Hungry for More

Reforming U.S. International Food Aid Policy

May 2008

Kate KingeryRana MerzaSimon MeyerObinnaya OjiJennifer Thill

Introduction

According to the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural

Organization (FAO), an estimated 852 million

people—1 in 8 people in the world—do not get

enough to eat.

- Barrett & Maxwell, 2005

Introduction

“A ‘silent tsunami’ of hunger is sweeping the

world's most desperate nations.” Josette Sheeran, World Food Program

Introduction“The Bush administration and Congress have been caught flat-footed by rapidly escalating global food prices and are scrambling to respond to a crisis that they increasingly view as a threat to U.S. national security, according to government officials, congressional staffers and human rights experts.” - Washington Post, April 26, 2008

The overall vision for change is to have a

coordinated and efficient international

system of food aid distribution that

effectively meets the needs identified by

recipients.

Current Policies – Current Inefficiencies

• Origin: 1954 - P.L. 480. Now “Food for peace”• Tied/Surplus system • System comprises Producers, Shippers and

Implementers.• Ostensibly Commodity based – No Cash

Current Policies – Current Inefficiencies

Framing the issue

View # 1:

Protecting U.S. interests

with a donor driven

response.

Framing the issue

View #2:

Program structure is

not beneficial for

recipients

Framing the issue

Stakeholders

• Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities)

Stakeholders

• Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities)

• Facilitators (USAID, USDA, WFP)

Stakeholders

• Recipients (Receivers of donor commodities)

• Facilitators (USAID, USDA, WFP)

• Policy Makers (Congress)

WFPWFP

NGOsNGOsReceiving GovernmentsReceiving Governments

U.S. DOTU.S. DOT

Donor FarmersDonor

Farmers

U.S. TaxpayersU.S. Taxpayers

MediaMedia

CongressCongress

USAIDUSAID

USDAUSDA

AgribusinessesAgribusinessesIn Country RecipientsIn Country Recipients

WTOWTO

Interest +

Power +

Stakeholders

Producers

ShippersImplementers

Stakeholders

Recommendations

1. Incrementally shift P.L. 480 Title II allocations from humanitarian assistance to agricultural development.

2. Create a pilot project to determine feasibility of shifting U.S. food aid assistance from commodity donations to cash donations

3. Pending outcome of the pilot project, shift all U.S. food aid contributions from commodity donations to cash donations to be coordinated by USAID.

4. Sponsor a global summit for the purpose of recasting the strategy and role of international food aid, and to create a new global compact on food aid.

Implementation Strategy

• Build a domestic constituency to raise awareness of food aid

• Develop a Political Strategy for food aid reform

• Coordinate an International Food aid summit

What success will look like• Increase in efficiency will translate into

effectiveness gains.• Longer term strategy should reduce need for

emergency aid• Faster developing potential markets• Food security will positively impact national

security.• Nett reduction of hunger

Help hunger become a memory

Go to reformfoodaidnow.org to support PFAR