WFP, ICRISAT to partner on climate-resilience, food security, nutrition and livelihoods

WFP, ICRISAT to partner on climate-resilience, food security, nutrition and livelihoods

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  Newsletter Happenings In-house version 24Sep 2021, No.1925 Photo: WFP/ ICRISAT The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and ICRISAT will partner on programs and research to improve food, nutrition security and livelihoods in India against the impacts of climate change. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on September 23 between Mr Bishow Parajuli, WFP India Representative and Country Director, and Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT. “This is a strategic partnership between the WFP and ICRISAT as both are aligned by their vision of food security, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. It comes on the day that the pioneering UN Food Systems Summit kicks off in New York. The increasing/frequent climate crises and shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened global hunger, threatening food security, nutrition and the livelihoods of millions,” Mr Parajuli said. “This partnership strengthens efforts to bring together science, knowledge and implementation frameworks to WFP, ICRISAT to partner on climate-resilience, food security, nutrition and livelihoods Mr Bishow Parajuli, WFP India Representative and Country Director, and Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT, sign a Memorandum of Understanding in a meeting at Delhi. bolster food security, nutrition and livelihoods that are resilient to climate change,” he added. “Climate-resilience, food security, nutrition and livelihoods, especially for smallholder farmers and ecologically vulnerable communities, are focus areas for ICRISAT, and with this partnership, we aim to generate ideas and frameworks for policy positions relevant not just for India but regionally and globally,” Dr Hughes said. “The latest IPCC report has sounded an alarm over the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security. A significant part of this partnership will be focused on vulnerability analysis at the state level in India and will be directed towards evolving a sustainable food systems approach,” she added. The WFP in India and ICRISAT will work jointly to promote research, advocacy and awareness-raising on traditional nutritious crops, undertaking food and nutritional security analysis, and adaptation strategies, among other engagements.