The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) teamed up with four Nobel Peace Prize laureates to form an alliance in order to build a relationship that understands and reinforces the fact that peacebuilding and food security go hand-in-hand.
The four laureates are Muhammad Yunus, Oscar Arias Sánchez, Tawakkol Karman and Betty Williams.The purpose of the Alliance is to collectivize the efforts of these Nobel Peace Laureates to help ensure that food insecurity will not be the cause of further conflict. However, in the event of crises, the food systems in place will display a higher level of resilience with a greater chance of meaningful impact.
After a ceremonial signing, Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the FAO said “we look forward to learning from your wisdom and experience and drawing from your guidance on how FAO can become more effective in nurturing peace.”
Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist and civil society leader, was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his ground-breaking work in the use of microcredit and microfinance to build economic and social development in poorer countries.
Oscar Arias Sánchez, former President of Costa Rica, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end the civil wars that plagued Central America at the time. His peace plan was approved by Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Tawakkol Karman is a Yemeni women’s rights activist and advocate for peace. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work in the non-violent struggle for the safety of women.
1976 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Betty Williams is a Northern Irish activist for peace. She co-founded the Community of Peace People, to campaign against violence and discord between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland in the 1970s.