Ireland to provide €15 million in funding to combat child hunger
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin met with leaders in the Horn of Africa to discuss climate action, food stability and securing peace in the region.
The Tánaiste has announced funding of €15 million aimed at combatting child wasting in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Child wasting refers to a child who is too thin for his or her height and is the result of recent rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight.
The three-year funding initiative named Hanaano meaning 'nurture' in Somali, is part of Ireland’s €50 million commitment under the Global Action Plan on Child Wasting.
The Initiative is being led by Concern Worldwide in cooperation with a consortium of NGOs in the region.
The Tánaiste said: “I am particularly proud to have been able to launch the Hanaano initiative today. Ireland knows all too well the horrors of hunger from its own history.
"Ireland is committed to contributing to ending the preventable tragedy of child wasting in the region by working closely with local communities, and our government and non-governmental partners.”
The Tánaiste made the annoucement during a visit to the Horn of Africa where he met with Kenya’s President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi in Nairobi.
They discussed cooperation on climate action, sustainable food systems, and on furthering trade and private sector connections between Kenya and Ireland. They also discussed Kenya’s vital leadership role in securing peace and stability in the region.
Speaking after meeting with President Ruto, the Tánaiste said: “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with President Ruto on the first day of my visit to the Horn of Africa.
"Ireland is proud of its long history of partnership with Kenya on a wide range of areas from education to climate action, in agriculture innovation and in sustainable development.
"Ireland deeply values Kenya’s leadership on critical issues of peace and security, including its championing of multilateral efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts and crises in the region.”