U.S. international aid agency strengthens alliance with Foods Resource Bank

U.S. international aid agency strengthens alliance with Foods Resource Bank    The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded an $800,000 grant to expand its partnership with the Foods Resource Bank.
   USAID began to work with the Michigan-based organization in 2002 with an initial grant of $500,000.
   Under the Foods Resource Bank program, U.S. farmers, paired with urban churches and local agri-businesses, donate land, equipment, seeds and fertilizer to grow crops. The crop harvests are sold, with USAID matching the proceeds dollar for dollar. The dollar amounts are then used to fund food security programs in Africa and other starving countries.
   “Our approach allows each person in our country to give a gift, whether land, equipment, labor, supplies or cash — all of which we use to finance self-help projects,” said Norm Braksick, volunteer executive director for the Foods Resource Bank, in a statement.
   The Food Resource Bank consists of 15 faith-based organizations. Additional funding partners include the Kellogg Foundation and some private agri-business companies.
   Currently the Foods Resource Bank is active in the Central African Republic, Congo, Gambia, Honduras, Kenya, Malawi, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Serbia, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
   USAID funds this program through the Global Development Alliance, a recent initiative and business model to expand public-private alliances. Under this program, USAID works with 200 public-private alliances around the world.