Jean Sung: Hello, and welcome to another episode of Profiles of Purpose series where we explore the remarkable journeys of individuals who are making a significant impact on our world. My name is Jean Sung, and I'm head of the Philanthropy Center for Asia J.P. Morgan. Today I am honored to be joined by Mrs. Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Program.
Cindy McCain: I'm so happy to be on this program, because J.P. Morgan has really been so beneficial and so active on issues that really mean the most for our world and the future of our world.
Jean Sung: Given your role at the World Food Program, who do you see as the most significant challenges to global food security today, particularly in light of the geopolitical conflicts and climate change?
Cindy McCain: I think people are our own worst enemies. I think in many cases, people choose to either not listen to the warnings that we give about climate change and about the issues surrounding that.
Cindy McCain: But I also think that without heading those warnings, then we can't mitigate what's going to happen. And so those of us who work in this arena and work in, in not just food, but food related issues, which water is a large part of and, and others, we have to really be very careful about how we, how we operate and make sure that we, that, that it's all one voice in terms of how we operate.
Cindy McCain: Honestly, I think it's countries and regions that don't necessarily heed the warning, or if they do heed the warning, they don't act on it. And climate change is very real and as is, you know, the issue surrounding water and the various things that occur when, as a result of climate change.
Cindy McCain: And so I would think that, in my opinion, it it's just all of us working together and trying to heed the warnings and more importantly, acting on those warnings. You know, listening and talking about it is one thing, but actually acting on it is something else. And so, climate change is a big deal. And we, we have to work, we have to act on it. We do.
Jean Sung: I think also what strikes me, very often is people talk about innovation. People talk about, you know, Al and technology. How this is supposed to be affecting all of us. How do you think that the World Food Program can lead us to address the food insecurity on a global scale?
Cindy McCain: Well, first of all, when I came into this job about 15 months ago now, l knew I was going to have to work with ai, work with science and technology, work on innovation, because we can't, business as usual won't work in this arena. It simply won't. And so being able to use those tech, not just the technologies, but the, the surrounding, innovations that occur as a part of that is part of what we should be doing anyway.
Cindy McCain: Because the only way we're going to, to get ahead of this and be able to work together as a global body, is to do just that and make sure that we can work on issues that make the most.
Cindy McCain: Now, by that, what do I mean? So, science and technology and innovation are all part of this. There's different ways to work on, on climate change. It's not just climate change and in terms of what we're talking about.
Cindy McCain: But it's also about how do, so what do we do? So that we can predict problems in the climate that we can, once we predict them, how do we mitigate it? If it happens, what do we, how do we, how do we arm our farmers and our folks to be able to work in the arena where there is a lot of climate change issues and things that are going to affect the kind of crops.
Cindy McCain: What crops do they plant? Should they plant different crops? It's a whole myriad of things that we work with in terms of that, and working within that arena with climate change. But with our science and technology add, folks and making sure that we do more. I mean, I'm not a scientist, nor am I a climatologist, but I know I’ve got to do something. And so, so in terms of what we do at World Food Program, I have to include every absolute aspect that we can to make sure that our farmers and our folks that are in the field, that are trying to work, to do the very best they can to feed their communities, have every retool they have at their fingertips to be able to work on this.
Cindy McCain: And part one of the things we do also is being, when I talk about predicting climate, is giving them the tools. Our smartphones are really brilliant. For me, so being able to arm our farmers with the kinds of technologies within this little iPhone that they have, or this little phone that they have is just, it, it can change lives.
Cindy McCain: And so that's where, what we're working on very hard at WFP and how we, how we hope to enter into the future, arming our farmers and our folks within the field in terms of even our emergency groups that do it in the best way we can with every tool that they can have to make sure that this can work, for them and for their communities.
Jean Sung: Have you seen, any kind of significant change, you know, since you've been leading the movement? You know, can you cite one example that we can say, aha, that's a good example. And maybe not only in a big agricultural field, but maybe me as a personal, individual, I can also do something about it.
Cindy McCain: Well, you know, one of the areas that we work in is Zambia. And why do I bring up Zambia? Zambia has made some incredible innovations and incredible op, they, they produce a lot of opportunities for their farmers, because climate change has obliterated that country. And so, so with, with the kinds of tools that we're working with and other organizations are working with, we've given, we have given the folks in Zambia the opportunity to not just realize they can't always plant the same crops.
Cindy McCain: And by that, so what does that mean? It means water, you know, water absorbent crops, crops that won't thrive in, in climates that are much harsher than they were Mm-Hmm. So giving them not just the tools, but the seeds or the tools in terms of the water resources, on the ground, all those things are very important. And so it's, it's an overall look at how we operate in a region, and we can no longer do business as usual.
Cindy McCain: And so for us, and I think for, for donors and for people that really want to be involved in this, in the climate change issue, it's very important to realize that people are really trying, countries are trying to do the best they can. And, and countries like Zambia and others really need our help in terms of not just what we're doing, but how we do it, and can we continue to do it. And all. And they're, they're a great example because I'm seeing some good things come out of Zambia, which is exciting. It's, I always love, I love good news. I don't always get good news. So it's, for me, it's been great.
Jean Sung: How do you spend your time? How do you kind of say, now I'm going to focus on Zambia, I'm going to focus of creating innovative approach, or help these farmers to be able to develop something that, that people won't go hungry. Yeah. Because we know when people hungry, a lot of negative things can happen.
Cindy McCain: Bad things happen.
Jean Sung: And if we want positive future, and your favorite line is, we’ve got to jump into the arena. So how do you, you as a person, as a personal approach, kind of develop this mission and say, you know, this is what drives me, and I think it should be driving us in the same kind of positive way.
Cindy McCain: Doing what we do at WP, it involves not just changing lives, which is what we were just talking about, but saving lives. And a lot of what we do is about saving lives. And so each day, I have to say, there are days I wake up and think, I don't know that I can do the same more. There's too much going on. There's too many issues. There's too many harsh realities in the world. But the, the truth is, we have to do it. We have, we have to, some of us really have to be a part of this. And so each day when I wake up, I take a, take a look at where we're at, what's happening, today's message or what, whatever's going on today. And I, and I try to move. forward, but it's, I have to say the, the world is on fire. And that's something that we have to, as folks that wan to be a part of all of this in whatever way. it is. It's very important that we make sure that we continue to be part of this. We can't just give up. And though there are days, I'm sure all of you have had those days, but I mean, there are days where I think, oh my God, I'm done. I can't do this anymore. It's too hard. And it's not too hard because we have to do it. And so, so what I do each day is remind myself the importance of what, what we do at WFP and the importance of how we do it, more importantly, and why we do it.
Cindy McCain: Being a humanitarian, I believe is some of the most, is, is the best label you can give somebody, in my opinion, is, you know, that person's a humanitarian. And that means everything to me because it's, it's such an incredible title and it's also an incredible, role to be in, in terms of advocacy and making sure that we leave our planet at a better place, and we left it. And so, so for me anyway, it, it, it's a daily challenge though, because I'm faced with huge challenges every day. And it's a daily, it's daily for me.
Cindy McCain: And I have to, I have to really remind myself, you know, and occasionally I'll go, well, what would John McCain do in this situation? I admit that. And so I try to talk to him on a daily basis. Sounds weird. I know. But, but, you know, it is because there's a lot that we have to do in a lot that we have to look to as we do these jobs and as we take our place on the planet and try to make it a better place. So, I just, it's a daily, for me, it's daily. And, I'm only human and I try to do the best I can.
Jean Sung: That's great advice. Do every day the best we can. I mean, we certainly don't have a compass and say, you know, this is changed tomorrow.
Jean Sung: Let me let ask you this final question, because I know you know Asia well.
Jean Sung: When I look at Asia, our own backyard, Southeast Asia in particular, we've got many developing economies, and we've got people who are short of food.
Cindy McCain: Yeah.
Jean Sung: The nutrition is bad, and Malaysia, one in four child children suffer stunting.
Jean Sung: How do we, without pointing fingers, how do you see the stimulation or the influence of bigger countries, more developed countries and say, you know, we are in this together. Because if the smaller countries, if the weaker countries can rise up, then everybody's better off. How do you see that?
Cindy McCain: You know, what I tell everyone when I speak to people around the world, and when I, I certainly speak to my own community, which is our people in the field.
Cindy McCain: I remind them that governments can't do it all. It's going to take all of us to do this. And this is private sector. This is private communities. Private has to be a part of this because we can't rely on governments, completely anymore. Because they can't, it is too big. The problem's too big. And so what I like to tell people is, you've got to be a part of this. You have to be I part of making sure that we can make this place a better, make the world a better place.
Cindy McCain: Now, what do I mean by that? In the case of stunting in Southeast Asia, you're, it's a very real issue.
Cindy McCain: And you're, you're also facing that particular region with a rice shortage, shortage. We thought you're via rice, rice shortage in Southeast Asia, but there is, and so. So making sure that we can work together to make sure that rice is not just the option. You know, that we, that there's more than rice, rice to be held and that we can grow.
Cindy McCain: And that regions of the world can also be, helpful in terms of giving rice and producing rice and making sure that rice and especially fortified rice I'll use as well. So it's all of us working together. It's making sure that we can remind each other the importance of what we do. And why we do it. And how and why we have to do it.
Cindy McCain: We can't just turn our backs on this. It's one thing to say there's a problem, and then there's another thing to actually act on it. So I encourage all of our folks, not just our, our country donors, but our private donors that we have to, to stay involved and be involved, because it's their problem too. It's not just our problem.
Cindy McCain: It's not WPS problem, it's everybody's problem. And. So making sure that we're all part of this and acting on it is really, really important. So, you know, I personally believe l've always lived by that.
Cindy McCain: I have always felt like it was always all of our problems, but and working together is the best way out of it, but making sure that everyone understands the reality of it too. And that, and it's very much that, that the case, certainly and not just your region of the world, but, but, but the regions where we are short of water, climate change is inhibiting. We have, we don't have as much as we had, or it's not quite the quality that we used to have.
Cindy McCain: It's very important. Yeah.
Jean Sung: If you had a magic wand and you say, this is the one thing I want to do. Yeah. What would that be?
Cindy McCain: Oh, the one thing I'd want to do would alleviate the world of hunger. Hunger is such a, you mentioned stunting in Southeast Asia. Hunger, especially with regards to children, is really, really devastating because we we're looking at generations of children now that have not had the opportunities that we had and will not have the opportunities because they don't have the kind of growth, physical growth that we had. So, I think if I could do anything, I would alleviate hunger.
Cindy McCain: It's such a mitigating factor in everything that occurs on the, on the planet. You know, you talk about a place like Sudan or Yemen or other places like that. A large part of why, why things are going on the way they are is because they're hungry.
Jean Sung: And yeah.
Cindy McCain: So being able to not just feed, but give them the tools to feed themselves is what we do and why we do what we do. And so, to me, it's very important that we stay engaged and be engaged and encourage other members of our world community to be involved in this. I guess the old Chinese saying also, if you got a belly that's full, then your mind is also full.
Jean Sung: Your mind is full. You That's right. Your Mind is full.
Cindy McCain: Right.
Jean Sung: And you have no time for any negative thoughts.
Jean Sung: Thank you, Cindy, so much for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. Your dedication to alleviating global hunger is truly inspiring. And I know our audience has gained valuable perspectives from your words.
Jean Sung: As we continue to navigate the complexities and the multi-dimensions of food security and humanitarian aid, your leadership at the World Food Program serves as a powerful beacon and a reminder of the impact that dedicated individuals can have on the world.
Jean Sung: Thank you so much for your time and for the incredible work that you do. Thank you.
Cindy McCain: That's so kind. Thank you so much.
Jean Sung: Hello, and welcome to another episode of Profiles of Purpose series where we explore the remarkable journeys of individuals who are making a significant impact on our world. My name is Jean Sung, and I'm head of the Philanthropy Center for Asia J.P. Morgan. Today I am honored to be joined by Mrs. Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Program.
Cindy McCain: I'm so happy to be on this program, because J.P. Morgan has really been so beneficial and so active on issues that really mean the most for our world and the future of our world.
Jean Sung: Given your role at the World Food Program, who do you see as the most significant challenges to global food security today, particularly in light of the geopolitical conflicts and climate change?
Cindy McCain: I think people are our own worst enemies. I think in many cases, people choose to either not listen to the warnings that we give about climate change and about the issues surrounding that.
Cindy McCain: But I also think that without heading those warnings, then we can't mitigate what's going to happen. And so those of us who work in this arena and work in, in not just food, but food related issues, which water is a large part of and, and others, we have to really be very careful about how we, how we operate and make sure that we, that, that it's all one voice in terms of how we operate.
Cindy McCain: Honestly, I think it's countries and regions that don't necessarily heed the warning, or if they do heed the warning, they don't act on it. And climate change is very real and as is, you know, the issue surrounding water and the various things that occur when, as a result of climate change.
Cindy McCain: And so I would think that, in my opinion, it it's just all of us working together and trying to heed the warnings and more importantly, acting on those warnings. You know, listening and talking about it is one thing, but actually acting on it is something else. And so, climate change is a big deal. And we, we have to work, we have to act on it. We do.
Jean Sung: I think also what strikes me, very often is people talk about innovation. People talk about, you know, Al and technology. How this is supposed to be affecting all of us. How do you think that the World Food Program can lead us to address the food insecurity on a global scale?
Cindy McCain: Well, first of all, when I came into this job about 15 months ago now, l knew I was going to have to work with ai, work with science and technology, work on innovation, because we can't, business as usual won't work in this arena. It simply won't. And so being able to use those tech, not just the technologies, but the, the surrounding, innovations that occur as a part of that is part of what we should be doing anyway.
Cindy McCain: Because the only way we're going to, to get ahead of this and be able to work together as a global body, is to do just that and make sure that we can work on issues that make the most.
Cindy McCain: Now, by that, what do I mean? So, science and technology and innovation are all part of this. There's different ways to work on, on climate change. It's not just climate change and in terms of what we're talking about.
Cindy McCain: But it's also about how do, so what do we do? So that we can predict problems in the climate that we can, once we predict them, how do we mitigate it? If it happens, what do we, how do we, how do we arm our farmers and our folks to be able to work in the arena where there is a lot of climate change issues and things that are going to affect the kind of crops.
Cindy McCain: What crops do they plant? Should they plant different crops? It's a whole myriad of things that we work with in terms of that, and working within that arena with climate change. But with our science and technology add, folks and making sure that we do more. I mean, I'm not a scientist, nor am I a climatologist, but I know I’ve got to do something. And so, so in terms of what we do at World Food Program, I have to include every absolute aspect that we can to make sure that our farmers and our folks that are in the field, that are trying to work, to do the very best they can to feed their communities, have every retool they have at their fingertips to be able to work on this.
Cindy McCain: And part one of the things we do also is being, when I talk about predicting climate, is giving them the tools. Our smartphones are really brilliant. For me, so being able to arm our farmers with the kinds of technologies within this little iPhone that they have, or this little phone that they have is just, it, it can change lives.
Cindy McCain: And so that's where, what we're working on very hard at WFP and how we, how we hope to enter into the future, arming our farmers and our folks within the field in terms of even our emergency groups that do it in the best way we can with every tool that they can have to make sure that this can work, for them and for their communities.
Jean Sung: Have you seen, any kind of significant change, you know, since you've been leading the movement? You know, can you cite one example that we can say, aha, that's a good example. And maybe not only in a big agricultural field, but maybe me as a personal, individual, I can also do something about it.
Cindy McCain: Well, you know, one of the areas that we work in is Zambia. And why do I bring up Zambia? Zambia has made some incredible innovations and incredible op, they, they produce a lot of opportunities for their farmers, because climate change has obliterated that country. And so, so with, with the kinds of tools that we're working with and other organizations are working with, we've given, we have given the folks in Zambia the opportunity to not just realize they can't always plant the same crops.
Cindy McCain: And by that, so what does that mean? It means water, you know, water absorbent crops, crops that won't thrive in, in climates that are much harsher than they were Mm-Hmm. So giving them not just the tools, but the seeds or the tools in terms of the water resources, on the ground, all those things are very important. And so it's, it's an overall look at how we operate in a region, and we can no longer do business as usual.
Cindy McCain: And so for us, and I think for, for donors and for people that really want to be involved in this, in the climate change issue, it's very important to realize that people are really trying, countries are trying to do the best they can. And, and countries like Zambia and others really need our help in terms of not just what we're doing, but how we do it, and can we continue to do it. And all. And they're, they're a great example because I'm seeing some good things come out of Zambia, which is exciting. It's, I always love, I love good news. I don't always get good news. So it's, for me, it's been great.
Jean Sung: How do you spend your time? How do you kind of say, now I'm going to focus on Zambia, I'm going to focus of creating innovative approach, or help these farmers to be able to develop something that, that people won't go hungry. Yeah. Because we know when people hungry, a lot of negative things can happen.
Cindy McCain: Bad things happen.
Jean Sung: And if we want positive future, and your favorite line is, we’ve got to jump into the arena. So how do you, you as a person, as a personal approach, kind of develop this mission and say, you know, this is what drives me, and I think it should be driving us in the same kind of positive way.
Cindy McCain: Doing what we do at WP, it involves not just changing lives, which is what we were just talking about, but saving lives. And a lot of what we do is about saving lives. And so each day, I have to say, there are days I wake up and think, I don't know that I can do the same more. There's too much going on. There's too many issues. There's too many harsh realities in the world. But the, the truth is, we have to do it. We have, we have to, some of us really have to be a part of this. And so each day when I wake up, I take a, take a look at where we're at, what's happening, today's message or what, whatever's going on today. And I, and I try to move. forward, but it's, I have to say the, the world is on fire. And that's something that we have to, as folks that wan to be a part of all of this in whatever way. it is. It's very important that we make sure that we continue to be part of this. We can't just give up. And though there are days, I'm sure all of you have had those days, but I mean, there are days where I think, oh my God, I'm done. I can't do this anymore. It's too hard. And it's not too hard because we have to do it. And so, so what I do each day is remind myself the importance of what, what we do at WFP and the importance of how we do it, more importantly, and why we do it.
Cindy McCain: Being a humanitarian, I believe is some of the most, is, is the best label you can give somebody, in my opinion, is, you know, that person's a humanitarian. And that means everything to me because it's, it's such an incredible title and it's also an incredible, role to be in, in terms of advocacy and making sure that we leave our planet at a better place, and we left it. And so, so for me anyway, it, it, it's a daily challenge though, because I'm faced with huge challenges every day. And it's a daily, it's daily for me.
Cindy McCain: And I have to, I have to really remind myself, you know, and occasionally I'll go, well, what would John McCain do in this situation? I admit that. And so I try to talk to him on a daily basis. Sounds weird. I know. But, but, you know, it is because there's a lot that we have to do in a lot that we have to look to as we do these jobs and as we take our place on the planet and try to make it a better place. So, I just, it's a daily, for me, it's daily. And, I'm only human and I try to do the best I can.
Jean Sung: That's great advice. Do every day the best we can. I mean, we certainly don't have a compass and say, you know, this is changed tomorrow.
Jean Sung: Let me let ask you this final question, because I know you know Asia well.
Jean Sung: When I look at Asia, our own backyard, Southeast Asia in particular, we've got many developing economies, and we've got people who are short of food.
Cindy McCain: Yeah.
Jean Sung: The nutrition is bad, and Malaysia, one in four child children suffer stunting.
Jean Sung: How do we, without pointing fingers, how do you see the stimulation or the influence of bigger countries, more developed countries and say, you know, we are in this together. Because if the smaller countries, if the weaker countries can rise up, then everybody's better off. How do you see that?
Cindy McCain: You know, what I tell everyone when I speak to people around the world, and when I, I certainly speak to my own community, which is our people in the field.
Cindy McCain: I remind them that governments can't do it all. It's going to take all of us to do this. And this is private sector. This is private communities. Private has to be a part of this because we can't rely on governments, completely anymore. Because they can't, it is too big. The problem's too big. And so what I like to tell people is, you've got to be a part of this. You have to be I part of making sure that we can make this place a better, make the world a better place.
Cindy McCain: Now, what do I mean by that? In the case of stunting in Southeast Asia, you're, it's a very real issue.
Cindy McCain: And you're, you're also facing that particular region with a rice shortage, shortage. We thought you're via rice, rice shortage in Southeast Asia, but there is, and so. So making sure that we can work together to make sure that rice is not just the option. You know, that we, that there's more than rice, rice to be held and that we can grow.
Cindy McCain: And that regions of the world can also be, helpful in terms of giving rice and producing rice and making sure that rice and especially fortified rice I'll use as well. So it's all of us working together. It's making sure that we can remind each other the importance of what we do. And why we do it. And how and why we have to do it.
Cindy McCain: We can't just turn our backs on this. It's one thing to say there's a problem, and then there's another thing to actually act on it. So I encourage all of our folks, not just our, our country donors, but our private donors that we have to, to stay involved and be involved, because it's their problem too. It's not just our problem.
Cindy McCain: It's not WPS problem, it's everybody's problem. And. So making sure that we're all part of this and acting on it is really, really important. So, you know, I personally believe l've always lived by that.
Cindy McCain: I have always felt like it was always all of our problems, but and working together is the best way out of it, but making sure that everyone understands the reality of it too. And that, and it's very much that, that the case, certainly and not just your region of the world, but, but, but the regions where we are short of water, climate change is inhibiting. We have, we don't have as much as we had, or it's not quite the quality that we used to have.
Cindy McCain: It's very important. Yeah.
Jean Sung: If you had a magic wand and you say, this is the one thing I want to do. Yeah. What would that be?
Cindy McCain: Oh, the one thing I'd want to do would alleviate the world of hunger. Hunger is such a, you mentioned stunting in Southeast Asia. Hunger, especially with regards to children, is really, really devastating because we we're looking at generations of children now that have not had the opportunities that we had and will not have the opportunities because they don't have the kind of growth, physical growth that we had. So, I think if I could do anything, I would alleviate hunger.
Cindy McCain: It's such a mitigating factor in everything that occurs on the, on the planet. You know, you talk about a place like Sudan or Yemen or other places like that. A large part of why, why things are going on the way they are is because they're hungry.
Jean Sung: And yeah.
Cindy McCain: So being able to not just feed, but give them the tools to feed themselves is what we do and why we do what we do. And so, to me, it's very important that we stay engaged and be engaged and encourage other members of our world community to be involved in this. I guess the old Chinese saying also, if you got a belly that's full, then your mind is also full.
Jean Sung: Your mind is full. You That's right. Your Mind is full.
Cindy McCain: Right.
Jean Sung: And you have no time for any negative thoughts.
Jean Sung: Thank you, Cindy, so much for sharing your insights and experiences with us today. Your dedication to alleviating global hunger is truly inspiring. And I know our audience has gained valuable perspectives from your words.
Jean Sung: As we continue to navigate the complexities and the multi-dimensions of food security and humanitarian aid, your leadership at the World Food Program serves as a powerful beacon and a reminder of the impact that dedicated individuals can have on the world.
Jean Sung: Thank you so much for your time and for the incredible work that you do. Thank you.
Cindy McCain: That's so kind. Thank you so much.
