The WFP aims at strengthening its development mission

At its latest yearly general assembly the World Food Programme (WFP/PAM) announced its intention to re-direct its food products buying policy towards the poorer countries. Indeed, until today, this UN agency responsible for the food distribution programmes to needy populations, essentially catered for itself in developed countries, particularly in the United States. With the « Purchase for Progress » initiative, the WFP expects to concentrate its food product purchases (or 40 000 tons of food planned over a 5-year period, which amounts to 5 to 6 billion dollars) on the poorest countries’ low income farmers.

The goal is doublefold: to fight hunger throughout the world which is the WFP’s primary assignment, and to facilitate the development of the poor countries, for it must not be forgotten that in the developing countries 70% of the population draws its income directly from agriculture. Therefore as Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the WFP puts it "The Purchase for Progress Initiative is a win-win project : we help our beneficiaries who have little or no food while at the same time helping local farmers who have limited or no access to markets where they can sell their crops", and thereby earn an income. Initiated this year in Mozambique, the project will be launched in 21 pilot countries, essentially in Sub-saharian Africa and Central America.