United States Urges Partner Countries To Increase Support for the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 12, 2014
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Trust Fund Produces High Impact, Sustainable Results in the Global Fight against Poverty and Hunger
The Secretaries of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of State yesterday sent a letter to
international partner countries urging nations around the world to expand their support for the Global Agriculture and
Food Security Program (GAFSP).
The United States spearheaded the creation of GAFSP in the wake of the 2007-2008 food price crisis. It assists in the
implementation of pledges made by the G-20 in Pittsburgh in September 2009. GAFSP promotes food security by providing
merit-based financing for the agricultural sector in low-income countries, with a focus on smallholder farmers in poor
communities. GAFSP financing and technical assistance helps to increase agricultural productivity, link farmers to
markets, reduce risk and vulnerability, and improve rural livelihoods. Managed by the World Bank, GAFSP is a multi-donor
trust fund and partnership among developing countries, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
“Since GAFSP was established, we have seen sustainable reductions in hunger and malnutrition, but the challenge of
meeting the global demand for food is just as pressing as ever,” wrote Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Secretary of
State John F. Kerry. “We are proud to champion this innovative program, and we call upon our international partners to
join us in supporting the work of GAFSP. Together, we can make progress in the effort to eradicate hunger and poverty.”
As leaders gather for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund 2014 Spring Meetings this week, yesterday’s letter
highlights the important role that GAFSP is playing in supporting the efforts of some of the world’s poorest countries
in alleviating hunger and malnutrition. The letter calls on international partners to pledge additional support to meet
funding goals for GAFSP. In October 2012, the United States challenged the international community to provide much
needed funding for food security, by committing to contribute $1 to GAFSP for every $2 from other donors, up to a
maximum U.S. contribution of $475 million. Since the announcement of the funding challenge, other donors have provided
$230 million in new pledges. An additional $720 million in pledges from other donors is needed in order to fully
leverage matching funds from the United States.
GAFSP consistently produces high impact, sustainable results, and the program is expected to improve the livelihoods of
at least 13 million farmers across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Already, some countries have seen
rural incomes increase by more than 200 percent. In Bangladesh, GAFSP has already reached more than 430,000 farmers in
the first two years of a five-year program, providing smallholder producers with training and improved drought- and
heat-tolerant seeds and fertilizer that will help farmers adapt to climate change. Two and a half years into its five
year-long Rwanda project, GAFSP has already reached more than 92,000 direct beneficiaries, of which half are women. By
helping to increase soil fertility in hillside areas, GAFSP has enabled farmers to improve their yields by an average of
fourfold across various crops. GAFSP has also supported the introduction of new high nutrient crop varieties that could
improve nutritional outcomes for farmers and their families.
For yesterday’s letter from Secretary Lew and Secretary Kerry, see attached.
To learn more about GAFSP, visit the program’s website here.
ENDS