CFGB - Canadian Foodgrains Bank Association

Published purpose

February 2021 - As the global COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its second year, its secondary impacts on the lives and livelihoods of some of the world’s most vulnerable people continue to worsen. One of the most critical impacts is the deterioration in food security, as COVID-19 restrictions have halted economies and destroyed livelihoods. The pandemic has deepened existing hunger crises in the world’s humanitarian hotspots and pushed vulnerable communities, previously on the brink of crisis, over the edge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. With GAC’s support, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) is helping to address the impact of COVID-related food insecurity amongst vulnerable populations in eight countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Project activities include: (1) providing cash, vouchers, or in-kind food rations to address immediate food needs; (2) identifying and supporting agricultural and non-agricultural livelihoods and market opportunities to improve household food security and resilience; (3) facilitating the development and strengthening of community groups to build community ownership and resilience; (4) rehabilitating or constructing community and environmental assets to support community development; and (5) providing training on locally relevant gender equality issues and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and risks to women and men from households experiencing acute food insecurity, and in a gender-sensitive manner.