National Committees
The national committees were the backbone of the Campaign. Because individual national committees emerged at different times during the Campaign, especially in response to major initiatives (such as the launching of the Campaign, Freedom From Hunger Weeks, or the World Food Congresses), the activities of the committees varied as widely as did the level of
involvement. By the end of 1960 there were 18 national Freedom From Hunger Committees; at its peak the Campaign claimed over 100. FFHC national committees are remarkable both for their individual contributions to the Campaign and to particular development projects, and they attracted support from many important and influential individuals – including heads of state, religious leaders, and prominent community members. The national committees undertook the vast majority of the work of the Campaign, but governments were critical to their formation. Sen had correctly estimated that the enthusiasm of governments for the Campaign was related to the nature and cost of their contributions to it. In most cases, a national government initiated the formation of a committee, provided some initial logistical and administrative support, and provided some start-up financing. The FAO Representative in Honduras noted that “it is much easier to obtain the cooperation of the Government through a token contribution and a nomination of a national committee than to obtain cooperation in work.” Honduras had in fact been one of the first countries to make a donation to the Campaign, though it was a small one, and the Campaign was well received in that country at the highest levels as a direct result of this kind of pressure. In a minority of cases, all of them in developing countries, national committees were set up without the support of government. Many national committees exist today as NGOs and development agencies. Their continued work demonstrates the pervasive nature of FFHC and the heterogeneous nature of a response to its challenge. |
National Committees were formed in:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Canada, Ceylon, China, Comoros, Dahomey, Dubai, Ethiopia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Lebanon, Libya, Lichtenstein, Malaya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Rumania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Republic, United States, Palestine, Upper Volta, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
National Committees Today
Australia: Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia was born out of a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies - Community Aid Abroad (est. 1953) and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign (est. 1962)
www.oxfam.org.au
Oxfam Australia was born out of a merger between two leading Australian international development agencies - Community Aid Abroad (est. 1953) and the Australian Freedom from Hunger Campaign (est. 1962)
www.oxfam.org.au
Canada: CHF: Partners in Rural Development
CHF ceased active operations in 2015. It was a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling poor rural communities in developing countries to attain sustainable livelihoods. It was founded in 1961 by The Honourable Mitchell Sharp. Read: A Short History of the Canadian Hunger Foundation
www.chf.ca
CHF ceased active operations in 2015. It was a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling poor rural communities in developing countries to attain sustainable livelihoods. It was founded in 1961 by The Honourable Mitchell Sharp. Read: A Short History of the Canadian Hunger Foundation
www.chf.ca
Germany: Welthungerhilfe
In Germany in 1962, at the initiative of the then German President, Heinrich
Lübke, a German Freedom From Hunger Campaign committee was founded, later to be
renamed "Deutsche Welthungerhilfe."
www.welthungerhilfe.de
In Germany in 1962, at the initiative of the then German President, Heinrich
Lübke, a German Freedom From Hunger Campaign committee was founded, later to be
renamed "Deutsche Welthungerhilfe."
www.welthungerhilfe.de
Ireland: Gorta
The Irish Freedom from Hunger Campaign began in 1960 under the auspices of the Irish Red Cross Society.
In 1965 gorta was founded under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
www.gorta.org
The Irish Freedom from Hunger Campaign began in 1960 under the auspices of the Irish Red Cross Society.
In 1965 gorta was founded under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
www.gorta.org
Kenya: Kenya Freedom From Hunger Council
Kenya Freedom from Hunger Council was established with the main objective to compliment the Government's efforts in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, after Food Agriculture Organization urged member countries to form local chapter to campaign for food security. Initially the Council was involved in campaigns but it was later recognized that it better to address the problems of food security through long term interventions. The main interventions used by the Council are community based crop and livestock development, water for livestock and household, community capacity building and linkages with local institutions.
Kenya Freedom from Hunger Council was established with the main objective to compliment the Government's efforts in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, after Food Agriculture Organization urged member countries to form local chapter to campaign for food security. Initially the Council was involved in campaigns but it was later recognized that it better to address the problems of food security through long term interventions. The main interventions used by the Council are community based crop and livestock development, water for livestock and household, community capacity building and linkages with local institutions.
United States: Freedom From Hunger Foundation
Freedom From Hunger began as Meals for Millions (est. 1946), the organization that developed and introduced Multi-Purpose Food, a high-protein food supplement. In 1960s, M4M crossed paths with the UN FFHC committee, founded in 1960 at the behest of President Kennedy. In 1979 the organizations merged to become the Freedom From Hunger Foundation.
www.freedomfromhunger.org
Freedom From Hunger began as Meals for Millions (est. 1946), the organization that developed and introduced Multi-Purpose Food, a high-protein food supplement. In 1960s, M4M crossed paths with the UN FFHC committee, founded in 1960 at the behest of President Kennedy. In 1979 the organizations merged to become the Freedom From Hunger Foundation.
www.freedomfromhunger.org
We are seeking further information on all national committees. Below are countries which may have active committees, but we can't confirm yet. We welcome information on these or any other national committees or their affiliates:
Ceylon
The Gambia: Freedom From Hunger Campaign (Initial operations, 1969)
Cape Point, Bakau
Sri Lanka
Freedom from Hunger Campaign Board (FFHCB)
Ceylon
The Gambia: Freedom From Hunger Campaign (Initial operations, 1969)
Cape Point, Bakau
Sri Lanka
Freedom from Hunger Campaign Board (FFHCB)
