United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) executive director Cindy McCain called for strengthened partnerships in Asia and the Pacific to increase climate resilience and financing for smallholder communities vulnerable to food insecurity.
McCain spoke at the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asia and the Pacific Food Security Forum in the Philippines.
Half of the world’s climate-related emergencies were recorded in Asia and the Pacific, where 72 million people are food-insecure. Climate crises in the region are fueling hunger, displacement and even conflict.
“We must increase efforts to empower farmers and rural communities across the Asia-Pacific region to protect their food security and nutrition against the growing threat from climate change. In a region rich in ideas and resources, innovation and partnerships are essential to support climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods,” said McCain.
“WFP is fully committed to working with the Asian Development Bank, national governments and local communities to invest in long-term solutions to hunger,” McCain said.
WFP and ADB expanded their partnership since 2020, working together from Afghanistan to Lao and the Philippines—supporting communities to build climate resilience and improve nutrition. This collaboration will soon reach Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The WFP executive director met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to consolidate the partnership with the government to address hunger, malnutrition and climate resilience.
WFP is supporting the government in its efforts to provide nutritious school meals to all schoolchildren by 2030 and reach 1 million food-insecure families with food e-vouchers by 2027.
WFP’s work in the Philippines also focuses on emergency preparedness and response and the provision of technical and supply chain services.