By Edward Acquah
Accra, Oct. 22, GNA- The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed an agreement to enhance food and nutrition security through youth empowerment and digitalisation.
The agreement was in furtherance of a project dubbed “Support Youth Economic Empowerment through Digitalization for Resilience in Food and Nutrition Security and Improved Livelihoods.”
Under the initiative, the two institutions would work together to implement the project for the next five years, a brief shared with the Ghana News Agency said.
At a signing ceremony in Accra, Ms Aurore Rusiga, the Country Director for the WFP, thanked KOICA for contributing USD 9.3 million toward the implementation of the project.
She said the programme was in keeping with the WFP’s changing lives programmes and would help to build resilience within its service communities.
Ms. Rusiga said with Ghana’s 38 per cent youthful population, any investment towards their economic welfare was a viable endeavour.
She said the project would equip the youth with essential digital skills and tools, promote the adoption of smart agricultural practices, and leverage technology to encourage healthy lifestyles.
“Research has shown that nutritional investments yield one of the best returns. For every GHS 1.00 invested, a return of GHS 3.30 is realised.
“Therefore, combining the transformational power of digitalization and high return on investment in nutrition will undoubtedly lead to enhanced economic and nutritional security in Ghana through this project,” she said.
Mr. Dong Hyun Lee, Country Director of KOICA Ghana, described the partnership as vital, adding that the empowerment of young people was one of the effective ways to promote economic growth and sustainability.
He said digitalisation had the potential to drive positive change and was optimistic that the partnership would boost Ghana’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
“This new project represents our shared commitment to empowering the youth through digitalisation to enhance food and nutrition security and improve livelihoods in Ghana,” Mr Lee said.
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, with presence in more than 120 countries and territories.
The Organisation works to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes.
The KOICA is a leading development cooperation agency of Korea that supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the realisation of global social values.
GNA