UAE-based Just Falafel, a fast food retail chain, has joined forces with World Food Programme (WFP), the UN’s humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, to raise $1 million over the next three years.

Over the next three years, $500 will be donated to WFP for every Just Falafel franchise that opens in any location around the world. The new franchisees will be encouraged to match the donation as well, doubling the impact to feed twice as many people through this initiative, a statement said.

Almost 1,000 franchises are projected to open before the end of 2016.

Hunger and malnutrition are the number one health risk worldwide - greater than Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Nearly 900 million people around the world do not have enough to eat to lead active and healthy lives, including millions of people in the Middle East, said a statement.

“One in eight people in the world are undernourished. As a socially responsible organization, giving back to the community is deeply rooted in our company ethos. Our partnership with WFP underscores our commitment to assisting those in need”, said Mohamad Bitar, founder & managing director.

“This is a great act of generosity that will help people all over the world who must contend with the hardship of hunger in their daily lives,” said Ashraf Hamouda, WFP’s regional head of private partnerships & business development. “We know how to solve hunger, but we can’t do it alone. Partnerships like this one are essential to reaching the goal of ending hunger in our lifetimes.”

Social media traction will to be a major factor to help the company’s drive towards raising awareness about hunger, as they continue to promote the opportunities that are available to new franchisees, a statement said. - TradeArabia News Service