Statement by Spokesperson Clayton M. McCleskey on USAID Congratulates Drs. Lawrence Haddad and David Nabarro for Winning the World Food Prize

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) congratulates this year’s World Food Prize winners, Drs. Lawrence Haddad and David Nabarro, our long-time partners whose efforts over the last several decades helped put nutrition at the top of the global development agenda.

Through the Feed the Future initiative, USAID supported Dr. Nabarro with the launch of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, which now includes 60 countries that are working to improve maternal and child nutrition within the crucial first 1,000 days of life.  Today, USAID continues to support the SUN effort in areas where we target and contribute to the Movement’s Secretariat.

As a pioneer in food policy research, Dr. Haddad has used evidence-based arguments to mobilize national policy-makers in developing countries to integrate nutrition as a central part of their development strategies.  As Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which USAID supports with technical and financial assistance, he expands private sector partnerships to achieve our common nutrition goals.

Here at USAID, we know good nutrition builds the foundation for a healthy future.  The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2017, passed by Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump this month, sends a strong message that America is continuing its commitment to tackling the root causes of hunger and malnutrition through Feed the Future.

Through the generosity of the American people, an estimated 23.4 million more people today are living above the poverty line, 3.4 million more children are living free of stunting, and 5.2 million more families are not hungry in the targeted areas where Feed the Future has worked over the last seven years.

This progress is possible because of Feed the Future’s broad partnerships and integrated approaches with health and other sectors.  By continuing to work with partners such as Drs. Haddad and Nabarro, we can help more women and children obtain nutrition they need for a healthy life, so more families can participate in their countries’ journeys to self-reliance.