In a joint effort to bolster food security in Zambia, Administrator Samantha Power of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Ireland’s Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, have announced an expanded development cooperation partnership between the two nations.
The initiative builds upon the successful collaboration in Malawi, where joint efforts supported smallholder farmers. Now, the United States and Ireland aim to replicate this success in Zambia, focusing on enhancing food systems and implementing innovative strategies to alleviate poverty and malnutrition. A key aspect of the partnership involves leveraging private investments to elevate food safety standards, enhance climate action capabilities, and increase investment in climate adaptation measures.
The announcement of this extended partnership was made during an event in Washington, DC, attended by Administrator Power and Tánaiste Martin. This move underscores USAID’s commitment to addressing food security, a topic that featured prominently during President Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland in the previous year. The collaboration between the United States and Ireland underscores their shared values and dedication to supporting communities grappling with severe malnutrition and the threat of famine.
Through this partnership, USAID and Ireland are reaffirming their commitment to combating global hunger and advancing common international development objectives.