The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on programs and research to improve food and nutrition security and livelihoods in India against the impacts of climate change. The partnership aims to strengthen efforts bringing together science, knowledge, and implementation frameworks to bolster climate-resilient food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. A significant focus will be on vulnerability analysis at the state level in India and developing a sustainable food systems approach.

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Happenings
In-house version 24 Sep 2021, No.1925
Photo: WFP/ ICRISAT
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and
ICRISAT will partner on programs and research to
improve food, nutrition security and livelihoods in India
against the impacts of climate change.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on
September 23 between Mr Bishow Parajuli, WFP India
Representative and Country Director, and Dr Jacqueline
Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT.
“This is a strategic partnership between the WFP and
ICRISAT as both are aligned by their vision of food
security, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable
communities. It comes on the day that the pioneering
UN Food Systems Summit kicks off in New York. The
increasing/frequent climate crises and shocks such as
the COVID-19 pandemic have worsened global hunger,
threatening food security, nutrition and the livelihoods
of millions,” Mr Parajuli said.
“This partnership strengthens efforts to bring together
science, knowledge and implementation frameworks to
WFP, ICRISAT to partner on climate-resilience, food
security, nutrition and livelihoods
Mr Bishow Parajuli, WFP India Representative and Country Director, and Dr Jacqueline Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT,
sign a Memorandum of Understanding in a meeting at Delhi.
bolster food security, nutrition and livelihoods that are
resilient to climate change,” he added.
“Climate-resilience, food security, nutrition and
livelihoods, especially for smallholder farmers and
ecologically vulnerable communities, are focus areas for
ICRISAT, and with this partnership, we aim to generate
ideas and frameworks for policy positions relevant not
just for India but regionally and globally,” Dr Hughes said.
“The latest IPCC report has sounded an alarm over the
impact of climate change on agriculture and food
security. A significant part of this partnership will be
focused on vulnerability analysis at the state level in
India and will be directed towards evolving a sustainable
food systems approach,” she added.
The WFP in India and ICRISAT will work jointly to
promote research, advocacy and awareness-raising on
traditional nutritious crops, undertaking food and
nutritional security analysis, and adaptation strategies,
among other engagements.