The United Nations World Food Programme was awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize last Friday. The achievement was celebrated across the WFP country offices in the world. In Bhutan as well, the news was welcomed with excitement. And with it, the responsibility to live up to it.
The UN’s World Food Programme started operating in Bhutan in 1974 with the school feeding programme. Today it has transitioned beyond school feeding to assist the country in agriculture, nutrition and disaster risk management.
“Apart from direct food support, we also supported schools with kitchen and stores. Considering the gender angle, we also built washroom for girls, and quarters for matrons plus hostels. So in between sometimes in the 1980s or 90s, we went into other areas, supporting people, what we call food for work. We give food and people work for their own welfare like the roads, irrigation and power tiller tracks,” said Dungkar Drukpa, the Programme and Planning Officer at the WFP Bhutan.
A press release from WFP Bhutan stated that in support of His Majesty’s and the Government’s focus on the 4th Industrial Revolution, WFP partnered with the government to bring five innovation and new technology projects to Bhutan. The projects will be eventually transferred to the government of private sector companies.
As per the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the recognition is for its efforts to combat hunger, contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.
“Overall for the WFP fraternity, it is a cause of great excitement. And together with that comes our obligation to work harder and help those in need. Globally yes we are still active in the COVID response and even in Bhutan, we did so many things. We supported the government with the national food security reserve where we provided some materials. And we also supported the government in food safety and storage,” he added.
Currently, WFP has more than 80 offices located across the globe.
Samten Dolkar
