in South Sudan at risk of severe hunger due to conflict and forced displacement.

Households with pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, young children, or headed by children, single mothers, widows, or people living with a disability are considered particularly vulnerable, and some of the reasons why a family may be receiving food through the project.

The project is supported by the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund and implemented locally through ADRA South Sudan.

In Marsabit County, northern Kenya, another project is responding to frequent drought and erratic weather conditions with a three-year agriculture and livelihoods project supported through Foodgrains Bank member Emergency Relief and Development Overseas.

Many people in the area are pastoralists reliant on their livestock for their livelihoods. The poor rainfall means livestock are in poor health, and families must travel further in search of water and pasture. It also affects crop growth, meaning household yields are low. Many households are struggling to access enough food.

In response, through World Concern and Sauti Moja, ERDO is providing 720 households (about 3,600 people) with training on natural resource management, agriculture and income generation. Mothers are also being educated about proper nutrition. The project totals $244,000.

All projects committed in August and September:

  • An agriculture and livelihoods project in Nepal through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, totaling $97,000 and benefitting 5,000 people.
  • An agriculture and livelihoods project in Rwanda through Mennonite Central Committee Canada, totaling $207,000 and benefitting 3,900 people.
  • A food assistance and nutrition project in Zimbabwe through Emergency Relief and Development Overseas, totaling $291,000 and benefitting 11,000 people.
  • A food assistance project in Democratic Republic of Congo through Mennonite Central Committee Canada, totaling $225,000 and benefitting 1,250 people.
  • An agriculture and livelihoods project in Kenya through World Renew, totaling $123,000 and benefitting 10,000 people.
  • A nutrition project in Somalia through Development and Peace—Caritas Canada, totaling $377,000 and benefitting 4,200 people.
  • An agriculture and livelihoods project in India through Canadian Baptist Ministries, totaling $52,000 and benefitting 2,200 people.
  • A food assistance project in India through World Renew, totaling $376,000 and benefitting 14,000 people.
  • An agriculture and livelihoods project in India through Mennonite Central Committee Canada, totaling $60,000 and benefitting 2,000 people.
  • An agriculture and livelihoods and nutrition project in Bangladesh through Mennonite Central Committee Canada, totaling $323,000 and benefitting 24,000 people.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank programs are undertaken with support from the Government of Canada.

--Amanda Thorsteinsson, Communications Coordinator