Americans continue to assist Tajikistan: now in the area of food security

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with $7 million to enhance assistance to vulnerable households facing the growing issue of food insecurity in Tajikistan.

The funding will enable WFP to support vulnerable populations in meeting their food needs and strengthen the government’s capacity to address the impacts of rising prices. Over the next two years, this initiative will benefit approximately 15,000 households by providing cash in exchange for work to create productive and protective assets. These assets will help increase the resilience of more than 24,000 households, supporting a total of 120,000 people.

“We are proud to partner with the World Food Programme to support vulnerable households that are at risk of falling deeper into poverty due to the global rise in food and fertilizer prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Manuel Micallef, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan.

“We thank the U.S. government for its commitment to addressing food insecurity in Tajikistan. As the population continues to suffer from ongoing global crises and high food prices, this contribution will help meet the urgent food needs of the most vulnerable populations through cash assistance while also enhancing their long-term food security and resilience. We are working directly with smallholder farmers, especially those led by women and youth, to empower them to sustain their livelihoods,” said Adham Musallam, WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan.

According to data from the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2023, about 1.56 million people experienced acute food insecurity, including nearly 50,000 people facing severe food insecurity. However, compared to last year, the situation has improved: the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity has decreased from 20 to 16 percent, indicating a stabilization of the situation since the beginning of 2023. WFP is closely monitoring the food security situation and household market conditions while mobilizing resources to support families facing food shortages in the country.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change.