On November 25, 2019, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green and Frank Mars, Member of the Board of Directors and Vice President for Sustainable Solutions of Mars, Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand cooperation to reduce global poverty sustainably.

This new partnership agreement between Mars and USAID builds on previous successful collaborations and will address improving farmers' incomes, building sustainable and nutritious food systems, and unlocking economic opportunities for women. One program is already underway in the Republic of Ghana to empower women in the shea sector, in support of the goals of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative to empower women economically across the developing world.

This new agreement will also leverage Mars' expertise and global reach to help smallholder farmers earn a better living and advance the mission of the U.S. Government's Feed the Future initiative to end global hunger. USAID works with the private sector to connect smallholder farmers to national and global markets and help countries move beyond the need for foreign assistance.