About Us

Catarina, Guatemala
 

With a family income of less than $4 a day, Catarina Raxuleu and her husband struggle to feed their four children. But Catarina began eating Vitacereal™ from WFP when she was pregnant with Pasqual. Today, she serves it to him twice a day. "There's a big difference between my pregnancies," said Catarina. "Pasqual was a healthy weight when he was born." Thanks to WFP, Catarina can expect to see little Pasqual grow and develop into a healthier adult.

Some 60 percent of the world’s chronically hungry people are women and girls. This is because women often have unequal access to resources, education and income, and because they participate less in decision-making.

When hunger and undernutrition affect women, they also affect their children. More than 19 million children are born annually with low birth weight, often the result of their mothers receiving inadequate nutrition before and during pregnancy.

These babies born with low birth weight are 20 times more likely to die in infancy, and those who survive are more likely to remain malnourished throughout childhood. It is also likely they will face health and learning difficulties throughout their lives.

This means that hunger and its consequences are passed from generation to generation.

But women are not merely victims of hunger. They are also the most effective solution to combating and preventing hunger.

In many countries, women form the backbone of the agricultural sector and food systems, making up the bulk of agricultural laborers. They also play a key role in guaranteeing food security for the entire household. Experience shows that in the hands of women, food is far more likely to reach the mouths of needy children.

WFP is committed to using its policies, programs and actions to promote women’s empowerment as a key to improving food security for all.

Visit WFP.org to learn more about this program »