Japan’s Contribution Enhances Food Security and Resilience in Pakistan through WFP Support

Islamabad, June 8, 2024 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has recognized the significant contributions made by the Government of Japan towards enhancing food security and nutrition in Pakistan, particularly in the regions affected by the unprecedented 2022 floods. In a Project Completion ceremony held at the WFP Country Office in Islamabad, WFP acknowledged Japan’s generous donation of USD 7.2 million, which played a critical role in stabilizing the lives of 246,000 flood-affected individuals across Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The contributions were distributed across three key projects: USD 2.5 million for emergency food assistance in 2022, USD 3.7 million, and USD 1 million for delivering nutritionally balanced food and supporting community rehabilitation and livelihood initiatives in 2023. The USD 3.7 million grant also facilitated conditional cash assistance during the early recovery phase, along with capacity-building activities aimed at improving disaster risk reduction, climate-smart agriculture, and food production and storage skills.

The ceremony was attended by notable figures including Ms. Coco Ushiyama, WFP Country Director in Pakistan, and H.E. Wada Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, along with senior officials from the Japan Embassy and the National Disaster Management Authority.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Wada emphasized Japan’s commitment to food security and nutrition, stating, “Food security and nutrition are among the priorities for Japanese Official Development Assistance, and we consider them to be the fundamental requirements for achieving sustainable development.”

Ms. Ushiyama expressed profound gratitude for Japan’s unwavering support, noting, “The generous contributions from the Government of Japan have been instrumental in addressing food insecurity and rebuilding livelihoods in flood-affected areas at a critical time.”

In 2023, Pakistan faced ongoing challenges from the devastating 2022 floods, which affected over one-third of the country. WFP played a pivotal role in supporting nearly 4.4 million people through a combination of emergency and long-term interventions, including unconditional cash support to approximately 1.7 million people and initiatives to build resilience, enhance livelihood opportunities, and combat malnutrition.

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With the timely and generous support from donors and partners, including the USD 7.2 million from Japan, WFP successfully mobilized over USD 150 million for its emergency flood response by the end of 2023.

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