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Feed the Future

Cultivating Hope

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Cultivating
Hope

Ten years ago, Feed the Future was born out of a global food crisis. Since then, we have united partners in the U.S. and around the world to target the root causes of poverty and hunger. A decade later, in the face of unprecedented crises such as COVID-19, we have a stronger foundation from which to build a food-secure, nutritious and resilient world.

To break the cycle of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, Feed the Future is cultivating hope and ringing in a new decade of action.

We asked our partners what gives them hope that we can #endhunger in our lifetime. Here’s what they said:

Meet Our Cultivators of Hope

With support from Feed the Future, extraordinary individuals from across the world have not only forged a better future for themselves, but also for their communities. Their stories are powerful reminders that even in the toughest of times, progress is possible. Meet the community leaders, changemakers and entrepreneurs who are sowing the seeds of resilience and hope.

Strengthening Resilience

Resilience is the key to long-term, sustainable growth. With the ability to recover from stressful events, resilient communities can tackle whatever challenge comes next while maintaining food security and nutrition.

Hapsatou Kah, a farmer, livestock manager, teacher, and entrepreneur

Hapsatou Kah

Senegal

Hapsatou is a farmer, livestock manager, teacher and entrepreneur. Since 2012, she has worked to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in her community. In the face of COVID-19, she continues to lead her community toward a brighter, more resilient future.

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Sylvia Natukunda, a yougurt business owner

Sylvia Natukunda

Uganda

Like many business owners around the world, Sylvia Natukunda is feeling the effects of COVID-19 on her yogurt business. Sylvia is pivoting her strategy to keep her business profitable during the pandemic and make it resilient in the long-term.

Transforming Agriculture

We believe in agriculture’s transformative power as an engine for prosperity, stability and growth. By supporting smallholder farmers and harnessing research and technology, our partners are building a more food-secure future.

Radhika Bolakhe, a livestock farmer in Nepal cutting hay for feed

Radhika Bolakhe

Nepal

For years, Radhika made a living by running a dairy business and manually cutting hay for feed. With no money to invest in a mechanical cutter, she found it difficult to take on more livestock. Today, she is reaping the benefits of new farming machinery that has doubled her milk production and sales.

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Isaac Sesi, a young agricultural entrepreneur

Isaac Sesi

Ghana

Since he was young, Isaac has tinkered with technology, looking for ways to leverage it as a solution to everyday problems. Through his agricultural enterprise in Ghana, Isaac draws on his entrepreneurial spirit to reduce agricultural losses and increase productivity through innovation.

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Boosting Nutrition

By helping partner countries strengthen their food systems and improve nutrition, we are empowering communities to reach their full economic potential and giving more children a healthy start on life.

Rehema Mmari, chief operating officer for a yogurt and milk company in Tanzania

Rehema Mmari

Tanzania

Rehema is the chief operating officer for a milk and yogurt company in Tanzania. She is working to double the shelf life of the company’s milk, improve quality and, most importantly, supply safe, nutritious and affordable food to families.

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Nelson Donnis, a sales technician for a social enterprise

Nelson Donis

Guatemala

As the sales technician for a social enterprise, Nelson noticed that the farmers he was working with often worked side jobs to ensure a steady income during unpredictable harvest seasons. He now provides biofortified seeds to farmers that lead to bigger harvests and better nutrition.

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A Decade of Rising to the Challenge

Over the past decade, Feed the Future has helped millions more people rise out of poverty. We have empowered people in ways that help build healthier families, thriving communities and global stability that will last well into the future. The sustained commitment and positive changes we have seen in the past ten years give us hope that progress is possible, even in difficult times.

2010

Feed the Future is launched in response to a rise in global food prices, food insecurity and resulting turmoil in 2007-2008
2011-12

Feed the Future responds to the Horn of Africa drought and famine crisis
2012

The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition is formed; Feed the Future serves as the United States’ contribution to this partnership
2014-15

Feed the Future responds to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa
2016

Congress codifies the U.S. commitment to global food security embodied by Feed the Future into law through the Global Food Security Act
2017

Feed the Future launches a call to action and mobilizes a global response to the fall armyworm crisis in Africa to combat the invasive pest
2018

The Global Food Security Act is reauthorized—an affirmation of the continued bipartisan support to ending hunger through Feed the Future
2020

Feed the Future turns 10 and mobilizes quickly to help communities deal with COVID-19’s economic impacts

Country Impact

Feed the Future has helped countries harness their full agricultural potential and invest in resilience and nutrition to reduce poverty, hunger and stunting. Here’s a glimpse of our impact over the past decade.

Illustration of Bangladesh

Bangladesh

  • 37% Drop in Poverty1
  • 68% Drop in Hunger1
  • 31% Increase in Women’s Empowerment1
 Illustration of Ethiopia

Ethiopia

  • 19% Drop in Poverty2
  • 33% Drop in Hunger2
  • 23% Drop in Stunting2
 Illustration of Zambia

Zambia

  • 14% Drop in Poverty3
  • 6% Drop in Hunger4
  • 22% Drop in Stunting4
 1/
  • 1 2011–2018
  • 2 2013–2018
  • 3 2010–2018
  • 4 2012–2018

This report presents the percent change in impact indicator values for poverty, hunger and stunting, which captures the proportional change from the baseline value, not the percentage point change. Data represent populations in the geographic areas where Feed the Future concentrates all or most of its efforts. Data have been compiled from primary and secondary sources. Women’s empowerment in Bangladesh was measured by the abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI). Numbers have been rounded.

Read the Feed the Future Progress Snapshot

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Women inspecting their plants

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