What is The Hunger Project?
The Hunger Project is an international nonprofit devoted to ending hunger sustainably by giving those in need the tools and power to ensure their own wellbeing and a healthy future for their children. The Hunger Project operates in 11 countries and is backed by Partner Countries in the developed world who fundraise and support developing country programs. The Hunger Project was established in 1977 in response to the new awareness raised about hunger by the Rome World Food Conference.
The Hunger Project was designed to be a ‘strategic’ organization that evolved in response to the changing battle against hunger. Three key concepts reinforce The Hunger Project’s fight to end poverty and hunger.
- Mobilizing people at the grassroots level to build self-reliance.
- Empowering women as key change agents.
- Forging partnerships with local government.
These elements support initiatives such as building community centers, creating a microfinance program, focusing on maternal and childhood nutrition, and battling HIV/AIDS.
Included in its key concepts is a focus on empowering women. The Hunger Project proudly espouses the belief that women effect positive and sustainable change. For instance, The Hunger Project’s branch in Australia leads numerous initiatives to provide women in villages in Africa, India, and Bangladesh with the ability to join together to successfully run businesses and become involved in local politics. As women develop leadership skills and develop a voice in the community, larger scale change becomes possible.
The Hunger Project not only leads anti-poverty and anti-hunger initiatives but also evaluates the results of these programs to provide involved organizations with useful data for better project implementation. The organization has a participatory monitoring and evaluation program and also hires external evaluators on occasion. The Hunger Project believes it is an integral part of fighting poverty and hunger to help communities assess their own programs to end hunger and evolve as necessary.
– Zoë Meroney
Sources: The Hunger Project, Daily Life
Photo: The Wild
