Minister Peter Power joins US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in calling for a global partnership to tackle hunger

Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power delivers a keynote address at Clinton hunger initiative

Minister Peter Power joins US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in calling for a global partnership to tackle hunger

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, today called on more than 100 world leaders gathered at the United Nations to forge a global partnership to eradicate hunger.

Delivering a keynote address at a special meeting convened by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to tackle the urgent hunger crisis, Minister Power underlined the need to address the structural problems which cause food insecurity, rather than simply treating the symptoms of hunger.

“Hunger is the result of many failings. Its eradication, and nothing less than its eradication, should satisfy us. This can only be achieved by a comprehensive approach which addresses its structural causes.

“I speak today as a representative of a country which has experienced famine; a country whose population was decimated after the Great Famine of 1847. This terrible experience has been burned into the Irish consciousness. We feel compelled to speak out and act when we witness one billion hungry people in the world today. This is an enormous collective failure,” Minister Power said.

Citing climate change, poor agricultural policies and insufficient access to markets as some of the key challenges, he laid out a plan to draw donor countries, the governments of developing nations, the private sector and non-governmental organisations together in a strategic, global partnership to address the root causes of hunger.

“We must address the full range of issues that affect hunger and food security, from increasing sustainable agricultural and economic growth to meeting emergency needs and addressing under-nutrition.

“We need to promote the intensification of smallholder agriculture and work with small farmers to diversify crops. We must increase farmers’ access to markets and empower women farmers in particular to access credit, enabling them to hold the title to land. We also need to support their education.

“Markets must be developed and regions integrated economically. Effective, nationally-led agricultural extension programmes should form an integral part of our comprehensive response,” he said.

Minister Power was addressing the gathering in New York one year after Ireland launched the Hunger Task Force report at the UN. The report contained three key recommendations: increasing the productivity of smallholder farmers in Africa; improving infant and maternal nutrition and ensuring that world leaders honour their commitments to tackle acute hunger and poverty.

Speaking at today’s meeting, “Partnering for Food Security”, Minister Power said: “The steps to be taken are clear. A comprehensive approach is essential if we are to succeed. Since I launched the report of the Hunger Task Force one year ago, I have made the fight against hunger a cornerstone of our aid programme. We must all commit to making the fight against hunger a cornerstone of our policies.

“We now have global leadership and a strong commitment to act on this urgent crisis of humanity. I applaud the leadership of Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary General Ban and I am greatly encouraged and honoured to be here with over 100 leaders from across the world who share our concern about food security and share our determination to act.

“Today is a significant milestone in our joint fight against the many challenges of hunger.”

Rwandan President, Paul Kagame and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith were also among the speakers to address the meeting.

For further information or to arrange an interview with Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, please contact Fionnuala Quinlan, press officer, Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs, on 087-9099975.

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26 September 2009

Press Office