Six Years To 2030: UN Calls For The Urgent Need To Address Global Hunger And Malnutrition

Global statistics show that efforts to eliminate all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) are falling short of expectations.

The UN says progress in many countries provides hope of the possibility of getting back on track towards hunger and malnutrition eradication. Photo Credit: The Conversation/Aleksandar Todorovic

As the world approaches 2030, a United Nations (UN) report asserts that the goal of eliminating hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1) remains unattainable.

Global statistics show that efforts to eliminate all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) are falling short of expectations. The reality that billions of people continue to lack access to enough, safe, and nutritious food emphasises the critical need for immediate action.

In preparation for the upcoming G20 conference in Brazil, a report authored by five UN agencies proposed that in order to end world hunger, changes in the way food security and nutrition are financed must be made.

According to the report, half of the world’s population—582 million people—will be chronically undernourished by the end of the decade if current trends persist.

“We are in a worse situation today than nine years ago when we launched the goal to eradicate hunger by 2030. I think we can do better to deliver this promise about living on a planet where no one is hungry,” said David Laborde, an economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization and one of the report’s authors, as quoted by DW.

Glimmers of Hope

According to the UN report, there have been encouraging developments in numerous nations, despite the generally dire situation. These isolated areas of development give optimism that the present tendencies can be reversed. Nations can endeavour to eradicate hunger and malnutrition by emphasising efficient policies, calculated investments, and all-encompassing laws.

The Need for Proper Financing

The UN reiterated that sufficient funding is essential to meeting targets for nutrition and food security. Although the need for more cash is widely acknowledged, agreement on how to define and monitor this additional spending has proven difficult to come by. This year’s report is noteworthy for providing a precise definition of funding for nutrition and food security as well as implementation guidelines.

Innovative Financing Tools and Reforms

The significance of changing the current funding architecture and utilising cutting-edge financing solutions is emphasised in the paper. To get the most impact, it suggests using these techniques effectively. To sustainably increase the required finance flows, it is imperative to establish a consistent definition and standard operating procedures for monitoring, assessing, and executing financing.