WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Nov 17, 2012) - Yesterday, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister for International Cooperation, met with representatives from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to discuss the long-standing partnership between the two organizations in supporting Canada''s humanitarian assistance through the provision of food assistance.
"The Government of Canada is working with Canadian organizations such as the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to address hunger and respond to the needs of vulnerable people in developing countries," said Minister Fantino.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is the only Canadian organization whose principal program includes the provision of international food assistance. Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has been a strong and continuous supporter of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank since its creation. The Canadian Foodgrains Bank supported the Government of Canada''s decision to fully untie Canada''s food aid budget, which contributed to the organization halving its average food aid delivery times as well as reducing costs, which has helped it deliver food aid more effectively and efficiently.
"The long-standing partnership we have with CIDA is deeply appreciated by our members, partners, and supporters," said Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. "It enables us to support millions more people around the world in our efforts to end global hunger."
For more information about CIDA''s partnerships, please visit the CIDA website.
Backgrounder
Canada and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank: Partners in providing food assistance
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank, established in 1983, is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies working to end hunger in developing countries.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank supports three types of international humanitarian and development activities:
-
the provision of food assistance in emergency and chronic-hunger contexts;
-
longer-term food-security initiatives to support efforts of households and communities to produce and source their own food; and
-
cash-based nutrition programs that directly address problems of malnutrition.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is the only Canadian organization whose principal program includes the provision of international food assistance. CIDA has funded the Canadian Foodgrains Bank continuously since its creation, and in recent years, it has provided the majority of the organization''s annual budget. The remainder of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank''s funding comes from public donations made either through its members or directly to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.