Fighting hunger awards ceremony, 30 November 2014 / Thirteen countries to receive recognition for achieving outstanding progress in fighting hunger

By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Na

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 26, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Philippines and Uruguay are the latest in a growing list of countries to make great strides in combating undernourishment. This includes the early achievement of the Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG-1) hunger target - to halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015 - or the more stringent 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the absolute number of hungry people by 2015.

FAO Director General, José Graziano da Silva, will recognize the progress made by these 13 countries by awarding diplomas to their representatives at a ceremony scheduled to take place at the UN agency's Rome headquarters on 30 November, 2014.

Earlier this year FAO recognized the achievements of three countries while in 2013, 38 countries won recognition for having reduced by half either the proportion or the number of people who suffer from hunger ahead of the 2015 deadline-.

According to FAO estimates, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Iran, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico and the Philippines have now reached the MDG-1 hunger target while Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay have also achieved the more ambitious WFS target of halving the number of hungry by 2015.

WHAT: Awards Ceremony Recognizing Outstanding Progress

in Fighting Hunger

WITH: FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva will award diplomas to representatives from the 13 countries. Expected to attend are: The Gambia's Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, Brazil's Minister for , Social Development and Fight Against Hunger Tereza Campello, Cameroon's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Menye Essimi, Gabon's Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Food Security Luc Oyoubi and Mauritania's Minister for Rural Development Brahim Ould M'Bareck Ould Mohamed el Moctar.

WHEN: Sunday, 30 November 2014, 15.00-17.00h

WHERE: Green Room, FAO headquarters

Rome, Italy | Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, corner with Viale Aventino. Metro stop Circo Massimo.

Accreditation will take place at the main FAO visitor's entry kiosk. A valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery, plus picture ID, required.

Website & webcast

Twitterhashtags: #hungerprogress, #UNFAO

Live tweets: @FAOnews, @FAOknowledge, @FAOpost2015

More information: FAO media office, (+39) 06 570 53625, [email protected]