The first Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed by Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Kristian Jensen and WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) and provides multi-year funding that is not earmarked for specific countries.
Denmark has committed itself to better outcomes for people in need as set out in a “Grand Bargain” between donors and aid organizations at the summit. Denmark will provide DKK 630 million to WFP from 2017 to 2019, of which more than DKK 600 million can be used flexibly where needs are greatest.
This partnership agreement highlights Denmark’s and WFP’s shared commitment to focus on responding to urgent food security challenges in both emergencies and protracted crises. It enables a long-term investment aimed at helping people in need to become self-reliant.
“Through this agreement with WFP, we will support some of the world’s hungriest and most vulnerable people: women, children, the elderly, refugees, the internally displaced and others caught up in conflict and crisis”, Jensen said, adding that the global migration crisis was a major focus of his participation in the WHS.
“The predictability and flexibility of Danish contributions mean that WFP can respond fast and effectively to disasters, providing life-saving food assistance to millions of people in for instance Syria, Yemen and South Sudan as well as in countries affected by El Niño,” said Cousin.
“And this is how we will guarantee that help first reaches those who are left furthest behind,” Cousin added.
Denmark is one of WFP’s most valued partners and its most consistent supporters. When an emergency strikes, Denmark frequently heads the response – within hours transferring directed contributions to kick start WFP operations to quickly alleviate immediate suffering.
Denmark is often the first of WFP’s donors to provide multilateral funds, not earmarked for operations in specific countries, as well as retaining its place among the top five providers of these flexible funds to WFP.
“We need to find new ways of helping”, Jensen said. “We cannot continue giving short-term humanitarian aid to people on the run when they need long-term solutions. We also need to ensure that refugees and the internally displaced are better able to take care of themselves so as to ease the often considerable pressure on host communities.”
Under the Strategic Partnership, Denmark is also committed to investing in humanitarian innovation, including the use of cash-based transfers, which help build local markets. It also funds WFP’s Immediate Response Account, which provides according to the most acute and urgent needs.
For more information please contact:
Poul Kjar, Danish MFA, Mob. +45 41865975, Email: poukja@um.dk
Anne Poulsen, WFP/Copenhagen, Mob. +45 40503993, Email: anne.poulsen@wfp.org
Caroline Hurford, WFP/Rome, Mob. +39 348 1325018, Email: caroline.hurford@wfp.org
