InterAction, USAID Sign Landmark Agreement on Global Food Security

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a major effort to accelerate progress in the global fight against hunger and malnutrition, NGO alliance InterAction and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have forged a first-of-its-kind agreement designed to leverage the unique assets of NGOs for greater impact.

Unveiled Monday on Capitol Hill, the three-year agreement provides a framework for the U.S. government's Feed the Future initiative, composed of 10 federal agencies led by USAID, to partner with InterAction members from program design to implementation, and helps ensure that the significant private spending by these NGOs enhances U.S. taxpayer investments to tackle hunger.

"This agreement will enable USAID to better align with and leverage the tremendous private resources, technical expertise, and established local community networks of NGOs," said Samuel A. Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations working in the poorest and most vulnerable communities throughout the developing world.

The more than 30 InterAction members participating in this partnership also announced a collective pledge to spend $1.5 billion of their own private funds from 2013 to 2015 to advance food security, nutrition and resilience. This represents a $500 million increase over the original $1 billion commitment made in 2012.

"This groundbreaking agreement will empower communities to grow from the inside out," said Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator. "By harnessing science, technology, innovation, and partnerships, we can unlock opportunity and end widespread hunger for the world's most vulnerable people."

This agreement was signed Monday on Capitol Hill by Shah and Worthington on behalf of the more than 30 InterAction members participating in this new effort, including: Action Against Hunger USA, Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, Aga Khan Foundation USA, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish World Service, BRAC USA, Bread for the World, CARE USA, Catholic Relief Services, ChildFund International, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide, Convoy of Hope, Feed the Children, Food For The Poor, Freedom from Hunger, Heifer International, Helen Keller International, INMED Partnerships for Children, Islamic Relief USA, Latter-day Saint Charities, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mercy Corps, NCBA CLUSA, Pan American Development Foundation, Plant With Purpose, Save the Children, The Hunger Project, Trickle Up, World Concern, World Vision, and Zakat Foundation of America.

"This unprecedented collaboration will help ensure that families have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, and that communities are better able to mitigate, adapt and recover from crises," Worthington said. "Hunger is one of the most serious challenges of our time. About 842 million people in the world go to bed hungry every night; 98 percent live in the developing world."

Tweet this: .@InterActionOrg @FeedtheFuture & @USAID forge landmark $1.5 billion agreement in fighting #hunger & malnutrition: http://goo.gl/SCwb4M

InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based nongovernmental international organizations, with more than 180 members. Our members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit www.interaction.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is leading the U.S. Government's efforts to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies. Visit www.usaid.gov

Feed the Future is the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative. With a focus on smallholder farmers, particularly women, Feed the Future supports partner countries in developing their agriculture sectors to spur economic growth and trade that increase incomes and reduce hunger, poverty and undernutrition. Visit www.feedthefuture.gov

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SOURCE InterAction