Herbalife, a leading health and wellness company, together with the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF), has announced a renewed partnership with World Food Program USA (WFP USA), a non-profit supporting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This collaboration, aimed at tackling global hunger, will see an investment of $1 million over three years to back women-led economic empowerment projects in Colombia.
This substantial contribution underscores Herbalife’s commitment to global food security and emergency food assistance. Michael Johnson, Herbalife’s Chairman and CEO, stated, “For 43 years, improving the health and wellbeing of our communities has inspired everything we do at Herbalife. Partnering with the World Food Program USA and supporting the women-led agribusiness initiative in Colombia is an important step to reducing hunger in the country, while protecting and enhancing our environment’s natural resources.”
Women play a crucial role in global food production, contributing to 35 percent of the world’s food despite carrying out 70 percent of agricultural labor. However, they often face significant barriers, including limited access to land and resources. WFP estimates that bridging this gap could potentially feed 45 million more people. In Colombia, the focus is on improving the income and farm productivity of rural women small-scale farmers, while also empowering them to engage in local decision-making processes. The WFP’s initiatives in Colombia have already assisted 6,000 individuals and helped cultivate 10 new hectares of land through education, skills training, and financial literacy programs.
Barron Segar, President and CEO of World Food Program USA, expressed his enthusiasm for the continued partnership, saying, “We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Herbalife, helping to make even more of an impact in the lives of small-scale farmers in the years ahead. We can’t do our work without the committed support of partners like Herbalife.”
Since the partnership began in 2018, Herbalife and HFF have supported various emergency relief efforts, providing approximately 2.1 million meals globally in response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters in Guatemala and the Philippines. WFP’s dedication to fighting hunger was recognized in 2020 when it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to promote peace and prevent hunger from being used as a weapon in conflicts.
Mary Holloway, a Board Member of the Herbalife Family Foundation and Herbalife Chairman’s Club Member, emphasized the organization’s core values, saying, “Changing peoples’ lives is the core tenet of Herbalife’s values, as well as the impact we hope to drive through our work with the Herbalife Family Foundation. Supporting programs that open doors for unforeseen opportunities can profoundly alter lives in ways beyond our imagination.”
This renewed commitment by Herbalife and HFF is set to foster sustainable development, enhance food security, and empower women in Colombia, thereby creating a lasting impact on local communities.