Hesat2030 welcomes the launch of the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty under the aegis of the Brazilian Presidency. This initiative brings a much-needed spotlight, at the highest political levels, on the double scourge of hunger and poverty. We also welcome the commitment of the many countries and organizations that have joined this initiative.
As the latest figures from the SOFI report show, we are failing to address food insecurity. After rising sharply from 2019 to 2021, global hunger has persisted at nearly the same level for the past three years and continues to affect 733 million people. Our inability to take action has a steep cost. According to the most recent estimates, ending hunger by 2030 will cost an additional USD 540 billion whereas our earlier projections made in Ceres2030 in 2020 had estimated an extra USD 330 billion.
Hesat2030 remains committed to ending hunger, nutritiously and sustainably. Our recent collaboration on a report, Ending hunger is possible: An income-generating approach through value addition, published by FAO and UNIDO, calls for ending hunger by focusing on driving growth in productivity and income in the agrifood sector. Such an approach is not only more efficient and socially cohesive, but also more resilient to climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and other planetary risks.
Hesat2030 also brings together initiatives, such as Avanzar2030 and the Zero Hunger Coalition, that align with our goal. Together, we leverage evidence-based research, innovative technologies and coordinated action to provide donor agencies and policy-makers with the resources and tools necessary to make informed and scientifically based decisions.
In the run up to the G20 Summit, Avanzar230 participated in the T20 Brazil Summit and co-organized a side-event which identified how knowledge and evidence from the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region can contribute to the ambitions of the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Its findings, to be published in February 2025, will be shared at the global level through its collaboration with Hesat2030 and the new G20 Global Alliance.
The Zero Hunger Coalition recently organized a webinar which brought together representatives from the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation and the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to discuss how these three initiatives can collaborate in support of Africa’s strategy for agrifood systems transformation over the next decade (CAADP3). Participants called for sharing experiences, streamlining coordination and investment, and creating new synergies.
We agree with these conclusions. By aligning our efforts and capitalizing on the current political momentum generated by Brazil, we can achieve our common goals – ending hunger and malnutrition, improving the livelihood of small producers and mitigating against further damage to our planet.
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