Idris Elba to support poor farmers

Days after recovering from coronavirus, Idris Elba has launched a new United Nations fund to help farmers in poorer nations.

The actor on Monday called on richer economies to provide aid to prevent “needless hunger and suffering” stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Elba and his wife, model and activist Sabrina Dhowre Elba, gave their support to a fund set up by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to help stop economic shocks caused by COVID-19 triggering a global food crisis.

The couple, who was also designated as goodwill ambassadors for IFAD on Monday, contracted the virus themselves in March although reportedly only suffered mild symptoms.

“The world’s advanced economies are in the midst of this pandemic right now and, of course, they must do everything they can to help their own people,” said Elba, 47, in a statement.

“But the fact is, global action is also a matter of self-interest. As long as the pandemic is still raging anywhere, it will pose a threat everywhere,” he added, urging donors to ramp up financial support to keep rural food systems operating.

IFAD, a U.N. agency that promotes rural development, said it would put $40 million into the new fund to counter the effects of the pandemic on food production, market access and employment in developing countries.

It also aims to raise at least $200 million more from governments, foundations and the private sector.

In December, Elba and his wife visited rural Sierra Leone, where IFAD provided financial services to communities hit by Ebola.