Archive for category: Hunger

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Everything to Know About Hunger in the DRC

Hunger in the DRCThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been facing an ongoing hunger crisis for more than 25 years. Today, the issue of hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo affects 26.5 million people, leaving them struggling to meet their basic food needs. The country has the third highest score on the Global Hunger Index, just after Somalia and South Sudan. However, there is much more information and coverage out there for those two countries.

Conflict at the Root of Food Insecurity

This is due to both the length and the nature of their famines. The DRC has been dealing with armed conflict on its eastern border since the First Congo War in 1996. This prolonged violence, which is the root cause of hunger in the DRC, is harder to cover than the relatively recent famines in Somalia and South Sudan that are perpetuated by extreme climate events.

Unfortunately, this lack of coverage does not mean the conflict or the famine has ended. Just last year, the M23 rebel group took over the eastern city of Goma, which was a vital international trade hub for the area. All this conflict has caused the displacement of 7.8 million people in the DRC, which further perpetuates issues of food security and sanitation, and helping these people has become more difficult and therefore more important than ever with the capture of Goma.

Humanitarian Response and Immediate Relief

To combat these issues, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP) are working to address the hunger crisis in the DRC. With the $10 million allocated from the DRC Humanitarian Fund, the FAO and the WFP, through their combined efforts, have provided immediate food relief or cash-based assistance to nearly 1.3 million people. This is no doubt a significant effort, but it falls dramatically short of the $214 million needed to aid the entirety of the affected Congo population.

Building Long-Term Food Security

Along with immediate relief, the two organizations have also prioritized improving the resilience and self-reliance of local communities. The nutrition problems in the area are particularly alarming, with more than 4.18 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition. To help prevent this in the future, the WFP has set up nutrition-focused cooking classes in dozens of villages across the DRC. These lessons not only promote healthier, well-balanced diets for Congolese children, but the recipes also include only locally grown native ingredients.

Meanwhile, the FAO provides continued support to the area’s agriculture. This includes seeds, tools, livelihood inputs and cash-based assistance, which help families restore food production and reduce overall dependence on food assistance. However, it could not raise adequate funds to provide agricultural support to the entire region. The FAO urgently requires an additional $163 million to scale up its life-saving agricultural support before it misses critical planting windows.

The Funding Gap and the Path Forward

The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face a prolonged famine spurred by armed conflict in the region. This famine would have grown to dire proportions with the capture of Goma by M23 if not for the FAO and WFP’s efforts to combat food insecurity in the region. These organizations are committed to a dual-approach solution to the food crisis that combines immediate food relief with longer-term support to agriculture and food security. However, their plans to provide the necessary assistance and stop the famine in the area have encountered an unfortunate $214 million funding shortfall. Reducing hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will require donations and a continued commitment to both emergency relief and long-term recovery. With this, the international community can help turn today’s humanitarian crisis into lasting food security for tomorrow.

– Arda Aydogan

Arda is based in Canton, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Ghana’s School Feeding Program Helps Reduce Poverty

Children eating meals at a school in Ghana, part of the School Feeding Program.Across Ghana, where approximately 25.9% of the population lives in poverty, one free meal a day is pulling children out of poverty — one school day at a time. The Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) does more than address hunger. It drives poverty reduction, improves food security and keeps children in school across some of the country’s most deprived communities.

School Lunches Opening Doors

Launched in 2005 with just 1,900 pupils across one school per district, the Ghana School Feeding Program has grown to serve more than 2.6 million children in public primary schools and kindergartens nationwide. Each school day, children in deprived communities receive one hot meal made from locally grown food. The program aligns with the United Nations (U.N.) Millennium Development Goals on hunger, poverty and malnutrition and contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 4 — ending poverty, ending hunger and ensuring quality education. This initiative has become one of Ghana’s most impactful social protection programs, reaching all 261 districts across the country.

Education Outcomes

For families living in poverty, hunger is one of the most common barriers to school attendance. When a meal is available at school, attendance rates rise and the decision to attend is easier for both the child and the family. Globally, school meal programs increase enrollment by an average of 9% while simultaneously reducing dropout rates, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

Ghana reflects this trend directly. A primary school in Gbare, Upper West Region, recorded a 34% increase in learners between October 2023 and October 2024 — attributed directly to the daily hot meal. Beyond attendance, nutrition shapes a child’s ability to concentrate and retain information. A fed child can focus, participate and learn. The GSFP sits at the intersection of educational outcomes and food security, ensuring that no child has to choose between hunger and learning.

Local Economic Impact

The GSFP creates a ripple effect that extends beyond the classroom. By sourcing ingredients from smallholder farmers and local producers, the program channels government spending directly into rural agricultural communities. Farmers gain a reliable and consistent market for their crops, supporting household incomes and reducing vulnerability to market fluctuations.

The jobs created through school feeding extend further along the value chain. Globally, the WFP estimates that approximately 1,377 jobs are created per 100,000 children fed. In Ghana, the program had employed around 24,000 caterers by the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, the majority of them women. These are not incidental benefits — they are structural ones. The economic gains of the GSFP reach far beyond school gates, strengthening the communities that need it most.

A Tool Against Poverty

The cumulative impact of better nutrition, higher school attendance and stronger local economies contributes to a measurable reduction in poverty. Ghana’s poverty rate fell from 26.4% in 2023 to 25.9% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — a shift linked in part to sustained investment in social protection programs, including the GSFP.

Education is one of the most reliable pathways out of poverty. Children who stay in school longer earn more as adults, are healthier and are better positioned to support their own families.

Looking Ahead

Ghana’s School Feeding Program invests in a future of mobility with every meal served, demonstrating that reducing poverty does not always require sweeping reform. As the program continues to expand across Ghana’s 261 districts, sustained investment in school feeding offers one of the most practical and cost-effective tools available for breaking the cycle of poverty — one meal at a time.

– Anna Morin

Anna is based in Fairfield, CT, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need to Know About Hunger in Venezuela

HUNGER IN VENEZUELAFor years, empty shelves, shortages and long lines outside grocery stores defined Venezuela’s food crisis. While scarcity was once a visible sign of the country’s economic collapse, the current reality is more complex. In many cities, supermarkets and local markets now have food available. However, availability does not always mean access. Hunger in Venezuela is now largely an affordability crisis: food may be present, but millions of families cannot consistently afford a nutritious diet.

The Affordability Crisis Behind Hunger in Venezuela

The central issue is the gap between wages, inflation and the cost of food. In 2026, Venezuela’s official minimum wage remained fixed at 130 bolivars per month, while the government announced that monthly minimum income would rise to $240 through a system that includes bonuses. However, this income structure remains uncertain for many workers because bonuses do not always function as a formal salary increase. At the same time, the cost of a basic family basket remains far higher than regular income for many households.

The Associated Press reported that Venezuela’s monthly minimum wage of 130 bolivars was worth less than $1 in dollar terms in 2025. Even with government stipends, many public sector workers survived on roughly $160 per month, while the average private sector employee earned about $237, according to the independent Venezuelan Observatory of Finances. At the same time, the cost of a basic food basket exceeded $500. This means that even families with some income may still struggle to buy enough food.

As a result, families buy less food, choose cheaper and less nutritious products, skip meals or depend on credit from small local stores. In some communities, corner stores have become a survival tool because families can buy food on credit and pay later when they receive wages, stipends or support from relatives. This shows how hunger in Venezuela is not only about food supply, but also about purchasing power.

Poverty and Nutrition

Food prices make access to protein especially difficult. When prices rise, families often reduce or eliminate foods such as chicken, beef, eggs, milk and cheese. Many households rely on cheaper and more filling foods, including rice, pasta, corn flour, bread and beans. These foods may help prevent immediate hunger, but they do not always provide the nutrients needed for long-term health. Eating something is not the same as being well nourished.

This distinction is key to understanding hunger in Venezuela. Many families may not be completely without food, but they live with incomplete, repetitive and nutrient-poor diets. Health experts cited by the Associated Press explained that families reduce or eliminate animal protein first when prices increase. Poor nutrition can contribute to stunting, headaches, fatigue and other health problems in children.

The 2025 National Survey of Living Conditions, known as ENCOVI, found that 68.5% of Venezuelan households remained in income poverty, underscoring the close relationship between poverty and food insecurity. The survey also found that one in three households did not have enough food. These figures show that hunger in Venezuela is rooted not only in food prices, but also in the persistent poverty that limits families’ ability to buy a balanced diet.

Children and School Meals

Children are among the most vulnerable. Limited access to protein and other essential nutrients can affect children’s growth, immune health and cognitive development. Hunger can also affect their ability to attend school, concentrate in class and perform academically. The Associated Press reported cases of students skipping school or struggling during the school day because they had not eaten enough.

ENCOVI 2025 found that only 29% of schools with a school feeding program served food every day. For some children, a meal at school may be one of the few reliable sources of food during the day. When school feeding programs are reduced, irregular or unavailable, the impact goes beyond nutrition. It can also affect attendance, academic performance and future opportunities.

In a country where many families cannot consistently afford breakfast or lunch, school meals help protect both health and education. They also show why food security is closely tied to poverty reduction: when children eat regularly, they are better positioned to learn, stay in school and build long-term opportunities.

Basic Services and Food Insecurity

The deterioration of basic services also exacerbates hunger in Venezuela. ENCOVI 2025 found that only 10% of Venezuelans had continuous electricity and only 19% of households had continuous running water. These conditions make it harder for families to store, prepare and cook food. Even when a household manages to buy groceries, it may still face obstacles to cooking beans, refrigerating perishable products or maintaining safe hygiene.

Low income, weak public services, limited school attendance and poor access to food reinforce one another. In many cases, students miss school because there is no water, no electricity, no transportation, no food at home or because teachers are absent. Hunger in Venezuela is therefore not only a nutrition issue; it is also connected to education, infrastructure and long-term development.

A Recent Emergency Raises New Food Needs

The earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, added new pressure to a country already facing severe food insecurity. Reuters reported that the twin earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, devastated parts of La Guaira state and that the government had confirmed at least 1,943 deaths by June 30. The full scale of the disaster remains uncertain, but aid workers have warned that displacement, damaged infrastructure and disrupted markets are deepening humanitarian needs, including access to food, clean water and health care.

The disaster does not change the underlying causes of hunger in Venezuela, but it makes them more urgent. Families who were already struggling with low wages, weak public services and limited access to nutritious food now face additional barriers when homes, markets, roads and local businesses are damaged. WFP USA reported that homes, markets and food supplies in La Guaira were devastated, leaving families with little or nothing to eat. The organization said it is expanding emergency food assistance to reach up to 500,000 people in the hardest-hit areas.

Humanitarian and Community Responses

Despite these challenges, humanitarian and community-based efforts continue to provide relief. The World Food Programme (WFP) supports school meal programs in vulnerable communities across Venezuela. According to WFP, its school meals program reaches more than 330,000 people across more than 1,100 schools, including students with disabilities. WFP also reports that the program helps boost school enrollment and attendance while providing essential nourishment for children.

The recent earthquake response also shows the importance of rapid food assistance. WFP USA reported that WFP already had more than 3,000 metric tons of food in Venezuela, enough to support more than 10,000 families for two months, and that it is bringing in additional supplies. Reuters also reported that WFP is seeking $50 million to feed 500,000 people affected by the earthquakes. These figures show how existing humanitarian networks can respond quickly when an emergency increases food needs.

However, funding shortages threaten these efforts. El País reported that WFP’s operation in Venezuela was reduced from 11 states to four: Delta Amacuro, Sucre, Zulia and Falcón. The same report stated that 7.9 million Venezuelans needed humanitarian assistance in 2025, while WFP had only 15% of the funds needed to assist its target population of 5.1 million. In the area of nutrition and food security, funding reached only 7% of what was required.

These numbers show both the value and the vulnerability of humanitarian programs. School meals, emergency food distributions and nutrition support can make a measurable difference for children and families, but funding gaps limit their reach. When organizations have adequate resources, they can help families meet immediate needs while supporting children’s health, education and stability.

Local initiatives also play an important role. Churches, community groups, volunteers and family networks help support vulnerable people through food donations, community kitchens and informal aid. After the earthquakes, Venezuelans inside and outside the country quickly organized donation drives and supply networks. The Associated Press reported that Venezuelan communities in the United States collected medicine, water and food, while Reuters reported that international aid included rescue teams, medical supplies, field hospitals, food distribution and emergency funding from several countries and humanitarian partners. Pope Leo XIV also sent emergency aid through the Vatican’s charity fund.

These efforts do not solve the structural causes of hunger, but they provide immediate relief for families who cannot meet their daily food needs. In many communities, this local and international support has become essential for children, older adults, displaced families and households without stable income.

Looking Ahead

The situation in Venezuela shows that food security depends on more than the physical availability of food. It also requires sufficient income, stable public services and consistent support for the most vulnerable households. When families can see food on the shelves but cannot afford to buy it, the crisis remains real.

The earthquakes of June 2026 make that reality even clearer. A sudden disaster can quickly turn an affordability crisis into an emergency food crisis, especially when families already lack savings, reliable services and stable income. Yet the response also shows that humanitarian systems, local volunteers and the Venezuelan diaspora can mobilize quickly when communities need help.

School feeding programs, emergency food distributions, nutrition support and humanitarian aid can help reduce the short-term impact of food insecurity. At the same time, improving household income, strengthening basic services and expanding access to nutritious food are essential for lasting progress.

Continued international cooperation and local action can help protect vulnerable communities and support a more food-secure future for Venezuelan children and families. Hunger in Venezuela remains a serious challenge, but targeted assistance, stronger school feeding programs, emergency relief and sustained support for basic services offer practical ways to reduce its impact and protect the next generation.

– Adriana Carolina Herrera

Adriana lives in Mentor, OH, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Updates on SDG 2 in China to Address Hunger

SDG 2 in ChinaIn 2015, the United Nations replaced the eight Millennium Development Goals with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to track countries’ progress in eliminating poverty. SDG 2 focuses on eliminating hunger and China has several updates in this area. Here are the updates on SDG 2 in China.

SDG 2 in China: A General Trend

China observes a low rate of hunger in most of their population and a general downward trend, where fewer people suffer from this issue. In 2000, around 20% of the population was undernourished, but in 2025 that number was less than 2.5% and it continues to decline; those who are malnourished are often located in rural, mountainous areas where they have limited access to infrastructure and government support.

Updates on SDG 2 in China

Hunger challenges in rural areas decrease China’s SDG rating and one can associate most of these issues with local climate.

Rural provinces Gansu and Qinghai observe the highest rates of hunger in China. Earthquakes, droughts and other unpredictable weather events make farming a challenge for people living in Gansu. The most famous earthquakes have reached 7.8-8.5 on the Richter scale and destroyed more than 20,000 square kilometers of land, leaving the people of Gansu struggling to find sufficient resources.

The people of Qinghai experience similar issues and their high altitude often poses agricultural obstacles. Farmers have several adaptive behaviors to ensure sufficient food supply despite environmental challenges. These strategies include adjusting crop planting time, modifying planting structure, using plastic coverings to protect crops, buying agricultural insurance and seeking other sources of food, such as animal meat, eggs or milk, which are easier to protect from environmental events.

The Good News

The vast majority of Chinese people do not have hunger concerns. In 2017, China launched a Rural Revitalization Strategy to combat hunger in rural regions. The policy focuses on developing rural regions and improving farming technology to allow the people living there independence and stability. Methods include: diversifying economic resources of the region beyond farming and handicrafts as well as developing online presence to advertise goods and invite commercial traffic. The policy has already helped more than a billion people and remains a vital source of relief.

Since the challenges in these areas are mainly environmental and not political, the Chinese government becomes a cooperative and powerful actor in this situation. The Chinese Communist Party continues to expand on its strategies to improve the lives of those in more rural regions.

Gansu has rich mineral resources, including coal, iron, copper and various rare Earth metals. The province also has major sources of renewable energy. Hydroelectricity provides most of the power in this area, meaning that the province has an environmentally stable source of energy.

Qinghai is sparsely populated and not heavily developed, but has many natural resources and tourist attractions that hold potential for revenue that could improve the lives of residents. High-quality honey has also become more sought after in recent years. In only the first four months of 2026, exports of honey have increased by more than 20%, largely exporting to countries such as Greece, Singapore and Poland.

China has an extensive railroad and bullet train system which helps transport people and goods over long distances. This can give people living in rural areas more autonomy and allow more connection and development. China could use its railroad system to transport freight and develop the areas and the high-speed bullet trains may function as efficient transportation for people in rural areas to commute or even move to the city to seek more lucrative opportunities as well as allow them to travel to different rural areas with possibly more fertile land.

Conclusion

Although hunger in China persists, solutions are available for people living in these regions. Continued development with maglev and using this technology to focus on rural revitalization can have major impacts on people living with limited access to major infrastructure. Leveraging valuable natural resources and tourist attractions may also increase revenue and improve living conditions.

– Amber Mantiply

Amber is based in Silver Spring, MD, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Everything To Know About Hunger in Sri Lanka

Hunger in Sri LankaSri Lanka is a small island in the Indian Ocean with a population of 23.3 million. Of these residents, 7.4% are malnourished, and the country currently holds a “moderate” rating on the Global Hunger Index (2025). Many of the hunger issues in Sri Lanka stem from environmental and climate-related challenges. Programs like the ENOUGH campaign are advocating for change and seeking practical solutions to address this crisis. Below are more details about hunger in Sri Lanka and potential ways to help.

Reasons for Hunger in Sri Lanka

Understanding hunger in Sri Lanka arises from the country’s location and the local living conditions. Agriculture is one of the main sources of employment in the country, and the country depends heavily on the harvesting of crops as the industry contributes 6.9% of the GDP of the country. This heavy reliance on agriculture makes the country vulnerable to severe weather that can damage crops. Rainfall in Sri Lanka varies drastically, ranging from 1,000 millimeters to 5,000 millimeters depending on the area. Floods and landslides cause crops to break down or be completely flooded.

In 2025, Cyclone Ditwah – a tropical cyclone that hit Sri Lanka in November 2025 – caused a devastating impact on both local households and the agricultural system. The rainwater buried vegetables such as paddy, and the income of farmers as well as other residents decreased. Prices of agricultural products increased due to a decrease in quantity, causing hunger in more households. Fortunately, the country stored available food sources immediately and provided soft loans to farmers who were having difficulties recovering their land from the crisis.

Lack of imported goods and price inflation also contribute to hunger in the country. Within the total caloric consumption in the country, 22% comes from imported goods. Some agricultural products, such as wheat, do not grow in Sri Lanka due to the soil conditions. The shortage of foreign exchange limits the country’s ability to import food, which causes a deficiency in food storage in Sri Lanka.

These disadvantages force locals to rely on a bland diet. This diet causes many to suffer from malnutrition, and also acts as a barrier to children’s physical development. 

Reduction of Hunger in Recent Years

Despite the unavoidable environmental damages, improvements are happening in Sri Lanka, and significantly fewer people are suffering from hunger every year. In 2025, the population that is “in moderate acute food insecurity” has decreased by 15% as of last year, and this is thanks to the World Food Programme (WFP) and other organizations. 

WFP assisted international governments in providing food rations to 1.2 million children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students from low-income families depend on the school meals provided during lunch. To address this issue, the government of Canada redirected $200,000 USD to assist Sri Lanka in providing rations for children during the pandemic.

Farmers are also taking scientific measures to resist the harsh weather conditions. Scientists are developing climate-smart agriculture by testing flood-tolerant crop varieties. Canals and reservoirs are also being built to promote water management and to ensure water distribution and control.

Looking Towards the Future

While challenges remain, the government as well as locals are making a lot of progress to support the hunger crisis in Sri Lanka. Resolving the situation depends on developing new varieties of crops against the disadvantaged growing conditions. The nation continues to have support from the government and other nations, and it continues to make important progress in sustaining sufficient food for locals, the population suffering from hunger in Sri Lanka could be greatly reduced. 

– Jiayu Wang

Jiayu is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Urban Food Poverty in India: Delhi’s 3 a.m. Kitchen

Urban Food Poverty India: Delhi's 3 a.m. Kitchen Every morning, before most of Delhi has opened its eyes, a kitchen in Connaught Place is already running at full speed. Thousands of meal boxes — roti, kadhi chawal, rajma, vegetable noodles — are packed and loaded into a van before 9 a.m. By the time the city’s traffic begins to snarl, Atul Kapur’s team is already on the road.

Kapur is not a celebrity chef. He is a Delhi restaurateur, co-owner of the Q’BA restaurant in Connaught Place, who looked at the hunger around him and decided his kitchen could do more. In 2016, he co-founded Rasoi on Wheels — a mobile kitchen that now distributes thousands of freshly cooked meals every week to homeless individuals, slum schools and daily wage workers across Delhi-NCR. The meals are not leftovers.

A City Sitting on Top of a Hunger Crisis

Delhi’s contradictions are visible from any street corner. Gleaming malls stand minutes from settlements where families cannot guarantee a single meal a day. India ranks 102 out of 123 countries on the 2024 Global Hunger Index, with a hunger level classified as “serious.”

Nationally, an estimated 811 million people remain undernourished — the largest such population in the world. In Delhi’s urban slums specifically, a Tata-Cornell Institute study found that 51% of households experienced food insecurity. India produces enough food to feed itself. The crisis is not one of supply — it is one of access, distribution and dignity.

Ghar Jaisa Khana: Food Like Home

Rasoi on Wheels started by serving 30 meals a day. That grew to 300, then to 800 to 1,000 meals five days a week, plus Sunday langars for the homeless.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with Delhi’s migrant workers stranded, the organization distributed close to 20,000 meals a day.

The operation’s tagline is ghar jaisa khana — food like home. It is a deliberate choice. The people served are not handed scraps. They receive a rotating daily menu, individually packaged and prepared fresh from 3 a.m. every morning. Kapur calls the funding model ISR — Individual Social Responsibility — donations from ordinary people marking birthdays, weddings and funerals by feeding strangers instead.

Kapur has said that food is the most important requirement and that people should not be deprived of healthy food simply because they cannot afford it.

A Global Movement, One Kitchen at a Time

Kapur’s model sits within a broader shift in how food professionals are responding to hunger. Globally, José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen has served hundreds of millions of meals across crisis zones, built on the same core principle: that trained cooks, given the right support, can respond to hunger faster and more humanely than most institutions. In 2024 alone, World Central Kitchen served more than 109 million meals across 20 countries.

Both operations reject the model of surplus redistribution — the cold, leftover approach to aid — in favor of treating hungry people as people who deserve a proper meal.

What Policy Can Learn From a Van

Rasoi on Wheels is not a comprehensive solution to Delhi’s hunger crisis. But it points to something that policy consistently underestimates — the capacity of local, sustained, community-rooted action to fill gaps that government programs leave open.

India’s Public Distribution System, designed to provide subsidized food grains to the poor, reaches millions. But it does not reach the homeless man sleeping under a bridge in Connaught Place, or the construction worker’s child who arrives at school too hungry to learn. Rasoi on Wheels does.

Looking Ahead

Urban food poverty in India remains a structural challenge that no single organization can solve. The work of Rasoi on Wheels demonstrates that locally rooted, dignity-centered food initiatives can reach populations that formal systems miss. As India continues to grapple with the gap between food production and food access, models like this offer practical evidence that sustained, community-driven action can complement broader policy efforts to reduce hunger and poverty.

– Parthive Mukherji

Parthive is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Celebs and World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About Hunger in Jordan

Hunger in JordanFor thousands of families across Jordan, putting food on the table has become an increasing daily struggle. Rising food prices and economic hardship continue to push vulnerable communities toward food insecurity as inflation and regional instability place pressure across the country. While Jordan has made progress in education and health care hunger remains a serious challenge for low-income families, refugees and children. Everything to know about hunger in Jordan begins with understanding how economic hardship and displacement continue to increase demand for humanitarian aid across the country.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 3 million people in Jordan have required humanitarian assistance since 2024. The country also hosts the second-largest number of refugees per capita worldwide. According to the WFP, around 77% of these refugees face food insecurity in Jordan. Refugees from Syria, Iraq and Palestine continue to increase pressure on food systems and public services. Rising food prices have also made basic necessities harder to afford for Jordanian families living below the poverty line.

Why Hunger in Jordan Continues

Several economic and environmental factors contribute to rising hunger in Jordan. Jordan ranks among the world’s most water-scarce countries in the world which limits agricultural production and increases dependence on imported food. The World Bank reported that food inflation and unemployment have especially affected young people and low-income households in recent years.

The Syrian refugee population in Jordan especially faces severe food insecurity. Jordan hosts more than 427,000 registered Syrian refugees, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Many refugee families struggle to secure stable employment and thus rely on food aid to survive.

Organizations Fighting Hunger on The Ground

Several organizations continue to address hunger in Jordan through food assistance and development programs. The WFP launched one of the country’s largest food assistance programs providing monthly cash-based food support to vulnerable Jordanians and refugees. In 2023 alone the organization assisted more than 1.7 million people in Jordan.

The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization also works with local and international partners to distribute food parcels and emergency aid across the country. During Ramadan campaigns and emergency response efforts, the organization reaches thousands of families facing food insecurity.

Tikeyet Um Ali has become one of Jordan’s leading anti-hunger nonprofit organizations. Since its founding in 2003, the organization has provided sustainable monthly food support to thousands of families living in extreme poverty. Tikeyet Um Ali also runs awareness campaigns and community programs aimed at reducing hunger nationwide. Everything to know about hunger in Jordan especially includes recognizing the role local nonprofits play in creating long-term support systems for vulnerable families.

Looking Ahead

Although hunger in Jordan remains a major issue humanitarian organizations and local initiatives continue to provide critical support for vulnerable communities. These organizations continue expanding programs that provide emergency meals, nutritional support and financial assistance to vulnerable individuals and unemployed households across Jordan. Increased international aid, stronger economic opportunities and sustainable food programs could help reduce food insecurity in the years ahead. Everything to know about hunger in Jordan points toward one reality: long-term investment and community-based solutions remain essential in the fight against hunger.

– Masa Qasim

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

Photo: Flickr

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How The Hunger Project Is Empowering Women in Rural India

Empowering Women in Rural IndiaIndia is a fast-growing country, with an economy predicted to become the world’s third-largest by 2027. Despite its rapid development, the country remains behind in closing the gender gap. Deep-rooted social norms and cultural barriers limit many women and girls, who face inequality in their daily lives, from classrooms to homes. This cycle perpetuates negative stereotypes and prevents Indian girls from achieving their full potential.

Empowering Women in Rural India

The patriarchal social structures embedded in Indian culture push women to focus on domestic responsibilities. As a result, many women feel pressure to prioritize child-rearing and marriage over education and employment. This is especially apparent in rural areas and marginalized communities.

The inequalities that women face extend beyond their homes and are reflected in both public and private sectors. Representation in ministerial positions is critical to advancing gender-sensitive policymaking. As of 2025, women hold about 10% of seats in parliament or legislative assemblies.

Their limited representation in policymaking makes it difficult to pass legislation that supports their interests. The following statistics highlight key issues:

  • The adult literacy rate for women is 13.4 percentage points lower than for men, with 74.9% of women literate compared to 88.3% of men in India.
  • 14 of every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 gave birth in India in 2023.
  • As of 2025, the labor participation rate for women is 32.4% compared to 77.6% for men.

Although the gap between women and men across education, safety and economic participation is slowly closing, a significant disparity remains that stems from structures historically dominated by men.

The Hunger Project India

To address these disparities, The Hunger Project India works to encourage women to take on decision-making roles through community-based programs and leadership training. The organization focuses on building and strengthening women’s leadership skills in local governance, particularly gram panchayats, or village councils, and expanding access for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities to education, health, nutrition and economic opportunities.

The organization recognizes that meaningful change starts at the community level. The Hunger Project is empowering women in public office to drive development through a social justice and gender lens and to create an enabling environment for adolescent girls to build their confidence, life skills and understanding of the structural barriers that affect their lives.

The program encourages girls to use their voices to claim their rights, negotiate for change and make informed decisions about their lives. By empowering women to take on leadership positions, the program helps create role models for young girls in their communities. Women holding these government positions also advocate against child marriage and encourage young girls to strive for independence.

Through intergenerational dialogue, women who have experienced the barriers created by restrictive practices can inform and educate younger women.

Program Successes

Many women have been successful through these programs. Shakuntala Devi is an elected woman representative from Malipokhar Bhinda, Bihar. She endured child marriage and spent much of her life providing for six children. In her leadership role, she now works to combat child marriage by promoting education. She aims to “educate all the girls in her village,” as she believes “we can truly stop child marriage if we educate and empower adolescent girls.”

In addition to supporting elected women representatives, The Hunger Project works directly with adolescent girls to build their voice and agency through life skills and girls’ leadership workshops.

The organization also spoke with The Borgen Project about the broader narrative around gender equity. A representative noted that women and girls are often seen as means to an end, with development frameworks placing a disproportionate burden on them to drive change for entire communities. To create sustainable change, responsibility must shift from the individual level to address the broader structural issues that shape the system. This requires engagement at multiple levels, including panchayat institutions, families and the larger community.

Looking Ahead

India’s path toward gender equality will depend on two major factors: investment in women’s education and a willingness to address the social barriers that limit women’s opportunities. The initiatives led by The Hunger Project India demonstrate the action needed to change the narrative surrounding women’s rights in India. Through consistent efforts and a community-level approach, the organization is gradually contributing to shifts in cultural norms that are empowering women in rural India.

– Sachin Kapoor

Sachin is based in Atlanta, GA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Harvesting the Sun: Sustainable Farming in Somalia

Sustainable Farming in SomaliaIn 1994, almost 50% of the working population in Somalia was employed by the agricultural industry. By 2025, this figure stood at 30%. This drop has been heavily influenced by the droughts and flooding that have affected Somalia since 2020 and resulted in famine and the loss of an estimated 43,000 lives. About 21% of the population is suffering from food shortages due to these extreme weather events that were ignited by the Deyr rainy season, which has had particularly damaging effects on farmers, with more than 1.5 million hectares of farmland lost to floods. This climate crisis has evolved from a humanitarian issue to an economic one, with one of the biggest industries in Somalia being heavily impacted.

The Hunger and Climate Crisis in Somalia

Floods are reported to have damaged or destroyed sanitation, health and education infrastructure in the nation, leaving 2.9 million people displaced in 2023 alone, with an overall 75% of the population having fled their homes in search of food, work or medical assistance. In 2025, it was estimated that 1.5 million children would be malnourished.

According to the World Food Program (WFP), one in 10 people needs help urgently, with new findings showing the number of people in crisis-level hunger has nearly doubled in a year, to 6.5 million. Many families reached by charitable aid have shared their stories. One such testimony is from a mother and farmer named Maxamed. She tells of her once prosperous farm that allowed her to be independent as a woman and mother.

However, as her animals and crops began to die following two years of no rain and weather hazards, she was “forced to pull her children out of class.” She shared that “there is no normal day anymore” and that in a typical week, her family is able to eat on only four nights. Maxamed stated that she is close to leaving home and taking her family to a displacement camp, where she would join four million others displaced by drought over the course of three months this year.

There are charities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as CARE and Action Against Hunger working to address the hunger crisis in Somalia. The latter reached 3,201,516 people in the last year. One family Action Against Hunger has aided is Hassan and Jelow Lamow, two parents in Somalia’s Bay region, and their son Adan. Two-year-old Adan’s malnourishment reached a crisis point, and he developed Kwashiorkor disease, leaving his legs and abdomen swollen from fluid. His parents had lost their crops and animals, with 1.5 million livestock having died in their home region, and so they traveled 15 miles to a hospital in Baidoa set up by Action Against Hunger. According to the charity and medical staff, Adan is recovering, but greater action is needed to prevent the nationwide hunger crisis from escalating. Sustainable farming in Somalia offers one path forward.

The Effects of Sustainable Farming in Somalia

Despite efforts being made to combat the consequences of Somalia’s climate issues, sustainable farming initiatives offer one of the best chances at restoring stability to the country. Access to basic needs such as food and clean water has become more available due to the growth of organizations offering training, funding and tools to support sustainable farming in Somalia.

One such project is the Kobciye initiative, set up by World Vision and the WFP in 2023. Meaning “uplift” in Somali, the Kobciye project has provided 3,000 farmers across three states in Somalia with new equipment, including tractors, solar-powered water pumps and fencing, to help them work against the climate issues they are experiencing. The concept of harvesting the sun’s energy is not new, but to underdeveloped or underfunded communities such as disaster-affected regions in Somalia, it has been significant in improving efficiency and production for farmers who have previously lost everything. The project has many aims, including promoting crop growth, improving prosperity and shifting general attitudes toward farming.

New Techniques

Mohammed Sheikh Yusuf, a senior advisor at Somalia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, said that when people know they can produce their own food, generate their own income and work productive land, they readily switch from a nomadic lifestyle to a more sedentary farming or agropastoralist one, transforming their lives and livelihoods.

The rising commitment to the agricultural industry has brought about new techniques to further promote sustainable farming in Somalia, drawing in a new demographic as the focus turns to empowering women and youths to become independent, financially and socially. One sustainable change has been farmers using discarded materials as compost instead of creating waste. The Kobciye project gives communities access to water, not just for farming but for sanitation too. Local government official Ibrahim Abdulkadir said this is the first time farmers in the area have had access to fresh water in 100 years.

Looking Ahead

By focusing efforts on both sustainable farming in Somalia and addressing humanitarian issues, climate challenges such as flooding and drought may become problems to manage rather than crises to fear. Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRiCS) is a consortium that has combined efforts on humanitarian and farming needs into a plan for sustainable farming in Somalia. BRiCS focuses on agricultural strategies and issues such as food security, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction. By using renewable solar energy, it has reduced the costs of fuel and electricity for farms across the nation, saving money for farmers and reducing environmental impact.

Mumino is another mother and farmer who has shared her experience carrying on the business she inherited from her family. As a woman with little formal training, she struggled to raise her family and preserve her crops, especially when facing the lack of financial and practical resources during climate hazards. Now, thanks to BRiCS and other partners in the consortium, she has access to better water systems, solar energy and training to support herself. There are 300 other families like hers who have also benefited from BRiCS training and local authorities’ intervention.

Mumino said that her animals can now feed on vegetable off-cuts, so she no longer has to buy food for them, saving her $0.50 every day. This represents both an economic advantage and a social shift, as she is able to invest more into her family’s future without having to rely on community loans. Sustainable farming in Somalia is growing through initiatives like the Kobciye project and BRiCS, supporting a more resilient and productive agricultural industry.

– Jaya Noonan

Jaya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Community Grains Banks Reduce Hunger in Rural Nepal

Hunger in Rural NepalIn rural Nepal, where geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and seasonal agricultural cycles restrict access to food, community grain banks have emerged as a practical way to reduce hunger and strengthen food security.

Food Insecurity in Rural Nepal

In rural regions of Nepal, food insecurity remains a significant challenge for many families. Geographic isolation, limited infrastructure and seasonal farming cycles often leave communities without reliable year-round access to food. During the months between harvests, many households face shortages that can lead to malnutrition, debt and deepened poverty.

According to the journal “Food Insecurity, Food Grain Imports and Agricultural Exports in Nepal: A Data Analysis Comparison (1990–2023),” “Food insecurity persists as a pressing issue, particularly in rural areas where undernutrition and food shortages remain prevalent.”

The Impact of Post-Harvest Loss

One major factor contributing to food insecurity in Nepal is post-harvest loss. Limited access to proper storage facilities and technologies leaves stored grain vulnerable to pests, moisture and spoilage. As a result, a substantial portion of harvested crops is lost before they can be consumed or sold.

According to research, “Farmers in Nepal lose up to one-third of stored grain to pests and diseases.” This significantly reduces both household food availability and income.

A Community-Based Solution

To address these challenges, some communities have turned to an innovative and locally driven solution: community grain banks. Grain banks are cooperative systems in which villagers collectively store surplus crops such as rice, wheat or maize after harvest. Each household contributes a portion of its yield to a shared reserve.

When food becomes scarce, families can borrow from the bank and repay the grain after the next harvest, often with a small additional amount to sustain the system. This approach provides a critical safety net. By ensuring access to food during difficult periods, community grain banks in rural Nepal help prevent hunger and reduce the need for high-interest loans, which many families would otherwise rely on to purchase food. In doing so, they play a direct role in breaking cycles of poverty.

In one rural community in Nepal, a grain bank was established to support families vulnerable to seasonal flooding and food shortages. Households contribute grain during harvest and those in need can borrow supplies during emergencies, repaying slightly more after the next harvest. The system follows a structured policy: “If people take 40 kilograms of paddy from the bank, they must return a total of 50 kilograms once they harvest their farm.” 

Community leaders emphasize the program’s impact, with Urmila Rishidev, president of Shanti Nari DMT, stating, “The grain bank has been a boon for our community because our children do not have to starve when a flood comes.”

Improving Storage and Long-Term Resilience

In remote areas where access to markets is limited, the role of community grain banks in reducing hunger in rural Nepal is further demonstrated through their ability to stabilize local food systems. Instead of depending on fluctuating food prices or distant supply chains, communities can rely on their own reserves. This increases resilience and allows families to better manage economic uncertainty.

Additionally, improving storage practices is essential to maximizing the impact of these systems. Research highlights that improved technologies can significantly reduce losses and strengthen food security. According to findings, hermetic storage methods are viable, chemical-free alternatives to traditional methods and pesticides used by smallholder farmers for grain storage.

They effectively control pests of stored products, maintain seed quality, improve food security and increase the income of smallholder farmers. This demonstrates how better storage solutions can directly support both food availability and household income.

Conclusion

Community grain banks represent a practical and community-driven approach to addressing food insecurity in rural Nepal. By reducing post-harvest losses, improving access to food during seasonal shortages and strengthening local cooperation, these systems help mitigate key drivers of poverty. While challenges remain, continued support for grain banks and improved storage solutions can help build more resilient, food-secure communities.

– Grelby Santos

Grelby is based in Boston, MA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr