Caption (L to R): Gorta Hunger Secretariat, Chairman, Professor Denis I.F. Lucey; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michael Martin T.D.; Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power T.D. and Brian Hanratty, CEO, Gorta -The Freedom From Hunger Council of Ireland, pictured in New York following the launch of the joint US-Irish hunger initiative ‘1,000 days-Change a Life, Change a Future’ by Minister Martin and US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.
NGO challenges Irish business community to respond
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, T.D., hosted a gathering in New York of leading figures from the political, corporate and civil society sectors to announce details of a commitment to address the immediate need to ensure children all over the world receive adequate nutrition in the first 1000 days, from conception to the age of two. The ‘Change a Life, Change the Future’ strategy is a collaboration harnessing the efforts of different countries in the area of childhood nutrition.
Muhtar Kent Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola, delivered a keynote speech on the substantial role business can play in this initiative and stated that while that progress is being made, huge challenges remain. He stated that critical to success is a partnership between government, civil society and business which he called the ‘golden triangle’. “Business,” he said “brings a lot to the table and has a clear desire to be part of the solution”.
Brian Hanratty, CEO, gorta attending the event strongly agreed with this statement: “As limited progress has been made on the Millennium Development Goals, this initiative of a ‘golden triangle’ between civil society, business and government offers true partnership in development. This fusion of experience broadens both the debate and the opportunity for real progress.”
Hanratty also stated that “gorta is committed to growing further partnerships with the Irish business sector as part of this ‘golden triangle’ approach which gorta will also encourage with the business communities of the countries within which it operates.
Professor Denis Lucey, Chairman, gorta Hunger Secretariat, added: “For example, this year over five million children under the age of five years old will die because they have no access to proper nutritional food. Part of gorta’s response to this is partnering with Valid Nutrition in Malawi, who manufacture a range of nutritional pastes to treat malnutrition and stem child mortality. Funding has been provided to support its efforts to increase the production capacity of their Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) which are life-savers in the fight against the scourge of hunger.
Lucey also warmly welcomed Minister Martin’s statement that “we are committing 20% of the Irish Aid programme to reducing hunger”.
He also concurred with Hilary Clinton’s statement: “Let’s not just measure the resources we spend but the results we achieve.”
Gorta World Food Day Blog 