Empowering Nutrition: World Food Program and International Potato Center Join Forces

To combat hunger and malnutrition, the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Potato Center (CIP) have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today. This collaboration marks a crucial step towards addressing food insecurity, with a primary focus on Kenya’s school feeding programs. 

With a shared vision of bolstering school feeding initiatives, the collaboration identifies Kenya as a priority area. WFP, renowned for its technical expertise, reaffirms its commitment to supporting the government in this critical endeavor. The target is ambitious: reaching 10 million school children across the nation. 

Central to this partnership is promoting biofortified and nutritious crops, with Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) leading the charge. Recognized as a flagship crop for school feeding and social protection programs, OFSP offers immense potential in addressing malnutrition. However, CIP’s efforts extend beyond OFSP, mobilizing a variety of crops to achieve common goals. 

Expanding Reach through Strategic Alliances 

The MOU gains further momentum by including the WFP Farm-to-Market Alliance (FtMA) as a strategic partner. With a focus on potatoes and serving thousands of farmers through its Farmer Service Center model, FtMA aligns perfectly with the objectives of this collaboration. Joint efforts with CIP promise to expand these initiatives, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions (ASALs) where agriculture faces unique challenges. 

Both parties recognize the importance of preventive nutrition programming, especially in improving infant diets. OFSP emerges as a promising tool, offering solutions even in urban settings. Innovations like OFSP puree hold significant promise, and WFP and CIP are committed to jointly promoting such initiatives.

Research as the Cornerstone 

Rigorous research on delivery models will be at the heart of this partnership. Drawing on the expertise of CGIAR Centers and other research partners, the collaboration aims to optimize interventions for maximum impact. The focus extends beyond immediate relief to sustainable solutions that empower communities and reduce dependence on food aid. 

As Kenya transitions from camp-based to settlement-based refugee approaches, finding sustainable solutions becomes paramount. The WFP Changing Lives Transformative Fund (CLTF) supports research on interventions to break the cycle of food aid dependency.  

The memorandum of understanding between WFP and CIP represents a milestone in the global fight against hunger and malnutrition. By prioritizing school feeding, harnessing the potential of nutritious crops, and fostering strategic alliances, this collaboration holds the promise of transformative change. With a commitment to research-driven solutions and a focus on sustainability, WFP and CIP set a powerful example for international cooperation in addressing food insecurity.