Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is pleased to announce its partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (“WFP”) in the Republic of Guinea (“Guinea”). WFW is making a donation to WFP over an 18-month period as part of the firm’s Responsible Business approach and ongoing commitment to shared prosperity. The firm’s support will benefit over 1,550 people in need in Guinea – including children with school meals – and help promote the economic empowerment of their mothers.
Guinea has recently been facing socioeconomic challenges due to rising global food prices and flooding, with rural communities, women and children most affected. For many children, especially those in remote areas, school meals remain a crucial source of nutritious food. WFP works closely with communities and partners to address food insecurity in Guinea. Through the Zero Hunger Villages, WFP combines school feeding, nutrition programmes, support for smallholder farmers and community-driven development to help villages become self-sufficient, as well as providing emergency food and nutrition advice to those most in need.
WFW’s contribution will enable WFP to improve access to nutritious meals for schoolchildren in Kissidougou and Faranah, thus encouraging school attendance. This will particularly benefit girls who often face challenges in accessing and completing education; through this initiative, girls in their final year of primary school will receive take-home food rations to promote nutrition and incentivise them to complete their education. Alongside the school meals, WFP will carry out awareness campaigns and demonstrations to promote good food nutrition, hygiene and food preparation practices.
In addition, six agricultural groups located near schools will be provided with support to strengthen their skills, improve the quality of their products and access new income-generating activities, boosting local food chains.
The impact of WFW’s contribution goes beyond the classroom. By linking nutritious school meals with women’s empowerment and agricultural development, WFW’s support is helping to create lasting change for children, families and local communities in Guinea.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
WFW Partners Alhassane Barry and Jan Mellmann, who led the team that recently advised Guinea on the Simandou project, commented: “We are acutely aware of the challenges many communities in Guinea face, so, given the close ties we have built with the nation, we are proud to support WFP help vulnerable families access food, increase livelihoods and create a brighter future for the next generation”.
WFW Head of Responsible Business Dean Lloyd added: “As part of WFW’s commitment to responsible business, partnering with organisations like WFP to help address key social issues relevant to our firm, sectors and communities is important. I feel privileged that our contribution will play such a key role in improving the retention rate and academic performance of students while supporting their mothers’ economic empowerment”.
WFP Guinea Country Director Dr Hyoung-Joon Lim said: “We are excited to partner with Watson Farley & Williams LLP on this vital project. This support comes at a critical time for children and families in Guinea. By combining our efforts, we can make a significant impact on the lives of students and their families. Investing in nutritious school meals and empowering women farmers help tackle the root causes of hunger, giving children—especially girls—a better chance to learn, thrive and build a brighter future”.
