Funding from USAID helps WFP respond to rising food insecurity in Tajikistan
Dushanbe, Tajikistan – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman joined the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Adham Musallam in announcing a new US$10 million award to help communities most affected by rising food insecurity in the country.
The funding will enable WFP to better meet the food needs of vulnerable populations and strengthen government capacity to address the impacts of concurring shocks. Approximately 200,000 people are anticipated to receive unconditional cash transfers, along with livelihoods support.
“As communities continue to be affected by ongoing crises, including the war in Ukraine, it is critical for WFP to continue its work in food security and resilience-building in Tajikistan. We thank the U.S. Government for this timely contribution and its commitment to ending hunger in Tajikistan and beyond,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam.
The latest WFP food security assessment shows that the combined impact of remittance losses due to the conflict in Ukraine and food price increases could exacerbate severe food insecurity in Tajikistan from one to eight percent, resulting in about 800,000 people falling into severe food insecurity. WFP is closely monitoring household-level food security and market situation, as well as mobilizing funds in support of food-insecure families in the country.
“USAID will continue to support Tajikistan's agricultural productivity and address growing food insecurity that has been exacerbated here and around the world by Russia's war against Ukraine. We are proud to provide Tajik families the resources to grow nutritious food for themselves as well as offer cash in exchange for work on community projects so that people can earn a livable income while at the same time making their communities more resilient,” said USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman.
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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a lead actor driving development results. For more information, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan and the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/usembassy.dushanbe/
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
