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5 Facts about Hunger in Tanzania

Hunger in TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a lower-middle-income country in East Africa, formed in 1964 through the union of Tanganyika and the Zanzibar archipelago. Its population is estimated to be over 67 million. Tanzania is a country that struggles with both hunger and poverty. The Global Hunger Index ranked Tanzania 94th out of 127 countries in 2024, with almost a quarter of the population undernourished and a level of hunger classified as Serious. The World Bank has reported absolute poverty at 42.9%–steady over the last decade, although approximately half what it was in 2000. 

Global Nutrition Standards

Consistent with its GHI hunger rating, the 2022 Global Nutrition Report noted that Tanzania was on course to meet only two of the 13 global nutrition targets: exclusive breastfeeding and childhood wasting. 

It has made some progress toward childhood stunting, low birth weight and anemia in women of reproductive age, but is off course on the remaining eight indicators. The country is suffering from the “triple burden of malnutrition,” the coexistence of undernutrition (stunting and wasting), micronutrient deficiencies (or hidden hunger) and overnutrition (overweight and obesity). 

Tanzania’s Poor Nutrition

In February 2024, USAID observed Tanzania’s continuing nutritional challenges, noting that they were driven by poverty, lack of diverse quality diets and poor infant and young children feeding practices, along with insufficient access to essential health services (including WASH—water, sanitation and hygiene). This is exacerbated by limited information, poor coordination among the government, NGOs, and communities and a shortage of professional support.

Other factors affecting hunger and nutrition are where one lives, increased demands from displaced persons and variable climate:

  • Rural vs Urban Differences. A 2024 University of Bonn study reported the highest nutritional deficiencies to be in Tanzania’s rural areas; this was a result of not eating enough, in addition to the diets being insufficiently diverse regarding healthy nutrients. Furthermore, in urban Dar es Salaam poor diets resulted from a reliance on heavily processed and ready-made foods. The healthiest areas were the so-called ‘secondary towns‘—urban centers with populations of 500,000 or fewer. 
  • Supporting Refugees. As of February 2023, Tanzania was hosting more than 247,000 refugees from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By the end of August 2024, there were still 233,257 displaced persons—refugees and asylum seekers. 
  • Impact of Climate. It was anticipated that 466,000 people (10% of the analyzed population) would face a high level of acute food insecurity from February to May 2025 because of climate conditions (dry spells, flooding) and high food prices, combined with limited opportunities for generating income. However, this would be an improvement over the previously assessed period, with increased rainfall and further expected improvement (reduced by half) for June to October 2025. 

Domestic Attention

  • In 2015, there was a commitment to revise the country’s food and nutrition policy and prepare a 10-year implementation strategy (2015/2016–2025/2026) that would include nutrition in sector-specific strategies or plans. 
  • The second National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan (NMNAP II) is a five-year plan (2021/22-2025/26) to address all forms of malnutrition, with a 2026 goal of a country where “Women, Men, Children, and Adolescents are better nourished and living healthier and more productive lives.” NMNAP II aims to reduce the triple burden of nutrition through multisectoral intervention and community initiatives to increase financial investment, research, development and innovation and improved nutrition coordination. 
  • The Tanzania Investment and Consultant Group Ltd. (TICGL) is an economic research and strategic advisory firm active in Tanzania and the East African region. In a September 2024 assessment, TICGL reported on the extent of Tanzania’s food insecurity (acute), the drivers of this insecurity (climate and economic pressures) and regional vulnerabilities. TICGL sees the food crises as challenges to sustainable economic growth and development, impacting agricultural productivity, inflation and economic stability, developing a healthy and productive workforce and attracting investment. These challenges need to be addressed to achieve the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), No Poverty (SDG 1) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8).  

International Support

  • U.S. foreign assistance. U.S. foreign assistance programs reached over 2.4 million people, 2018-2023, including support for small-scale food processors to develop and grow products that would increase the availability of foods that could reduce malnutrition. 
  • The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. GAIN is a Swiss-based U.N. initiative,  established in 2002 to tackle malnutrition. GAIN has been active in Tanzania since 2010, providing targeted technical, financial and policy support to key food system participants. These have included the government at all levels, the private sector, civil society, consumer groups and international and local development partners. 
  • The World Food Programme. WFP, active in Tanzania since 1963, estimates that 59% of Tanzanian families cannot afford a nutritious diet. Indeed, WFP delivers monthly food baskets to over 200,000 refugees, provides support for smallholder farmers and promotes reforestation, alternative energy solutions and landscape improvement. The organization also trains health workers, supplies nutrition equipment and tools and facilitates the design and implementation of sustainable school-meal programs that include establishing school gardens and climate-smart agricultural practices. 

Tanzania recognizes that addressing food insecurity and hunger is only the first step in improving quality of life. The domestic and international focus on nutrition in Tanzania is taking the next step.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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What to Know About Hunger in Switzerland

hunger in switzerlandSwitzerland is a well-off central European country with a high standard of living. It is one of the top 10 European economies in GDP per capita, with low unemployment and low inflation. Its estimated 2024 population was almost 8.9 million, with 74.2% living in urban areas. 

Switzerland’s high standard of living, however, comes with a high cost of living. The average total household expenditure in Switzerland can be two-to-three times higher than some other European cities in countries with similar standards of living. Switzerland boasts some of the highest salaries in Europe, but basic health and accident insurance are mandatory, monthly rent is relatively high, and transportation and grocery costs are significant.

Hunger and Nutrition in Switzerland

The level of hunger in Switzerland is below the threshold for the country’s inclusion in the Global Hunger Index. But hunger and nutrition are two different things. In the 2022 Global Nutrition Report, Switzerland was reported as being “on course” to meet only one of the global nutrition targets (for which data was available)—women’s diabetes. It was “off course” for all MIYCN (maternal, infant and young child nutrition) targets, and “off course” with limited progress regarding diet-related noncommunicable disease targets. There was no progress or worsening regarding anemia in women of childbearing age and low birth weight. 

A small 2021 study of older medical patients found a “significant association” between age and food insecurity, with food insecurity contributing to malnutrition in approximately 7% of the patients studied. The objective in identifying such pockets of food insecurity was to enable the development of interventions for at-risk populations.

Poverty, Hunger and Welfare in Switzerland

Even with a high standard of living, not everyone in Switzerland is well off. The rate of poverty is low, but not nonexistent; in 2023, the poverty rate was 8.1%. The poverty rate was higher for the employed in 2023 than it had been in the previous two years, but half what it was for the unemployed. In addition to the unemployed, single people and single-parent households with young children were particularly hard hit. 

One reason hunger in Switzerland is rare is because Swiss welfare payments cover necessities such as food, clothing, housing, health insurance and other personal needs. Social benefits spending was $2.78 billion in 2022, falling for the fourth year in a row. The decrease resulted from fewer recipients, as well as lower expenditure per recipient. Almost 250,000 people received a financial benefit on at least one occasion in 2023, with urban regions seeing a higher rate of assistance. (Welfare is distributed at the cantonal level, with local benefits preceding financial social assistance.) 

Global Hunger and Food Security: Switzerland’s Role

While hunger in Switzerland itself is not much of an issue, the country’s constitution includesa commitment to local and global sustainable food systems, important, especially because the country imports 50% of its food. Switzerland is involved in many related international efforts, contributing to food security globally.

These activities include:

  • Research: Switzerland participates in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research: (CGIAR), a global partnership for agricultural research and one of Switzerland’s 15 priority organizations for global development. CGIAR supports research in 80 countries on food quality and sustainable natural resource management. The goal of their research is to stabilize agricultural production and food supply for a rising global population. The Swiss Federal Council renewed its contributions to CGIAR in 2022, pledging to contribute $66 million in the 2022-2024 period.
  • Policy: Switzerland is active in the Committee on World Food Security, a governance mechanism established in 1974 to achieve global food security and nutrition through global “policy convergence,” or the development of similar or even identical policies across countries over time. Its 52nd plenary session in October 2024 updated for 2024-2027 its CFS Multi-Year Programme of Work. The platform for this work is biannual meetings to achieve “collaborative governance for coordinated policy responses to [the] emerging global food crisis towards sustainable agriculture and food system transformation.” The projected policy products are reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition (2024), strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems (2025), building resilient food systems (2026), focusing on indigenous peoples’ food and knowledge systems and traditional practices (2027), followed by sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
  • International Events: Switzerland’s dedication to supporting other countries in facing food insecurity was obvious in its World Food Week celebrations in 2024. These events included a forum offered by FAO Liaison Offices focused on empowering girls and women to lead the change towards agrifood systems. Other events included a Right to Food Dialogue, a U.N. press briefing, posters, and local celebrations. More than a dozen food safety conferences will be held in Switzerland in 2025.
  • Development Activities: The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been active since the 1970s, coordinating Swiss Confederation humanitarian aid and development activities with Eastern Europe. SDC’s focus on the entire food system, “from farm to fork,” is to ensure adequate, sufficient and good-quality food for all. This includes support for projects that prioritize functioning local markets and long-term balanced and sustainable nutrition. The agency has research partnerships with Swiss universities and private companies, collaborates with farmers’ organizations and emphasizes the role of young people and women in food production and nutrition.
  • Financial Support: Switzerland contributed almost $48 million to the World Food Programme in June 2020, and over $800,000 to WFP assistance to smallholder rural farmers in Sri Lanka in 2023. The Swiss 2025 annual commitment of food assistance to the global Food Assistance Convention is $50 million. This six-member convention (Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Japan, Switzerland and the U.S.) was initiated in 2013, preceded by multilateral cooperation instruments operating since 1967. FAC provides a broad array of food assistance products and activities, including vouchers and cash, with a significant focus on nutrition.

A small country known for the care of its own, Switzerland plays a large role in the care of those beyond its own borders.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About Hunger in Sudan

Hunger in SudanWith more than half the population facing food insecurity, Sudan is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent history. However, with the help of community organizations and foreign aid, there is hope for addressing hunger in Sudan.

The Current Situation of Hunger in Sudan

Despite being the only officially confirmed famine in the world, Sudan has received very little help from foreign aid and a lack of media coverage. In an interview with Save the Children, comedian Ola Labib highlights how the media has ignored the conflict and subsequent famine because Western culture has normalized African pain. However, what is happening is far from normal, and mass desensitization to this scale of suffering is terrifying.

About 8.5 million people in Sudan are facing food insecurity at an emergency level, and 25.6 million people are facing it acutely. And yet, despite the international community abandoning them, civilians have demonstrated commendable resilience by creating Emergency Response Rooms (WhatsApp group chats that coordinate humanitarian aid) to combat widespread hunger in Sudan. For example, the Khartoum State Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to feed people across the Khartoum state. Since April 2023, the Khartoum State ERRs have united existing support systems to form a network of decolonized aid, consisting of 162 base ERRs and 4,000 volunteers across all seven districts of Khartoum. In recognition of their incredible work, the Nobel Peace Prize committee has nominated them for the 2025 award.

What Caused the Crisis of Hunger in Sudan?

Sudan’s famine is a multi-layered issue, with many factors such as drought, flooding and economic collapse coming into play. However, although changing weather patterns have exacerbated hunger in Sudan, humans can also cause modern famines. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has largely caused Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. After co-leading a two-year coup, rising tensions between Gen Fattah al-Burham (SAF) and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (RSF) sparked Sudan’s third civil war. During this conflict, both sides have actively blocked access to aid and looted resources from civilians, utilizing hunger in Sudan as a weapon of war. Evidence also shows that the RSF, which originated from the Janjaweed militia and receives partial funding from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has committed genocide in the region of Darfur and used rape as a weapon of war.

Organizations Supporting Sudan

There are many organizations addressing hunger in Sudan, including the World Food Programme (WFP), Action Against Hunger and Save the Children. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in Sudan since 1989. By providing emergency food packages, cash-based assistance and nutrition supplements, as well as supporting agricultural workers to increase production and prevent losses, the WFP has assisted more than 13 million people since the conflict began in 2023. Similarly, Save the Children has been working in Sudan since 1983 and has helped 3.8 million people since 2023 by providing emergency care nutrition programs and cash transfers for livelihood support. Meanwhile, Action Against Hunger started working in Sudan in 2017 to provide health and nutrition interventions. The organization also established community protection networks for women and girls at risk of sexual violence, supporting 44 health facilities and seven hospitals and helping 180,000 people last year alone.

In addition to more well-known charities, Kids for Kids, with support from Dame Joanna Lumley, is a brilliant organization that implements sustainable change by speaking to families in Sudan about what would help them most, and then using this information to direct their projects. Some of these projects include kitchen kits, goat loans and delivering seeds. Kids for Kids has worked with 110 Sudanese villages so far, helping 590,000 people in total.

Activists and Journalists Raising Awareness

In addition to NGOs supporting those experiencing conflict, Sudanese journalists and activists have been raising awareness about hunger in Sudan. African correspondent for Sky News, Yousra Elbagir posts excellent content on Sudan. Her recent coverage of her return home to the capital, Khartoum, is particularly moving. Elbagir’s personal narratives have humanized the crisis, ensuring that the suffering of Sudanese does not just become another statistic. While it is difficult to document exact numbers regarding her impact on funding and aid, her reporting has successfully mobilized people to promote awareness about the famine. Sara Elhassan is another excellent journalist utilizing her social media platforms to make people aware of hunger in Sudan. Her easy-to-follow overviews of the war and its impact on civilians, as well as daily updates on the conflict, ensure readers stay informed and engaged with the crisis.

A Call for Action

Despite the scale of devastation and hunger in Sudan, it is important to recognize the work that community-led action and organizations are delivering on the front line. ERRs, community kitchens and charities in Sudan have created a network of aid that demonstrates human resilience. With support from the international community, their impact could be amplified so that there is no more silence regarding hunger in Sudan.

– Clodagh Dowson

Clodagh is based in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in Taiwan

Hunger in TaiwanTaiwan is an independent island nation off the coast of mainland China. Taiwan has struggled with its status since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s troops were defeated in the civil war in China by the Communists and Chiang fled to the island with his supporters. Chiang’s dictatorship reigned until his death, followed by a transition to democracy that began in the 1980s and led to its first elections in 1996. Although Chiang claimed to represent the whole of China, in 1971 the U.N. recognized Beijing as the seat of China’s government. Today, only 12 countries recognize Taiwan. Taiwan has not formally declared its independence from China, although it behaves as an independent democracy. 

Taiwan’s estimated 2024 population was almost 23.6 million, over 80% urbanized. It is a high-income economy, one of East Asia’s economic “Tigers.” Despite the political ambiguity, Taiwan manages to maintain economic ties to mainland China. Indeed, China has been a “major investor”  there for the past two decades. 

Hunger, Food Sufficiency and Dependence on Imports

The annual global hunger and nutrition indices do not provide comparative hunger and nutrition data for Taiwan. Often referred to as the Taiwan Province of China, statistics for Taiwan are likely incorporated into references to mainland China.

However, there are some internal measures related to hunger. In October 2024, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported that the country’s 2023 food self-sufficiency rate had dropped to just over 30%, reportedly the lowest in 18 years. 

Several factors have an impact on Taiwan’s food self-sufficiency, not the least of which is the “westernization” of the Taiwanese diet. As the economy and incomes have improved, the demand for a more diversified daily diet has grown. This has led to greater reliance on imports as unpredictable weather and limited arable land constrain domestic production. Taiwan imported $18.9 billion of agricultural and related products in 2023, as compared to exports of $5.4 billion. Imports included beef, soybeans, dairy, fresh fruits, processed vegetables and a variety of bulk commodities. The largest supplier is the U.S. (21%), with mainland China the third largest at 7%. 

To address logistical disruptions such as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as climate challenges, in June 2024 Taiwan and the U.S. signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on food security and established a bilateral mechanism to facilitate the exchange of information and discussion of strategies to improve trade practices and increase the country’s food security. 

Planning for Import Disruption

One aspect of Taiwan’s complicated relationship with China is China’s daily military activities that include “practice” blockades and attacks on Taiwan’s ports. Consequently, in October 2024, Taiwan detailed a “wartime” food plan, monitoring monthly inventories of critical food supplies such as rice to assure sufficient stored supplies (higher than the legally required three-month supply) in the event of a Chinese blockade. Rice would be rationed if that became necessary. Additionally, the country might have to increase the land designated to grow rice and other products. A significant amount of arable land was taken over for factories with the transition to industrialization in the 1960s. 

Tackling Hunger in Taiwan and Beyond

The Taiwan People’s Food Bank Association was established in 2011 to address hunger and reduce food waste. By 2013, their network included over 50 social welfare organizations and NGOs. They joined the Global Foodbanking Network in 2016 and initiated a program to deliver meals to rural children in schools in 2017. By 2020, they had distributed over a million meals. In the last few years, attention has expanded to education and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, they have incorporated a digital platform and communicate through social media and community events. Beneficiaries are the most vulnerable populations, including collaboration with indigenous communities. 

Taiwan AID (Taiwan Alliance in International Development), initiated in 2013, is an NGO focused on international development and relief. Its many humanitarian projects include a nutrition program in Cambodia, a community kitchen and Happy Farm Project in rural Swaziland (2015). Over 4,500 rural children in Swaziland have been supported, and the farm project focused on local food production. A children’s malnutrition improvement project was implemented in Vietnam (2012-2014). Recent activities will include the 2025 Asian Girls in Action Project for girls ages 15-19. Additionally, there is the 2025 NGO Fellowship Program for NGO professionals from South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. The program includes a workshop, site visits and a field placement. 

In January 2024, the Nutrition and Healthy Diet Promotion Act was published. This legislation provides for research, including nutrition surveys, standards and recommendations, and social assistance subsidy plans that require the incorporation of nutritional issues. Guidance is to be provided on the research and development of healthy foods incorporating local agricultural products. Nutrition and healthy diets education is to be included in on-the-job training or continuing education for relevant personnel; spreading false nutrition news is prohibited.

A Multifaceted Approach

The approach to hunger and food insecurity in Taiwan has both domestic and global aspects, private and governmental. It is less about food distribution and funding than it is about planning, policy, education and development.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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Bolsa Família: Poverty Alleviation in Brazil

Poverty Alleviation in BrazilSince 2003, the Bolsa Família program has been working on poverty alleviation in Brazil. The program has helped 46 million Brazilian families by partnering with the World Bank. It has reduced Brazil’s poverty to 59 million from 67.7 million.

Hunger Reduction

With the provided cash offerings, many families who had previously suffered from hunger have food security. Last year, the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger (MDS) gave $30 billion to needy families through the Bolsa Família.

Improved Health and Education

For years, youth mortality rates in Brazil remained high, mainly due to limited access to routine checkups and vaccinations. In response, the Bolsa Família program introduced conditional cash transfers, requiring families to take their children for regular medical visits to receive financial support. So far, more than eight million people have benefited from the initiative, which strongly emphasizes improving family health care.

Furthermore, the initiative has increased educational development with evidence of higher enrollment and academic successes from disadvantaged citizens. A prominent aim of Bolsa Família is to stop children from inheriting the poverty their parents endured by focusing funds toward advancing schooling. As a result, the school enrollment rate has increased by 5.5-6.5%. Similarly, the dropout rates declined by 0.4 and 0.5 points and the grade promotion rate increased by 0.4-0.5 points.

Women Empowerment

Career training and greater access to social assistance programs have opened new job opportunities for women and provided affordable child care services. Women make up 54% of Brazil’s conditional cash transfer program beneficiaries, an investment widely seen as one of the most effective ways to empower women. With increased autonomy, many can now make informed decisions about family planning, creating ripple effects that improve their long-term well-being.

Eliminating Child Labor

Since their consolidation into the Bolsa Família program, initiatives like Bolsa Escola, Bolsa Alimentação, Cartão Alimentação, Auxílio-Gás and the Child Labor Eradication Program have significantly contributed to reducing child labor in Brazil. In 2023, the government reinstated Bolsa Família, enhancing financial support to low-income families. Eligible households now receive approximately R$150 (about $30) per month for each child under age 6, bolstering assistance to vulnerable communities.

What’s Next?

The Bolsa Família program has had a global impact, serving as a model for other countries seeking to address the challenges of poverty and prevent its persistence. Looking ahead to 2030, the program aims to remove Brazil from the Hunger Map while significantly reducing nutritional insecurity across the country.

The goal is to increase disposable income to result in more grocery shopping, recognizing those needing protection and engaging the government to collaborate to eradicate hunger. The program’s lifespan has made a world of a difference to many lives for nearly 23 years and will continue its efforts of poverty alleviation in Brazil.

– Melody Aminian

Melody Aminian is based in Irvine, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Slovakia

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in SlovakiaThe Slovak Republic, located in Central Europe south of Poland, was created in 1993 when Czechoslovakia split into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is a small, landlocked and mountainous country, with a population of almost 5.6 million, more than half of which is urban. Here are 10 facts about hunger in Slovakia.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Slovakia

  1. In 2024, Slovakia was one of 22 countries (out of the 127 countries ranked) with a score of less than five on the Global Hunger Index scale, meaning that its level of hunger is Low. The level of hunger in Slovakia has been consistently dropping since 2000.  
  2. Four indicators comprise the GHI—percent of population undernourished; wasting and stunting of children under five years old; and child mortality of children under 5—and the proportions for Slovakia on each of these measures have been less than 10% since 2000. 
  3. The “burden of malnutrition” is assessed annually by the 2025 Global Nutrition Report. Of the thirteen global nutrition targets measured and reported in the 2025 report, Slovakia is making ”some” progress only on low birth weight. The country is “off course” for seven targets and has provided no data for another three. There is no progress, or worsening, regarding reducing anemia for women of reproductive age; 23.5% of 15-49-year-old women are anemic. 
  4. Slovakia has implemented national nutrition policies in seven of the ten areas reported in the Global Nutrition Report, including an operational policy, strategy or action plan to reduce unhealthy diet related to noncommunicable diseases. Their national policies include specific targets for childhood overweight reduction, and adolescent and adult overweight reduction, as well as for the reduction of blood sugar levels/diabetes prevalence. 
  5. In 2021, at the June FAO Conference, His Excellency Samuel Vlčan, minister of agriculture and rural development, indicated that Slovakia was joining other countries and stakeholders in organizing a National Food System Dialogue. Vlčan reported the intention of Slovakia to meet dietary and nutrition needs with a sustainable food system that would also reduce environmental impact. This would include localizing supply chains, supporting local production and consumption and reducing and minimizing food loss and waste. Slovakia then participated in September in the Food Systems Summit, related to SDG 2, and also addressing diet-related diseases and access to nutritious and safe food.   
  6. In 2023, Convoy of Hope Europe initiated Children’s Feeding in two program centers in Slovakia, where children would walk to the centers after school to receive a hot meal. Convoy of Hope fed 300 children on the first day, primarily Roma children. A marginalized group in Slovakia, living in segregated slums, the Roma comprise less than 2% of the Slovakian population and lack access to many social amenities. 
  7. In 2024, Slovakia voluntarily joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The Global Alliance is a collective approach to the innovative and accelerated implementation of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, No Poverty, and 2,  Zero Hunger. Slovakia is thus committed to the Global Alliance’s “policy basket,” the 50 policy instruments and programs that can be applied or adapted to each country’s specific context. 
  8. In June 2025, Slovakia hosts the XXIII European Conference on Food Chemistry. This event is to facilitate knowledge exchange on the latest advances in food chemistry and technology, as well as networking among food chemists from academia and industry, and food technologists and emerging scientists. 
  9. Slovakia’s initial CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] Strategic Plan (under the European Commission umbrella) was first proposed in February 2022, with its most recent revision in March 2025. The CAP Plans are to achieve a “smart, sustainable, competitive, resilient and diversified agricultural sector, ensuring long-term food security.” Slovakia’s Plan gives special attention to small and young farmers. Key elements include financial support for farmers, organic farming, climate-related objectives, job creation, rural business support and higher animal welfare standards. 
  10. There is a challenge, however, in achieving the best balance between Slovakia’s sovereignty in terms of food self-sufficiency (efficient agricultural production) and European Union goals (pan-European cooperation). This would be a balance between maintaining job opportunities in Slovakia’s agricultural sector versus support for trade interconnections and a common market.  

While hunger is not a significant problem in Slovakia, there are shortfalls in terms of nutrition. However, the country is actively addressing its challenges, along with playing an important role in global approaches to hunger and nutrition.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
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Food Crisis: Malnutrition and Poverty in Peru

malnutrition peruPeru has had a volatile relationship with poverty for decades. In the mid-1980s to early 1990s, people had suffered the peak of poverty in Peru in the past 100 years; about 50% of the population lived in poverty. After decreasing, in 2024, the poverty rate rose again to about 30%. Malnutrition has also become a prominent issue in Peru and is one of the most significant health risks that continues to affect Peru’s poverty to this day.

Background

Peru suffers not only from malnutrition but overnutrition as well. To combat these issues, there are policies put that only address one issue or the other, leading to an imbalance in the progress towards both malnutrition and overnutrition.

Another leading cause for malnutrition in Peru is inaccessible health care due to the lack of professional health care providers and limited government funding for public health in Peru. In 2022, for every 10,000 people, there were only 12.2 physicians and 12.8 nurses. Rural areas face the most trouble when it comes to accessing healthcare, with only 17.6 health care professionals for every 10,000 people.

A large majority of Peru’s population suffers from food insecurity. While Peru is known for its agricultural biodiversity, a lot of necessary nutritious food is expensive and inaccessible to lower income families and especially those in poverty, leading to malnutrition.

The Effects of Malnutrition

Nutrients are a human necessity. building up the body, muscles, bones, nerves, skin, immune system and keeping the blood circulating. It also gives the brain the energy it needs to keep the body going and is an important factor in cognitive thinking.

Without proper nutrition, the body faces many consequences. Malnutrition leads to a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to infection, illness and disease. It also hinders recovery, making it exceedingly more difficult to heal from illnesses already present.

A lack of nutrients has not only an effect on the health of the body, but the health of the mind as well. Those suffering from malnutrition have an increased risk of depression and anxiety. It also obstructs cognition, making it difficult to make decisions, problem-solve and regulate emotions.

Malnutrition and Poverty in Peru

Children under the age of 5 are one of the biggest victims of malnutrition, particularly indigenous children. Approximately two out of 10 children suffer from malnutrition in Peru, 38% of indigenous children and 24% of children in rural areas are malnourished, compared to 20% of non-indigenous and 7% of urban children who lack nutrients.

Due to the negative effect malnourishment has on the mind and body, it impacts people’s health and productivity, making work more strenuous, not only leading people to poverty, but also making it significantly more difficult to escape it. This pattern makes it challenging to reduce poverty in Peru.

It also influences the economy. Without decreased productivity from workers due to malnutrition, economic growth decreases and health care costs increase. Not only does this affect the economy, but it also highly impacts the already vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition. Without proper economic flow, the country cannot provide enough resources or help to those suffering from low income and food insecurity, and therefore, the issues only increase.

Current Solutions for Malnutrition in Peru

Without proper finances, it is difficult to access healthcare, especially as a parent with responsibility over one or multiple children. However, with help, it is possible. That is what the World Bank’s Juntos program provides. To combat malnutrition and poverty in Peru, it provides financial support to families, particularly aimed towards mothers in poverty and low-income households, in exchange for taking their children to regular health care check-ups.

There are also many organizations that fight against poverty, one of them being Action Against Hunger. It partners up with local governments to strengthen the health care system, improve food security and access to clean water, provide hygiene supplies as well as give women opportunities to make their own income.

Nutrients are an important factor in human life. They are necessary to perform any task, no matter how big or small. Without them, the human body would cease to function. To improve productivity, health and poverty in Peru, every person must have access to nutritious food. The happier and healthier the people, the more a country will thrive.

– Sevyn Whatley

Sevyn is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need To Know About Hunger in Senegal

Hunger in SenegalSenegal is known for its rich culture and improved democratic stability. The country made significant progress in improving its infrastructure, health, economy and access to clean water and sanitation. Despite its vibrant culture and strides in democratic governance, the nation faces a persistent challenge in hunger. Food insecurity continues to affect many, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Examining root causes, impacts and potential solutions are crucial to understanding this ongoing crisis. Hunger in Senegal originates from the climate, the economy and social factors. According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI), in 2024, Senegal ranks 72 out of 127 countries with a score of 15.3 in the category of “moderate,” an improvement from previous years, which saw the country in the “alarming” category.

About Hunger in Senegal

About 4.6% of the population is undernourished, 17.5% of children less than the age of five are stunted, 10.2% of children less than  five are wasted, and about 3.7% of children die before the age of five. Hunger is more pronounced in regions like Matam, Kolda, and Tambacounda, where poverty, limited infrastructure and poor agricultural yields intersect. 

Hunger in Senegal predominantly exists in rural areas, with women and children affected the most. More than 30% of Senegal’s workforce is involved in agriculture and is overly dependent on rainfed farming, according to the International Trade Administration (ITA). Due to changing weather patterns, Senegal experiences rapid-unpredictable rainfall and massive amounts of drought, leading to desertification in crop fields and a shortage of food availability. The World Food Program (WFP) reports that in 2023, about 1.26 million people will experience extreme hunger during the lean season. 

Hunger in Rural Areas and Women Farmers

Economic disparity contributes to the issue, especially in rural areas. In 2022, the World Bank estimated that 36.3% of the population lives below the poverty line. Additionally, the impact of food prices soaring  in 2022 contributes to hunger in Senegal. In 2022,  Senegal saw a record-breaking 21.40% in food inflation, with only a slight decrease in March 2025. 

Gender inequality and social and political norms contribute to the crisis by denying crucial employment and land ownership. Women are the backbone of agricultural production, making up 70% of the workforce and producing 80% of crops, but they have restricted access to land. Laure Tall, the research director at the Agricultural and Rural Prospect Initiative, claims that women farmers are invisible and work two to four hours longer than the average man. 

Nutritional Deficiencies

Diets often lack essential nutrients, leading to micronutrient deficiencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that anemia affects nearly 60% of children under five and about 50% of pregnant women. Vitamin A deficiency, low protein intake and iron deficiency are widespread. Malnourishment plagues children’s development because they are the most likely to struggle in school and face lifelong cognitive challenges. Adults, weakened by poor diets, are less productive and more vulnerable to illness, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.

Initiatives Addressing Hunger in Senegal

Despite the grim picture, the Senegalese government and international partners launched several programs to combat hunger. In 2016, the Senegalese government adopted the National Program for Food Security, known as the Programme National d’Appui à la Sécurité Alimentaire et à la Résilience (PNASAR), aiming to sustainably improve food and nutritional security for households. The program emphasizes coordinated, multisectoral interventions that address both immediate needs and long-term development goals.

The World Food Program (WFP) has also been working to address hunger in Senegal. The WFP provides meals for schoolchildren in areas where food insecurity is high. In 2022, the WFP fed approximately 17% of primary schools. The WFP reached more than 71,000 pupils in 285 primary schools across three regions. The school feeding program, launched in March 2021, receives funding from the Global Partnership for Education. 

The We Are the Solution movement is another noteworthy initiative addressing food insecurity in Senegal. Mariama Sonko, a Senegalese farmer, started the We Are the Solution movement, which includes about 115,000 active women farmers. The goal is to train women to become community farmers and increase the workforce. As previously stated, women make up 70% of the agricultural workforce. Sonko’s movement is helping local efforts by increasing groups to sell vegetables from communal gardens, leading to the reinvestment of profits into nutrition programs for children and mothers. Educating families on dietary diversity and the importance of local produce helps reshape eating habits and generates awareness nationwide. 

Looking Ahead

Ultimately, the road to a hunger-free nation is long, but not impossible. With increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, nutrition education and gender equity, the fight will remain strong. 

– Sebastian Llerena

Sebastian is based in Edison, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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4 Facts about Hunger in Sweden

Hunger in SwedenSweden is a predominantly urban (almost 89%) Scandinavian country, with a population of 10.6 million people. Its high-income economy blends ideas of free-market capitalism with extensive welfare components. From 2021 to 2023, Sweden’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased slightly, as did its unemployment level. As a result, the nation has achieved a high standard of living and high life expectancy, ranking 21st out of 227 countries.

4 Facts About Hunger in Sweden

  1. Hunger and malnutrition are not significant in Sweden. The level of hunger in Sweden is sufficiently low and nutrition indicators sufficiently high that the country is not included in either the Global Hunger Index or the Global Nutrition Report. Conversely, it ranks very high on the Global Food Security Index (2022), where its prevalence of undernourishment is reported to be 2.5%. The country’s overall GFSI score is 79.1, ranking it 7th in food security (out of 113 countries). The four indicators comprising the ranking are affordability, availability, quality and safety and sustainability and adaptation. Its lowest ranking (21st) is on availability, in particular because of the volatility of agricultural production. 
  2. Sweden reports very low rates of poverty but ranks poorly in fighting inequality. In 2021, less than 1% of the population (70,000 people) lived below the international poverty line, although 16% were below Sweden’s national poverty line. Since then, however, Sweden has fallen 14 places in Oxfam’s CRII (Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index), a global indexing ranking 164 countries. Its place at 24th is the worst of the Nordic region. Blamed are an “unfair” tax policy and reduced resources for welfare, including schools and health care. Among the most vulnerable are migrant workers and those born outside the EU. Poverty combined with inflation leads to food insecurity. 
  3. A new approach to Swedes helping hungry Swedes. The Church of Sweden, Swedish City Missions and civil society organizations (CSOs) have traditionally provided short-term food assistance to the most vulnerable and marginalized people. Crises such as the 2008 financial crisis, the 2015 refugee crisis, the COVID pandemic and recent inflation and economic strains, exacerbated by an increase in income inequality, have led to an increase in assistance to low-income families and individuals already on long-term social welfare. The approach has been described as professionalized, centralized and large-scale, with the simultaneous objective of addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste. This includes new means of food distribution, including access through social food stores. It is also facilitated by formal collaboration between CSOs and the food industry. Research centers such as PLATE, the Center for the Future of Sustainable Seafood and PLENTY are addressing food security, competitiveness and sustainability.
  4. How Sweden is helping to address global hunger. Sweden is also looking outward to support efforts tackling food security beyond its borders. One example is the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative, which involves government officials, citizens and the private sector in the conversation on hunger. Its fourth phase (2022-2027) is focused on sustainability, smallholder farmers and marginalized groups. And in December 2024, the Swedish Government made a three-year commitment of almost $63 million of funding to IFAD, the U.N.’s International Fund for Agricultural Development, which promotes food security, especially for women smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups in rural areas of developing countries.

Hunger in Sweden is low in comparison to other nations. Additionally, the country works through partnerships, organizations and networks to battle food insecurity on a global level.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Hunger in Slovenia

Hunger in SloveniaA small, south central European country, the Republic of Slovenia was once part of Yugoslavia. It declared its independence in 1991, after a 1990 referendum. Geographically, it is almost completely surrounded by Croatia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, with only the port city of Koper having access to the Adriatic Sea. Its population of just over two million is fairly evenly distributed, with 56% urbanized.

Slovenia is a developed, high-income member of the European Union, with key exports in pharmaceuticals and automotive. The 2022 estimate of the population below the national poverty line was 12.7%.

Hunger

There are no recent available statistics on hunger in Slovenia. The U.N.’s 2024 Sustainable Development Report, which tracks progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda (adopted in 2015), highlights that Slovenia still faces significant challenges in achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger. This is because its score on SDG 2 is stagnating or increasing at less than 50% of the required rate. However, the country is on track or maintaining achievement on three significant indicators—prevalence of undernourishment, and stunting in children and wasting in children under the age of 5. 

The Slovenian Statistical Office also collects data on SDG progress. For SDG 2, the office monitors progress against malnutrition, fostering sustainable agricultural production and reducing the adverse impacts of agricultural production, measuring seven indicators. One of these indicators is the self-sufficiency rate, which notes the extent to which domestic production meets domestic consumption. In 2023, the country has had 80-100% self-sufficiency for eggs (95%), meat (83%) and cereals (82%), while potatoes and vegetables were just below 40% and fruit at an almost-all-time low of 16% (almost continually declining from an all-time-high of 66% in 2000). 

Nutrition

Slovenia thus does not appear to struggle with hunger or food sufficiency. However, the most recent Global Nutrition Report, 2020, reports that the country is “off course” for all MIYCN (maternal, infant and young child nutrition) targets. Furthermore, it has made only limited progress towards diet-related noncommunicable disease targets. Obesity prevalence is lower in Slovenia than in the region, but still affects almost a quarter of the population. In addition, almost 22% of women of reproductive age are anemic and over 6% of infants have low birth weight. (For several indicators, there is insufficient data.) 

Food Systems Challenges

The Food Systems Dashboard collects and shares country data on multiple indicators for components of food systems, conducts diagnostics and recommends policies and actions. Its most recent review of Slovenia’s food systems identified 14 likely challenge areas and 6 potential challenge areas of the 31 (of 36) areas for which there were data. Most of Slovenia’s challenges were categorized under Food Environments, especially food affordability, and Outcomes, primarily environmental impacts. There were 20 recommended actions, including training and nutrition education, development of postharvest storage technologies, infrastructure improvement (e.g., roads, transportation, storage), agriculture development and extension programs, home gardens, nutrition labeling and various actions related to increasing the production and consumption of nutritious foods. 

Commitment to Global Food Security

One of Slovenia’s strategic priorities is to ensure food security beyond its own borders. The country is working with various international organizations, such as the World Food Programme and the Food Assistance Convention. Between 2021 and 2024, the country reported a sixfold increase in its humanitarian aid for food security. This includes financial contributions and humanitarian projects. Slovenia is developing a three-year climate resilience project in Kenya and participates in the School Meals Coalition, both WFP projects.  Over 100 countries and 140 partners participate in the School Meals Coalition, which has reached 418 million children worldwide. 

Food security was also chosen as the central theme of the 12th Slovenian Development Days, in October 2024. World Food Day took place in October. The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization adopted the theme, “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future: Leave no one Behind.” Slovenia used the opportunity of its Development Days to raise awareness of the role of sufficient, nutritious, safe food in preserving appropriate physical development and good health.

Addressing Hunger in Slovenia?

While Slovenia experiences issues related to hunger, it has had less need to address hunger within the country than it has felt a responsibility to address hunger on the global stage. This small country has been determined to contribute to the plight of other, often larger, countries.

– Staff Reports

Photo: Flickr