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On 30 December last, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue announced that the 2024 allocation of funding for international development and humanitarian relief is €39.86m.
This is the largest-ever Government contribution for humanitarian aid and came just a few days after the Department launched their new Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) three-year strategy.
SFSI is a Government initiative which aims to share Ireland’s experience and expertise in food and agricultural systems with partner countries to help increase global food security.
The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) is the lead department for the Irish Government’s relationship with the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN’s frontline humanitarian agency.
In 2024, approximately 735 million people faced hunger worldwide (this number equates to one in 10 individuals globally, or one in five in Africa). Furthermore, 290 million people in 60 countries and territories experienced what is referred to as “high acute food insecurity” (necessitating urgent food and livelihood assistance).
Currently, approximately two million people are experiencing chronic hunger; primarily in the regions of Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
The 2024 funding package includes an advance payment of €35m to the UN WFP as part of a new €105m partnership agreement for 2025-2027 (a 40% increase from the previous partnership agreement). The package also includes €4.863m for Food and Agriculture (FAO) programmes.
At the time of the announcement, Minister McConalogue said that this “historic level of funding” is a reflection of our commitment to addressing global hunger and food insecurity.
“By strengthening our partnership with the WFP, we are providing life-saving assistance and laying the foundation for sustainable food systems that can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030,” he said.
“The humanitarian crises in Sudan, Gaza, and other conflict zones have left millions of innocent people facing acute hunger,” he added. “Ireland stands in solidarity with these communities, and our enhanced funding will enable the WFP to deliver critical assistance to those most in need.”
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