1. October 2015

Eradicating hunger

Efforts by Sweden’s Hunger Project to make the village of Nkawanda in eastern Ghana self-sufficient by the end of 2016 are receiving support from the Kavli Trust under a recent agreement.

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Female entrepreneurs at another Hunger Project epicentre in nearby Benin. (Photo: the Hunger Project)

The Swedish organisation is part of a worldwide body working to fulfil the UN’s millennium goal of eradicating all hunger and poverty.

“We’re incredibly pleased about our collaboration with the Kavli Trust,” says Sara Wettergren, the Hunger Project’s national coordinator for Sweden.

“It’s now investing in our work in eastern Ghana by helping the Nkawanda epicentre there to reach its goal of becoming self-sufficient.”

The Hunger Project’s programme for mobilisation and development in rural Africa is known as the epicentre strategy – which covers both a building and a concept.

Both a physical and a social structure are created around the epicentre, which serves as a dynamic meeting place where fundamental human needs can be met.

The one in Nkawanda covers 9 296 local people, who now have access to water, electricity and sanitation as a result of this programme.

If the target is reached, the village will have no need for external financial support from the end of 2016. This goal is considered to have been attained when:

  • the epicentre’s residents take their own initiatives and work autonomously on eradicating hunger
  • leadership is effective, equal and competent, democratically elected and transparent
  • women have strengthened their position, self-confidence and expertise
  • the epicentre building is complete
  • basic resources such as education, food, health, microcredit, water and sanitation are available
  • an officially approved and autonomous microcredit bank is in place
  • sufficient income is available to cover expenses and secure continued growth.

The Hunger Project estimates that it take eight to 10 years for an epicentre to reach this stage, and Nkawanda is now regarded as being in the final phase.

“We believe strongly in the development work being pursued by this organisation in Ghana,” says Inger Elise Iversen, general manager of the Kavli Trust.

“Helping to ensure that poor areas afflicted by  hunger, resignation and female oppression are converted to sustainable communities through the integrated epicentre approach is a meaningful activity for us.”

Read more about the Swedish arm of the Hunger Project.

Further information from:

Sara Wettergren, national coordinator, Hunger Project

+46 709 17 16

sara.wettergren@hungerprojektet.se

Inger Elise Iversen, general manager, Kavli Trust

ingerelise.iversen@http://kavlifondet.no