Minister Simon Coveney put on his Santa coat on Christmas Eve and announced the donation of a further €10m to the World Food Programme (WFP). This brings Ireland’s annual contribution to the WFP to €20m and follows through on the announcement made at EXPO Milan in September that Ireland would double its contribution to the WFP. When additional specific relief projects are included the Department of Food and the Marine (DAFM) final spend on International aid this year will be €23m.

The World Food Programme is a United Nations Organisation and leads in international relief efforts and provision of aid in response to famine and disasters as well as ongoing support to people in the poorest regions of the world. Ireland targets the majority of its international aid assistance through with the remainder through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who provide funding to WFP for crisis programmes in specific countries and regions. The reason why the Government uses DAFM as the lead department is both the fit with food and agriculture – the world’s poorest regions need assistance with learning how to produce their own food to improve their situation in the longer term.

The WFP relies entirely on voluntary contributions with national Governments being the core funders. They provide the logistical support and coordination for the work of Irish and International charities that are working in the poorest areas of the world as well as responding to various crises as they arise, the Syrian refugee problem being the current big issue.

At the end of the recent trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana, the Minister and several members visited the Ghana base of WFP which is based in the capital city, Accra. As well as visiting the warehouse facilities, the delegation were briefed on how Irish funding is providing a schools food programme that has the benefit in encouraging education as well as providing a main meal for Children.