Brazil Spearheads Global Alliance Against Hunger In G20 Pre-Launch

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the pre-launch of a global alliance against hunger and poverty in Rio de Janeiro. He emphasised that this initiative is a top priority for Brazil's current G20 presidency. "Hunger is not just the result of external factors; it is, above all, the result of political choices. Today the world produces more than enough food to eradicate it. What is missing is creating the conditions for access to food," said Lula according to Agência Brasil.

The formal establishment of this alliance will occur later this year during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro from 18th to 19th November. Presidents of multilateral banks, foreign delegations, Brazilian ministers, and UN agency members attended the pre-launch event. The alliance aims to mobilise funds and knowledge to support policies and programmes combating inequality and poverty.

The alliance will be managed from a secretariat located at the Food and Agriculture Organisation headquarters in Rome and Brasilia until 2030. Brazil will cover half of its costs. Lula expressed gratitude to countries willing to contribute, explaining that existing global and regional resources would be redirected to each country's state policies rather than creating new funds.

World Bank President Ajay Banga supported the initiative during a bilateral conversation with Lula. The World Bank will be the lead knowledge partner for the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. "Put simply: hunger and poverty are intertwined. We need to take them on and work hard to rid our world of both," said Banga.

Marcelo Cândido da Silva, a history professor at the University of Sao Paulo, highlighted that food security issues are present across Brazil, from the Amazon to urban centres. This expertise positions Brazil well in global discussions on hunger.

Current State of Food Security

The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that around 733 million people faced hunger in 2023. This figure equates to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa. The report was released in Rio by QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, who praised Brazil for prioritising food security within the G20 agenda.

The report warns that achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger by 2030, is significantly off track. It noted that undernourishment levels are comparable to those seen in 2008-2009, setting progress back by 15 years.

Call for Action

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, stated that eradicating hunger is possible with adequate resources and political will. "A future free from hunger is possible if we can rally the resources and the political will needed to invest in proven long-term solutions. I call on G20 leaders to follow Brazil's example and prioritise ambitious global action on hunger and poverty," she said.

The theme for next year's report is "Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition." It stresses that achieving SDG 2 requires transforming agrifood systems, addressing inequalities, and ensuring affordable healthy diets for all.

Increased financing with clear definitions for food security investment is essential as per FAO's explanation accompanying the report's launch.

Lula also pointed out that spending on armaments rose by 7% last year, reaching $2.4 trillion. He added that reversing this trend is crucial for social justice and sustainable development.

With inputs from WAM