Why in News ?
2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the UN agency World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.
Key Facts
- The work done by the WFP to eradicate hunger and underlined its role in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
- In the face of the pandemic, the World Food Programme has demonstrated an impressive ability to intensify its efforts.
- In countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, the combination of violent conflict and the pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in the number of people living on the brink of starvation were WFP works for tackle the issue.
- The WFP is the 28th organisation awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901.
Need for a food program around the globe
- Across the globe there are 680 million affected by hunger and more than half are in the conflicted regions or countries.
- As a result of COVID pandemic will increase the number of people affected.
- Eradicating hunger is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030.
- For the achieving the aim WFP is the agency under UN in order to fight against hunger.
India and WFP
- It involved in
- Reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System
- Provides policy inputs
- Advocacy and technical assistance for improving access to food
- Besides WFP has proposed some unique initiatives like Automatic Grain Dispensing Machine (Annapurti) and Mobile Storage Units for the effective implementation of TPDS.
- Annapurti allows beneficiaries to withdraw their foodgrain quota accurately and at a time of their choice.
- Since December 2018, 4,145 tonnes of fortified rice has been produced and fed to 300,000 school children.
- It has also prepared a guidance note for the re-opening of schools during the pandemic.
World Food Programme
- WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency combating hunger.
- It was established in 1961 when then US President Dwight Eisenhower had suggested the idea of providing food aid through the UN system.
- The WFP is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
- It is governed by an Executive Board, which consists of 36 member states.
- It is headed by an Executive Director, who is appointed jointly by the UN Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- The Executive Director is appointed for fixed five-year terms.
- It launched its first development programme in 1963 for Nubians in Sudan.
Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Current Affairs Compilation : 10 October 2020