Race Against Hunger Campaign

The campaign aims to stimulate debate and change

Plan has unveiled the 'Race Against Hunger Campaign - Making Food Security a Priority'. Launched in partnership with local communities, and corporate sponsors and partners, it is a long-term measure to counter Malawi’s chronic food insecurity problems.

The campaign will:

• Lobby for national measures on food security, e.g. promotion of sustainable, appropriate technologies and farming techniques that have been proven to help
• Increase collective response to the national cyclic food insecurity issues
• Raise funds for implementing long term food security programs to support children and their communities in Malawi
• Be a vehicle in Malawi, for raising awareness about ways to reduce food insecurity

Plan Malawi’s Country Director Lillian Okwirry, said; "Through the campaign, Plan and partners will advocate for national policies that will ensure food security for the Malawi nation."

The campaign will also involve promotion of best food security practices/measures that have made difference to some communities and families who have attempted them in the past.

Okwirry said; "The campaign will facilitate ways that all Malawians can play an active role in ending Malawi’s cyclic hunger situation. Most of the campaign will be based on volunteerism.

The campaign will raise funds through donors, individual and corporate sponsors. The money will be put in a basket funding that will provide funding for sustainable and community initiated food security projects."

The launch event will involve participants running or walking 25kms to raise awareness and funds. Participation in the run is open to adults and children, with agencies, government departments, NGOs and corporate organisations participating, to show their willingness to take action to reduce food shortages in the long term.

The Vice President of Malawi, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha will participate, along with other members of the Malawi Government.

Examples of some tried and tested ways to improve food security:

• Rainwater harvesting, water conservation, using appropriate technologies for multiple uses of water
• Composting and management of household waste
• Winter cropping
• Tree planting
• Seed multiplication
• Soil conservation
• Marketing of produce
• Use of appropriate and sustainable farming technologies

The proceeds from the Campaign will support projects using some of the examples above, promoting use of appropriate and sustainable technologies and crops that will ensure food security for children in disadvantaged communities. It will be achieved by Plan collaborating with local NGOs with skills in appropriate technologies, government extension workers and local people living in communities affected.

Stimulating debate to lobby for change
The Race Against Hunger Campaign - Making Food Security a Priority aims to stimulate debate and campaign for measures to be taken in order to combat Malawi's repetitive food crisis that mainly affects children.

Different media and communication tools will be used to raise awareness on Food Security issues. Some of the ideas volunteer organisations plan is to hold a theatre music gala and a public auction to support the campaign. The campaign is expected to run for a year.