G7_JAPAN

Development challenges
@WFPErtharin
www.wfp.org
will not build resilience in populations and
systems. We hope that we can demonstrate
the significance of having more than two or
three months to plan. We can put enough
money into a system to bring enough sales
to reduce retail prices by 10% so we can
significantly benefit those we are serving.
Imagine what we could do if we knew
that we could not only provide support
for a rainy season or drought, but also
for a mother for the 1,000 days from the
beginning of her pregnancy through to the
first two years of her child’s life. Then the
real changes can be made that will help
us achieve Zero Hunger.
Q How is WFP working with the G7
to turn last year’s promises into action?
A We have had support from the G7 for the
African Risk Capacity (ARC), the African
Union’s risk management facility that WFP
helped develop. Senegal, Mauritania and
Niger received the first payouts. During
last year’s drought season, Mauritania
did not have to wait for the international
community to procure commodities for its
most vulnerable people. As more donors
come on board, more countries will use
the ARC to support smallholders’ ability
to implement plans and to bring in food
so no one falls further behind.
The G7 is interested in funding
the Food Security Climate Resilience
Facility (FoodSECuRE), a weather index
insurance tool we developed to work with
governments before a natural disaster. Too
often funds come in during the peak impact
and then drop off afterwards, so we cannot
do disaster risk reduction or management.
The G7 can help governments
address climate challenges, particularly
this year with El Niño. It can champion
investments in agricultural diversity that
will ensure a country’s ability to leverage
support from a G7 member against its
own investments. The same is true with
humanitarian or emergency responses:
getting G7 members to commit to not just
encouraging countries to invest in their
own food security but also to use bilateral
contributions or official development
assistance (ODA) to leverage investments
in humanitarian assistance or agricultural
development. Wouldn’t it be good if G7
donors could leverage Ethiopia’s own
response to the drought by targeting their
ODA into the programmes that need scaling
up to support even more people? G7
Ertharin
Cousin
Executive Director, United Nations
World Food Programme
ILLUSTRATION: STUDIO NIPPOLDT
g7g20.com May 2016 • G7 Japan: The Ise-Shima Summit 89