Clinton announces $ 1 bln pledge to aid global food security

A major US-based civil society alliance has pledged over a billion dollars over the next three years to support food security and nutrition worldwide, US Secretary of State hillary Clinton announced late Thursday. On the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, Clinton announced that members from InterAction, an alliance of 198 US-based civil society organizations, have committed to spend over a billion dollars over the next three years to support food security and nutrition worldwide. "Civil society organizations are crucial to our success, both in the public and private sector; they have long standing relationships in communities and valuable technical expertise, and they work every single day on their commitment to try to make this world a better place for all of us" remarked Secretary Clinton during an event focused on highlighting progress under Feed the Future, and the importance of civil society organizations as key partners in achieving common food security and nutrition goals in support of country-led priorities. Five of the largest US-based organizations, World Vision, Heifer International, Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children and ChildFund International together committed to investing USD 900 million to advance these goals. They will report progress annually at the time of the UN General Assembly meetings each September.