VOA常速英语2017--美国助力非洲消除贫穷

Hunger is a result of poverty, but it also causes poverty. People who do not have sufficient food and nutrition are less able to escape from poverty. In many countries women, although they do much of the farming, lack access to training, credit or land. Conflict, poor or corrupt¹ management of natural resources, displacement² of small farmers by natural disasters; and financial and economic crises that eliminate jobs at the lowest levels, all contribute to creating conditions that push the poorest into hunger.

饥饿与贫穷互为因果。没有足够的食物、得不到充分营养的人比一般人更难摆脱贫困。很多国家的女性虽然承担着大部分农务，但却有培训、信用和土地缺失的问题。冲突、对自然资源的不力管理或腐败管理、由于自然灾害而流离失所的小农；财务和经济危机让就业率下降到最低水平。上述这些问题都将最贫苦人群堕入饥饿创造了条件。

To break this vicious cycle, the United States launched, in 2010, the Feed the Future Initiative, which aims to reduce global hunger, poverty, and undernutrition by focusing on smallholder farmers, increasing investments in agriculture and supporting country-owned plans for improving food security and nutrition while generating opportunities for economic growth and trade.

为了打破这种恶性循环，美国于2010年发起了《未来粮食保障计划》，该计划旨在减少全球饥饿、贫穷和营养不良的情况，方式是专注于小农户、增加农业投资、支持国有计划以提升粮食安全与营养情况，同时为经贸发展创造机会。

Back then, the U.S. Government selected 19 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to participate in the initiative, based on 5 criteria³. Since 2010, Feed the Future has helped 9 million people living in the participating countries, pull themselves out of poverty.

2010年时，美国政府选择了非洲、亚洲、拉丁美洲的19个国家来加入该计划，前提是基于5个标准。自2010年起，《未来粮食保障计划》已助力900万生活在这些参加国的人民，让他们脱离了贫困。

The passage of the U.S. Global Food Security Act of 2016 endorsed⁴ Feed the Future's approach and ushered⁵ in a new era of U.S. Government global food security investment. A new, corresponding global food security strategy developed by the U.S. Government is guiding Feed the Future's work as the initiative enters its second phase.

美国全球粮食安全法(Global Food Security Act)的通过不仅支持了《未来粮食保障计划》，还开启了美国政府全球粮食安全投资的新时代。相应地，美国政府制定了新的全球粮食安全策略，该策略旨在对《未来粮食保障计划》的第二阶段进行指导。

On August 31st, USAID Administrator⁶ Mark Green announced that Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda were selected to participate in this new phase of Feed the Future.

8月31日，美国国际开发署的马克 格林宣布，孟加拉国、埃塞俄比亚、加纳、危地马拉、洪都拉斯、肯尼亚、马里、尼泊尔、尼日尔、尼日利亚、塞内加尔、乌干达被选中参加《未来粮食保障计划》的第二阶段。

With the selection of these 12 countries, the second phase of Feed the Future will be focusing its efforts on promoting long-term, sustainable development that brings partners together to help people harness the power of smart agriculture to jumpstart their local economies and lift themselves out of poverty, said Administrator Green.

这12个国家选出来之后，《未来粮食保障计划》的第二阶段将专注于促进长期的可持续发展，通过这样的发展将各个伙伴聚集在一起，帮助大家通过智能农业的力量来点燃当地经济发展，让人民脱离贫穷，格林如是说道。

By equipping people with the tools to feed themselves over the long term, Feed the Future is addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. This long-term investment builds communities that are more resilient to drought, famine and other natural disasters, and less dependent on emergency food assistance.

通过授之以渔的方式教会人们在长期时间内能够自给自足，《未来粮食保障计划》正在消除饥饿与贫穷的根本症结所在。这种长期投资构建出来的社群对旱灾、饥荒和其他自然灾害更有抵抗力，对应急粮食援助的依赖也会更低。

1 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

2 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

3 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

4 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。