Teaming up to tackle food insecurity in four countries around the world, World Food Program USA and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) have announced a $4 million partnership.

The joint initiative will support the United Nations World Food Programme’s homegrown school meals program, with each organisation contributing $2 million with the aim to tackle global hunger.

The countries that are set to benefit from this joint initiative include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Ecuador.

“This is an important investment in our collective future. Today, we are facing a global food crisis of unprecedented proportions and kids are paying the price. Outside of the US, 153 million children under 18 are facing extreme levels of malnutrition,” said Barron Segar, President and CEO of World Food Program USA.

“Through this partnership with the Lions Clubs International Foundation, we will work to ensure that more children get the nutrition needed for both them and their communities to thrive.”

Since it was created, the United Nations World Food Programmes’ homegrown school meals program has worked to improve children’s education, health and nutrition.

According to the World Foods Program USA, by integrating school meal support into local communities, it has been found to “benefit the entire community by providing an important safety net and by strengthening food systems and economies”. In addition, the organisation claims that by further integrating with local small-scale farmers, local economies are able to benefit, leading to a “better-designed food system”.

Sharing LCIF’s stance on the partnership, Brian E. Sheehan, LCIF Chairperson, said: “Lions worldwide have a long history of working to improve food security and access to nutritious food, and there are no limits to what we can achieve when we unite for good. We are proud to partner with World Food Program USA to expand our collective reach. Together, through this important partnership, we can work towards a future wher no child will ever have to live without knowing when their next meal will come.”

As part of LCIF’s role in this initiative, it will be supporting a large-scale humanitarian program across three continents that addresses “the most urgent unmet need of school-age children, positively impacting quality of life for entire communities”.