WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2004 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced plans for $50 million in foreign assistance under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fiscal year 2004 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. This assistance includes donations for 13 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe and will feed nearly 2 million children.
"With this announcement, USDA’s food for education programs will have provided nutritious school meals to some 11 million children in developing countries since 2001," Secretary Veneman said. "These programs have increased access to education, improved child nutrition, built new classrooms and extended health services for some of the world’s poorest children."
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child development and food security in low-income, food-deficit countries that are committed to universal education. It provides for donations of U.S. agricultural products, as well as financial and technical assistance, for school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects.
This food for education assistance includes a variety of commodities that will be purchased on the U.S. market and donated by USDA. The commodities will go to private voluntary organizations, the United Nation’s World Food Program, and one foreign government.
Detailed agreements will be negotiated for each donation and announced as they are completed.
USDA also provides international food assistance though section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 and through the Food for Progress program.
The McGovern-Dole program was authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
The program is named in honor of Ambassador and former Senator George McGovern and former Senator Robert Dole for their tireless efforts to encourage a global commitment to school feeding and child nutrition.
McGovern-Dole Program
Fiscal Year 2004 Allocations
