In a world where hunger kills more people each year than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined, Elon Musk’s bold proposition in October 2021 sparked an unusual yet critical conversation.
The tech billionaire, known for electrifying industries and aiming for Mars, turned his attention back to Earth when David Beasley, head of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), pleaded for billionaires to step up now “on a one-time basis.”
Beasley declared on CNN that “$6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally going to die if we don’t reach them. It’s not complicated.”
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Musk, never one to shy away from a public challenge, fired back on X (formerly Twitter): “If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.”
The audacious response was classic Musk – direct and laced with a demand for transparency. He stipulated that the WFP’s plan must include open-source accounting, ensuring the world could scrutinize every dollar.
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In a separate post on X, tagging Musk, Beasley clarified that while the funds wouldn’t end hunger entirely, they could prevent famine for millions on the brink of starvation. Rising to Musk’s challenge, the WFP presented a comprehensive plan to use $6.6 billion to provide urgent relief to 42 million people across 43 nations.
In the document shared by Beasley, the WFP explained exactly how the money would be allocated. The largest portion –$3.5 billion – was designated for purchasing and delivering food directly to those in need. Another $2 billion was set aside for cash and food vouchers, including transaction fees, to be distributed in areas where local markets could still function.
To ensure the aid was effective, $700 million would go toward managing new food programs tailored to each country’s unique conditions, prioritizing the most vulnerable populations. To maintain transparency and efficiency, the final $400 million was earmarked for operations management, administration, accountability and supply chain coordination.
