WFP MISSION STATEMENT

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WFP Gambia Country Programme)

WFP is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. ¹ The policies governing the use of World Food Programme food aid must be oriented towards the objective of eradicating hunger and poverty. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid.

Targeted interventions are needed to help to improve the lives of the poorest people - people who, either permanently or during crisis periods, are unable to produce enough food or do not have the resources to otherwise obtain the food that they and their households require for active and healthy lives.

Consistent with its mandate, which also reflects the principle of universality, WFP will continue to:

• use food aid to support economic and social development;
• meet refugee and other emergency food needs, and the associated logistics support; and
• promote world food security in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations and FAO.

The core policies and strategies that govern WFP activities are to provide food aid:

• to save lives in refugee and other emergency situations;
• to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives; and
• to help build assets and promote the self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through labour-intensive works programmes.

For the full text of the Mission Statement visit the WFP web site http://www.wfp.org

1. Emergency aid through the International Emergency Food Reserve,
2. Food aid to refugees through the Protracted Refugees Operations, and
3. Structural development aid.

WFP has proved that food aid is one of the most effective tools of long-term development. It can turn dependent countries into markets for producing countries. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid.

Where people are chronically hungry, WFP provides food-for-work and food for economic growth assistance, helping people becomes self-reliant.

The intellectual and physical growth of one-third of the children in developing countries is stunted. Protein and calorie deficiencies afflict nearly 200 million children below the age of five. Action to remedy the hunger of todays' children cannot be deferred till tomorrow.

Wide-spread hunger exists despite the fact that there is enough food in the world to adequately feed every man, woman and child. WFP believes the issue of hunger should always remain at the top of the international agents.

Human rights and human development begin with a decent breakfast.

Among the UN agencies, WFP is one of the biggest investors in environmental protection, devoting billions of dollars in forest and pastureland renewal, soil conservation and sustainable agricultural production.

For more information on WFP, its policies and activities, visit the web site at: www.wfp.org