The Financial Times has selected Action Against Hunger ACF International, international global humanitarian organisation with life-saving programmes in over 40 countries as its partner for its 2010-2011 seasonal appeal to readers.

The seasonal appeal, taking place from November to mid-January 2011, has raised £5 million over the past four years for Camfed, WaterAid and Room to Read. Chosen in a vote by Financial Times staff around the world, Action Against Hunger directly assists nearly five million people a year through innovative programmes aimed at saving the lives of malnourished children. The programmes also provide communities with sustainable solutions to hunger and access to safe drinking water.

This year’s seasonal appeal will be launched on 4th November at the annual Action Against Hunger Benefit Gala in New York.

Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: “The FT is delighted to be working with Action Against Hunger on this year’s seasonal appeal, and we look forward to visiting some of the many countries in which it operates to bring its work to life for our readers. With the global economic recession contributing towards further hardship for vulnerable populations around the world, the cause could not be more urgent or the appeal more timely.”

Raymond Debbane, board chairman for ACF-USA, said: “We are thrilled and honored that the Financial Times staff chose Action Against Hunger for their seasonal appeal. The funds raised this year will enhance our ability to reach children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.”

Paul Wilson, board chairman for ACF-UK, added: “The FT seasonal appeal presents a tremendous opportunity to shed light on the global hunger crisis and the proven solutions that our teams employ all across the globe.”

Founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger now has headquarters in London, Madrid, Montréal, New York and Paris. The organisation works to save lives through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition. Its programmes in nutrition, food security and livelihoods, and water, sanitation and hygiene are implemented by a global team of more than 4,600 professionals and technical experts.

Hunger now afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. Severe acute malnutrition is the most immediate killer: it threatens the lives of 19 million children. Every year an estimated 3.5 million of them die from malnutrition-related causes. By integrating its programmes with national health systems and working in close collaboration with local communities, Action Against Hunger seeks to ensure that short-term interventions become long-term solutions. The organisation is currently responding to humanitarian emergencies in a number of countries, including Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger, where millions of people face severe food shortages.

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The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the newspaper, printed at 24 print sites across the globe, has a daily circulation of 378,497 (ABC figures July 2010), while FT.com has over 2.6 million registered users and 149,047 digital subscribers. The FT’s combined print and paid digital circulation is 563,026 (Deloitte assured, July 2010) and it has a combined print and online average daily readership of 1.9 million people worldwide (PwC assured, November 2009).

Action Against Hunger | ACF International is a global humanitarian organisation committed to ending world hunger. Recognised as a leader in the fight against malnutrition, ACF works to save the lives of malnourished children while providing communities with sustainable access to safe water and long-term solutions to hunger. With more than 30 years of expertise in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity, ACF runs life-saving programmes in over 40 countries benefiting nearly five million people each year. For more information visit www.actionagainsthunger.org (USA) or www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk (UK)

Emily Gibbs, Communications Executive, Financial Times +44 (0)207 873 3184 or emily.gibbs@ft.com
Susannah Masur, Communications Officer, Action Against Hunger 1-212-967-7800 x133 smasur@actionagainsthunger.org
Christine Kahmann, Communications Manager, Action Against Hunger 0208 293 6197 c.kahmann@aahuk.org

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