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US agency, African organization committing expertise to fight African food crisis
(Associated Press WorldStream Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WASHINGTON_A U.S. aid agency started by the president and an African organization headed by a former head of the United Nations are expected to join forces Wednesday to battle the food crisis in Africa.
John Danilovich, chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corp., and Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations and now chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa are expected to sign the agreement Wednesday.
The agreement commits the two organizations, among the world's largest grant-givers, to build roads, irrigation systems and other infrastructure to help agriculture, the sector where most Africans work. The agreement is designed to help fight African poverty and hunger in the face of skyrocketing food prices around the world.
The effect of escalating food prices has been particularly hard on Africa, the poorest continent.
"The record high prices of food and fuel are a painful pinch for those all over the world, but for those living on less than a dollar a day, it's devastating," Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program, said last month. "By far, the region to be hit hardest by this is Africa."
The agreement will also push for more agricultural research and provide seed, fertilizers and technology to small-scale farmers; increase access to financing for farmers; improve storage, food processing and other such systems; and work toward development of policies to promote domestic agriculture, investment and trade.
Bush's administration developed the Millennium Challenge Corp. to work with poor countries that guarantee good governance and open economic systems. The organization has signed grants designed to alleviate poverty with 16 countries totaling $5.5 billion, including agricultural and rural development investments that total almost $2.8 billion.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa works across the continent with millions of small-scale farmers trying to lift their families out of poverty. AGRA programs are designed to boost farm productivity and incomes without harming the environment.
The organization has offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana. Its initial support came from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, both U.S. philanthropic organizations.
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On the Net:
Millennium Challenge Corp.: http://www.mcc.gov/documents/factsheet-060308-foodinvestments.pdf
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa: http://www.agra-alliance.org
Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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