Yesterday, we celebrated Howard Buffett and Bill Gates as recipients of the World Food Program USA’s 10th Annual George McGovern Leadership Awards for their extraordinary efforts to fight global hunger. Their work and vision is exemplary, and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah joined a panel at the Global Hunger Conference to discuss how leadership and thoughtful partnerships can make a difference in fighting hunger, poverty, and undernutrition.

At USAID, we lead Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. We working with partner countries and the private sector to advance broad-based economic growth that increases incomes, reduces hunger, and supports better nutrition outcomes. By leveraging private sector resources, we can maximize our reach and effectiveness, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of local systems. We are working with partners like the Word Food Program to do just this, and are supporting its Purchase for Progress initiative to help smallholder farmers gain access to markets so to improve their economic opportunities. This is one example of how we can work together toward a common goal of fighting global hunger and ensuring a better future for generations to come.

View video of Josette Sheeran, Executive Director for the World Food Programme, as she addresses how leveraging private sector resources and working together can help advance food security efforts, improve nutrition, and promote a better future for all.