USAID's Response: Food Security

Food security is defined as the condition in which all people at all times have both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. It is a multi-dimensional development topic that requires cross-sectoral integrated interventions and is dependent upon factors such as: agricultural production, food imports and aid, intra-household decision making, resource allocation, employment opportunities and income earnings. Due to the high level of poverty in Bangladesh, roughly half its people are unable to meet this basic need.

Donating Food for Local Development

The United States donates food through P.L. 480 Title II programs. A part of the food aid, including wheat, vegetable oil, and lentils are programmed for direct distribution through Food for Work (FFW) and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) activities. The bulk of the Title II food is sold to the Bangladesh government for local currency. The funds raised go to USAID’s implementing partners to support local development activities. The Government of Bangladesh uses the food grain to support its social safety-net activities. Government programs include relief following a disaster, open market sales to the poor to stabilize prices, need-based targeting, and feeding the poorest people. USAID’s implementing partners, CARE and Save the Children USA, also distribute grain directly through food-for-work programs.

Working for Food or Income

Food aid programs give men and women living in areas with chronic food shortages the opportunity to work for a wage and/or food. These programs build environmentally-sound, all-season roads that allow people to get to markets. A second project area is tree planting (to prevent soil erosion) where poor women are then employed to care for the trees.

USAID assists communities with flood-proofing to protect their villages while also helping prepare at-risk areas in case disaster strikes. Disaster shelters are built in villages to protect the local population from cyclones and floods. The shelters also serve as schools for local communities. Other efforts include:

• improving access to safe water and adequate sanitation;
• implementing seed distribution programs as well as providing homestead garden training; and,
• expanding agricultural productivity and increasing the incomes of the poor.
  

Improving Nutrition

A varied, healthy diet is important for good nutrition. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, supported by USAID, works with poor farmers to plant wheat and corn in the dry seasons and increase the productivity of their land. Wheat and corn are excellent dry season crops, since they require much less water than rice. They provide families variety in their diets and a new source of income.

Improving Food Security

USAID also works with the Government of Bangladesh to improve food management and food security policies. Past programs helped ensure public food programs and supplies reached those most in need. Current efforts are focused on improving food security policy development and implementation.

To access USAID's most recent draft Food Security Strategy, click here.

Program Successes