WFP: Private sector must aid in solving hunger

MANILA, Philippines — The private sector should help governments address global crises, particularly hunger and malnutrition, according to the World Food Program (WFP).

“We can no longer depend on governments to do everything. We just can’t. It’s not feasible,” WFP executive director Cindy McCain yesterday told The STAR.

Governments cannot address hunger problems on their own, making private partnerships necessary to solve global woes, McCain emphasized.

“Private companies, private partnerships have got to be a part of this mix. And in many ways, it is their duty as world citizens. A lot of these corporations are worldwide, so it is their duty to be part of this solution – and a part of helping to stop hunger around the world,” she added.

The WFP actively promotes private sector cooperation and there has been a growing interest in public-private partnerships to address hunger, she said.

McCain is in the Philippines to attend high-level meetings, including one with President Marcos.

She will also serve as a keynote speaker today at the Asia and the Pacific Food Security Forum 2024 hosted by the Asian Development Bank.

“The message is, of course, we need to concentrate on communities like the Philippines. But also remembering globally that we have a duty to the world in terms of how and why and when we are able to be involved,” McCain said.

The Philippines is “doing much better” in terms of funding compared to other countries where the WFP operates, she noted.

Like other multilateral agencies, the WFP is experiencing “donor fatigue” with its funding being slashed by half since last year, she pointed out.

“It is our job to make sure that we keep not only the major crises alive but other places like the Philippines that are doing much better, we want to keep that on track too. So that we do progress,” she said.

McCain admitted that the lower funding would affect some of the WFP’s programs but it would not impact the agency’s work in the Philippines since there is “great support” in the country.

“But around the other parts of the globe, (the lower funding) has affected it very much,” she said.

The WFP’s total budget for the Philippines stands at $131.193 million from 2024 to 2028.

This year alone, the WFP is allocating $26.522 million for its work in the country that involves boosting food security, addressing hunger, providing proper nutrition and capacitating farmers against climate change.

“WFP will develop a partnership strategy that includes fundraising from traditional donors and the private sector and opportunities for fundraising from the government and international financial institutions,” the WFP said in its Philippine Country Strategic Plan 2024-2028.