France has pledged EUR 1.5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support women, children, and farmers in Guinea’s Beyla and Lola prefectures.
The contribution will fund supplementary feeding for 14,000 children under two, pregnant women, and nursing mothers to prevent moderate acute malnutrition. Additionally, 5,000 school children will receive nutritious meals, while young girls will receive take-home rations to encourage school attendance and deter early marriages and pregnancies. Furthermore, 56 health workers will be trained in nutrition and infant feeding practices.
Dr. Hyoung-Joon Lim, WFP Country Director in Guinea, expressed gratitude for France’s support, emphasizing the importance of collective action to achieve food security.
France’s contribution will also bolster smallholder farmers’ production capacity by providing technical training on a high-yield variety of rice and enhancing access to local markets for 426 smallholder farmers.
France’s Ambassador to Guinea, Marc Fonbaustier, highlighted France’s commitment to maternal and child health in Guinea and praised WFP’s proactive efforts in addressing food and nutrition security.
The March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis revealed a worsening food and nutrition situation in Guinea, with a significant increase in the number of people in crisis. Approximately 2.8 million people (24% of the population) will face food pressure during the June-August 2024 lean season, while 960,553 individuals (8%) will experience a food crisis. The number of people in need of emergency assistance has surged by 102.5% in one year, underscoring the situation’s urgency.
