January 11, 2010—Over 80% of Malawi’s people are smallholder farmers. Agriculture is the main source of income for the country, making up nearly 90% of Malawi’s exports. The government , with help from the World Bank is investing in affordable irrigation systems and offering farmers technical advice and marketing support.
The spike in food prices of last year (2008) underscored what experts have been telling us for many years: the world's food systems are in crisis
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Press Release No. 10/20
January 28, 2010
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) have agreed to support US$1.9 billion in debt relief for the Republic of Congo, which includes US$255.2 million of debt relief from the two institutions.
Jakarta, 28-29 January 2010 – More collaboration on development issues between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the World Bank are currently being explored, especially in the key areas of infrastructure and connectivity, social protection, climate change, disaster risk management and food security.
Speaking at the high level ASEAN Secretariat-World Bank Consultation Session in Jakarta, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, said that “the visions of ASEAN and the World Bank are very much intertwined and ASEAN is looking for opportunities to share the World Bank’s experiences with the region on how to better carry out development”.
28 January 2010 -- The WTO has launched a discussion forum in the run-up to publication of the 2010 World Trade Report in July. The theme of this year’s report is “Trade in Natural Resources: Challenges in Global Governance”.
To stimulate debate, the WTO has created a specific web page where individuals can express their views on the challenges of global trade in natural resources and on the role the WTO could play. The aim is to encourage discussion among WTO delegates, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic experts, WTO staff members and all those with an active interest in natural resources.
29 January 2010, Port-au-Prince –FAO is calling for international donors to support a $700 million investment plan in the agricultural sector drawn up by the Haitian government to repair earthquake damaged infrastructure, boost national food production and create employment for people fleeing Port-au-Prince.
The special programme, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development gives specific guidelines for international aid in the sector for the next eighteen months. It is one of the cornerstones of the government’s strategy to rebuild the country following the January 12 earthquake.
FAO and the Inter-American Institute for Agriculture Cooperation signed an agreement with the Ministry to support the government’s plan.
Press Release No. 10/18
January 28, 2010
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Paulo Drummond visited Bissau during January 12-27, 2010, to discuss the government’s medium-term economic program that could be supported by the IMF under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The mission met with President Bacai Sanha, Prime Minister Carlos Domingos Gomes, the Minister of Finance, Jose Mario Vaz, other ministers, the Director of the Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Joao Fadia, as well as representatives of the private sector, civil society, and the donor community.
At the conclusion of the visit, the mission issued the following statement:
We do not see many references these days to the food crisis in the news. It has been eclipsed by economic fears. But we are still not out of the woods. I call it our forgotten crisis - because it has not gone away. 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
With current food policies failing at both national and international levels, there is reason to believe that that things need to be done to improve the coordination and involvement of local governments in the debates on food security.
18-20 January, 2010 | Dakar, Senegal
World leaders convened at FAO Headquarters for the World Summit on Food Security (16-18 November) unanimously adopted a declaration pledging renewed commitment to eradicate hunger from the face of the earth.
16-18 November 2009
