Building resilience and improving food security for vulnerable rural households in Egypt

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Egypt is the world's largest importer of wheat. In 2020, Egypt imported 62% of its total wheat consumption (approx. 11.3 million tons) from Russia and Ukraine. The increases in food prices associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine are thus threatening the food security of the Egyptian population, especially vulnerable households such as families with children. The project Strengthening resilience and improving food security for vulnerable rural households to mitigate the effects of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in Egypt is being implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which is working closely with the Egyptian ministries of agriculture and education, as well as the regional governments. The overarching goal is to increase the food security of 15,000 needy households and 20,000 small farmers in the Sharkeya and Sohag governorates in Egypt. This is to be achieved in particular through cash transfers for the poorest rural population in return for their children attending school and strengthening resilience by increasing the productivity of wheat and other crops. In addition, the national wheat fortification program and the establishment of around 500 wheat producer associations are to be supported. The proposed measures are based on the WFP Country Program 2018-2023 for Egypt. The project is expected to start in October 2022 with a planned duration of 18 months. The German contribution of EUR 20 million is financed from the Special Initiative Transforming Agricultural and Food Systems (SI AGER).