Archive for category: Hunger

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#67Strong4Kids: Jennifer Garner Takes Strides of Hope

#67Strong4KidsJennifer Garner, an actress and Save the Children trustee, ran 67 miles in a powerful show of support for the organization’s global efforts to treat children suffering from malnutrition. Garner ran a mile each day for 67 days through the #67Strong4Kids campaign, a fundraising challenge to raise awareness for the $67 it would take to support a child with malnutrition. The challenge was to raise awareness of the costs to provide a complete, six-week course of therapeutic food that could save the life of a severely malnourished child.

Garner has been working as a Save the Children artist ambassador for more than a decade. On Sunday, June 22, she was joined in Santa Monica, California, by Peloton instructor Becs Gentry and hundreds of supporters who took strides of hope to raise awareness and funds for children suffering from malnutrition. This was the final stretch of the run, sponsored by Brooks Running. The attendance was to support the charity’s efforts to provide ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to children in danger of going hungry globally.

“I’m feeling emotional and just really grateful — grateful to people for seeing what I was doing and either joining in or cheering me on,” says Garner. “It just feels like a nice intention to be out there.”

Child Malnutrition

Around the world, one in five deaths among children aged below 5 is associated with severe acute malnutrition. This condition can cause permanent damage to children’s physical and cognitive development and make them more susceptible to illness.

Garner says, “With climate disruptions, conflict and inequality, more children than ever are suffering from the effects of severe malnutrition, a condition that is preventable and treatable. Our 67 runs may be behind us, but the race for kids’ futures is ongoing. Together, we can help. For only $67, a child can receive a six-week course of RUTF and along with it, a chance at a healthier future. Thank you for partnering with Save the Children by joining with Becs Gentry and me. You are part of the solution!”

As of June 22, the #67Strong4Kids campaign has raised $500,000 to support severely malnourished kids globally.

Garner’s Advocacy Efforts

Garner has advocated on Capitol Hill and brought Save the Children’s early childhood education programs to her state of West Virginia. She traveled to Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington to meet with lawmakers, press and philanthropists to raise awareness for the foundation.

Conclusion

Jennifer Garner shared that her decision to run every day “was a small promise that I could keep to myself every day, but would be meaningful for me.” She has set a groundbreaking example by taking strides of hope, where each stride counts.

Her drive to take initiative and accept the #67Strong4Kids challenge has inspired countless runners and fans. Through all of its participants, Save the Children has acquired some of the resources needed to support malnourished children globally.

– Abirame Shanthakumar

Abirame is based in Ontario, Canada and focuses on Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Addressing Food Insecurity in Honduras: The CELAC 2030 Plan

Addressing Food Insecurity in Honduras Under the CELAC 2030 Plan The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) launched the Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and the Eradication of Hunger 2030 in 2024. With 33 countries participating, the project aims to tackle food insecurity and reinforce commitment to ending hunger.

As 43 million people—approximately 7% of the population—are still malnourished in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region, CELAC emphasizes the right to food as a priority. Accordingly, the CELAC 2030 plan encourages governments to implement national policies that legally recognize the right to food as a human right. The plan is to further drive policies that allow sustainable food growth, access to adequate nutrition and support for local family farming. 

In March 2025, 26 countries met in Honduras to assess progress on the CELAC 2030 plan and launch the Food Security and Nutrition Platform to strengthen commitment. With the support of the FAO, World Food Programme and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the platform is expected to hold states accountable more effectively. With these continuous efforts, food insecurity has decreased over the past two years despite challenges from extreme weather. In line with this global movement and the CELAC 2023 plan framework, Honduras, one of the poorest countries on the continent, has also taken notable steps.

Efforts to Combat Food Insecurity in Honduras

With the national poverty rate at 64% and more than half of the population living in extreme poverty, 1.5 million people in Honduras suffer from food insecurity. Frequent climate shocks such as drought, flood and hurricane have also contributed to Honduras experiencing the highest increase in food insecurity in the LAC region over the past decade.

Another contributing factor is the structure of the agricultural sector. Only a small number of large-scale farmers grow competitive crops that dominate exports, while most farms are small-scale, producing primarily for personal consumption. As an example, 95% of coffee farms in Honduras practise family farming, with many struggling to access broader markets to earn sustainable incomes. In response, the Honduran Minister of Agriculture held the first CELAC coffee summit in 2024. This helped small-scale farmers gain access to bigger markets as it improved the local economy and expanded market opportunities. Honduras has also invested in agricultural research and technology to increase productivity and encourage sustainable farming.

Supporting Organizations

The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported these efforts by training smallholder farmers on how to access bigger markets and promoting local and sustainable food businesses. Additionally, it has assisted in disaster risk management, providing resources to prevent and respond to extreme weather. According to the WFP’s latest annual report, this support has directly benefited 1.4 million people and an additional 2.2 million people indirectly.

The Parliamentary Front Against Hunger has also played a role in addressing food insecurity. It has been involved in meetings regarding the CELAC 2030 plan, where it promoted stronger legislation and monitoring mechanisms and ways to improve resource allocation. Specifically in Honduras, its regional Parliamentary Front Against Hunger has supported various legislation to legally recognize and protect the right to food.

Looking Ahead

The CELAC 2030 Plan has set a clear roadmap to combat hunger and improve nutrition across the LAC region. This framework has also helped address food insecurity in Honduras through efforts such as supporting smallholder farmers, improving responses to climate-related challenges and introducing right-to-food legislation. While challenges remain, coordinated regional efforts like CELAC and the ongoing efforts of the Honduran government can potentially drive progress toward a more food-secure future.

– Lucy Cho

Lucy is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Everything to Know About Hunger in the Czech Republic 

Hunger in the Czech RepublicAfter decades of food insecurity, the Czech Republic underwent a remarkable transformation. Today, Czechia ranks among the nations with lowest levels of hunger worldwide – reporting 2.5% food insecurity and a poverty rate of 0.3% as of 2020. Everything to know about hunger in the Czech Republic begins with understanding how its past shaped its present. 

A Great Leap Backward 

The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) assumed power in February 1948. KSČ  nationalized private enterprises, prioritized heavy industry and reoriented trade. The Soviet model of central planning went hand in hand with limited innovation and perverse incentives.

Over the next 40 years, Czechoslovakia experienced a rare phenomenon of de-development. The 1961-65 period witnessed virtual economic stagnation and food shortages, as output for beef, pork and meat struggled to meet plan targets. Agriculture recorded poor performance between 1975 and 1980. A world recession, high input prices and restrictive domestic policies led to stagnation by the mid 1980s.

Unrest over economic growth and material conditions pushed out Communist regimes across East and Central Europe in 1989. Late to jump onto the bandwagon, Czechoslovak planners managed to keep food supplies in stores, delaying and defusing public discontent. The KSČ often compared Czechoslovak living standards to Poland and Hungary, where citizens stood in long lines for simple groceries, to dismiss demands for regime change.

A Return to Europe

The velvet revolution hit Czechoslovakia in November 1989, ushering in a liberal government. After implementing reforms for a market economy and parliamentary democracy, Czechoslovakia pursued a “return to Europe.” The President Václav Havel not only emphasized the benefits of European integration for Czechoslovakia, but demonstrated an impulse to join the EU to lend a hand to global security: “We can approach the richer nations of Western Europe, not as poor failures or helpless, recently amnestied prisoners, but as countries that can make a genuine contribution.” Czechia achieved membership of NATO in 1999 and the European Union (EU) in 2004.

Everything to know about hunger in the Czech Republic includes understanding how EU membership drove economic improvement and food security. The EU’s Cohesion Policy directed European funds to help Czechia’s development needs in four main areas: entrepreneurship and employment, research and education, the environment and transport. From 2014 to 2020, Czechia distributed funding across 10 operational programs. It invested 10% in the Rural Development Programme (RDP), 18% in Enterprise and Innovation, 12% in OP Research, Development and Education and 9% in OP Employment.

The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) directed European funds to encourage a sustainable, resilient and diversified agricultural sector. Around 78% of the Czech population live in rural areas. The European Commission approved a CAP Strategic Plan for Czechia in November 2022. The Plan seeks to support Czech farmers and raise rural living standards. For the 2023-2027 period, Czechia can invest CZK 200 billion in direct payments, rural development and common market organization.

National Policies and Reforms

The Czech Ministry of Agriculture seeks to maintain normal levels of agricultural and food production. The Ministry petitioned the Czech government to increase funds for the Support and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund (PGRLF) and the RDP in March 2020. The PGRLF will receive CZK 1 billion and the RDP will get CZK 3.3 billion.

Czechia’s RDP focuses on sustainable farming practices and the management of natural resources. The second priority is increasing the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry as well as the food industry. It provides investment support to farms and creates new jobs to boost the rural economy.

The Ministry collaborates with the State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF) to administer CAP’s direct payments, rural development and common market organization measures. The SZIF also manages national agricultural subsidies, OP Fisheries and food quality labels. The latter aims to promote organic farming products and improve the overall standard of food on shelves.

Global Anti-Hunger Effort

Along with 184 countries, Czechia committed to eliminating hunger and achieving food security at the World Food Summit in 1996. Minister for Agriculture Jan Fencl organized a follow-up meeting in 2002 to affirm the key objective to end extreme hunger and poverty. Fencl emphasized the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) as mediator and coordinator of mutual cooperation between countries. He also endorsed the concept of a global Alliance Against Hunger.

After 20+ years of democratic and economic development, Czechia now provides official development assistance (ODA) to a host of countries. Afghanistan, Moldova, Mongolia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ethiopia are the largest recipients of Czech ODA in 2012. Czechia allocated 19% of its bilateral ODA to agriculture and water supply. This helps ensure access to quality and basic food and water.

With Prosperity Comes Responsibility

Czechia recently achieved a high Global Food Security Index (GFSI). After analyzing food availability, quality and safety in 113 countries, the Economist Impact Report ranked Czechia 16th in GFSI in 2022 with 77.7 points. 

The work is not done. While the Czech government accomplished great strides domestically, its contribution toward global food security is underdeveloped. A step in the right direction, Czechia joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty in February 2025. The Alliance aims to accelerate efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty) and 2 (Zero Hunger).

Everything to know about hunger in the Czech Republic extends beyond its borders. While Czechia’s commitment to the Alliance demonstrates its recognition of the value of food security and nutrition, it can do more to align with international goals on hunger. 

– Alessandra Lewis

Alessandra is based in Westport, CT, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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CDB and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

Global Alliance Against Hunger and PovertyThe Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is a banking organization that is under the Board of Governors with a mission of reducing poverty and transforming lives through sustainable, resilient and inclusive development. Thus, providing a system for member Caribbean nations to borrow from and lend the necessary funding for developing their economies through the production and trade of resources. CDB was formed on Oct. 18, 1969, in Kingston, Jamaica and commenced operations the following year.

After electing its newest president in 2025, Daniel Best, the CDB is working to address geopolitical tensions and shifting financial conditions, while approving a historic $460 million from the Special Development Fund — an amount intended to sustain the organization for three years. Best is intending to start in his newly appointed position, hitting the ground running by looking to introduce three new financial products to support a just green transition and reduce investment risk for the private sector. Furthermore, he’s made it an utmost priority to address the United Nations (U.N.)  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2 by joining the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

Integration with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty is a governance structure that focuses on accelerating the achievement of specifically SDG 1 and 2—No Poverty (1) and Zero Hunger (2). Many board members of the CDB have reached out to the press, explaining that the organization sought to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger to address globalized poverty and food insecurity through sustainable agricultural practices. In addition, this decision could enhance domestic lives in the Caribbean by working with international programs and partners incorporated with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

Before publicly joining this fight alongside such an established organization, the CDB pledged to support the Alliance’s objectives through knowledge sharing, ethical engagement and the development of solutions tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities, including Indigenous populations and tribal groups. Both governance bodies have been made aware of the disproportionate poverty indigenous populations experience in not just the Caribbean, but all of Latin America. Of the 42 million Indigenous people living in the region, 43% live in poverty — more than twice the rate of non-Indigenous populations in Latin America — deepening their underrepresentation in areas such as the humanities and politics, according to Elizabeth Wong’s article Indigenous Erasure and Resistance in the Caribbean. Fortunately, the CDB and Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty are exploring strategies on how to address this long-established systematic oppression.

Furthering Progress

While addressing domestic issues with support from international partners is a strength of the Caribbean Development Bank, the organization also maintains a mutual aid agreement to advance the SDGs abroad. However, this task could be a lot more challenging, as in the last year, the World Bank has found a divergence in SDG 1 and SDG 2—which primarily have a close correlation with one another—in the past one to two decades. This could mean several things, ranging from poor or outdated data and analysis tools or genuine economic gaps in certain countries.

Moving Forward

The CDB appears to be in a position to be a key contributor in providing aid to address the issue and resolve weaker data systems among affected nations. As a region that many consider data poor, the integration of new data systems—if the U.N. can successfully achieve this—could improve the region’s capacity to properly track poor and malnourished environments. This could legitimize the organization’s influence, effectively resulting in its global expansion to provide improved analysis measures for more data-poor nations and regions.

– Sam Barbagallo

Sam is based in Tewksbury, MA USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Being Poor in Sudan

Being Poor in SudanBeing poor in Sudan is a reality shaped by a deep-rooted, complex issue that internal conflict and political instability have worsened. According to the World Bank, 46.5% of the population lives below the national poverty line.

Historical Context and Conflict

Sudan has struggled with internal conflicts for a substantial portion of its history, from the Mahdist Revolution (1881-1898) to the Sudanese Civil War (2023-present). These conflicts have driven many innocent bystanders into extreme poverty and deprivation. The current Civil War officially broke out on April 15, 2023, when a power struggle between two rival factions of the military triggered the conflict. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, were at the center of this struggle. This conflict has rapidly escalated into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The Hunger Crisis

The effects of these long-standing conflicts have led to lasting damage to the country’s stability, devastating Sudanese infrastructure and agricultural lands. According to the nonprofit organization Action Against Hunger, 24.8 million people are living in food poverty and need aid, alongside hundreds of thousands living in famine-like conditions. This is nearly half of the population.

Hyperinflation has further exacerbated the hunger crisis. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the annual inflation rate reached an astonishing 359% in 2021. Additionally, IMF data shows that businesses and traders raised prices by 200% last year. Sudanese citizens now struggle to find basic food staples like sorghum, rice, beans and sugar due to scarcity and high prices.

Unemployment and Economic Collapse

Being poor in Sudan means facing a daily reality of unemployment as ongoing conflict has led to the job market and economy crashing down. Before the war, unemployment rates in Sudan were already high. Since 2023, these rates have only increased. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Civil War contributed to the estimated loss of more than 5 million jobs and $5 billion in Sudan’s economy in the first year of the war.

Education Crisis

The conflict has severely disrupted access to education. The conflict has destroyed or repurposed schools and has forced millions of children out of education. International organizations have made significant efforts to solve this problem. UNICEF has launched a ‘learning passport,’ delivering education through digital platforms. This initiative has reached more than 12,000 children around Sudan.

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has also launched multi-million dollar packages to assist with education, ensuring that all children can access education even during crises, by helping train teachers and distributing various materials. These packages have helped more than 285,000 children in Sudan.

International Developments, Positive Progress and Aid

Amidst all this seemingly negative news, there have been substantial efforts to progress, alongside these education initiatives to help fight being poor in Sudan. Many major international organizations have committed to helping in relief efforts:

  • The United Nations and UNHCR are both working to provide refugees and internationally displaced people with crucial protection services and emergency supplies.
  • Action Against Hunger works in regions that are facing extreme poverty. While it faces many security issues, the team tries their best to assist with food, water, hygiene and sanitation. According to this organization, it managed to provide 180,000 people with essential aid in a single year.

Looking Ahead

Being poor in Sudan today means struggling with hunger, unemployment, lack of education and ongoing displacement. The compounded effects of war, economic instability and food scarcity have fabricated a humanitarian emergency. However, the work of international aid agencies and education initiatives brings a glimmer of hope for millions of these vulnerable Sudanese citizens.

– Emma Dornan

Emma is based in Fife, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fragility and Rule of Law in Sudan

Rule of Law in SudanThe civil war has impacted fragility and the rule of law in Sudan, and the safety of 50 million people. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), a total of 24.6 million people are acutely food insecure, while 637,000 face catastrophic levels of hunger. Meanwhile, Sudan is in the top four countries in the world for the highest prevalence of global acute malnutrition, at an estimated 13.6%. Sudan has also lost an estimated 5.2 million jobs, and economic activity in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has plummeted.

The conflict has weakened central governance and key infrastructure, requiring humanitarian efforts from the international community. However, armed clashes, widespread insecurity and lack of funding has made it increasingly difficult for aid agencies to reach affected communities.

About the Recent Civil War

The current Sudanese civil war began on April 15 2023, during Ramadan, when Rapid Support Force (RSF) members were deployed across the country, a move which the Sudanese armed forces saw as a threat. Before this, Political disagreements increased tensions between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto president and head of Sudan’s armed forces, and his deputy, Gen. Mohamed ‘Hamedti’ Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF. The two rose to power after the 2019 coup of dictator Omar al-Bashir, as well as subsequent coups of the transitional government.

Disagreements centered on the increase of Hamedti’s power in government, the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese army, and the multiple delays in establishing a democratic government. Bouts of conflict have wracked the rule of law in Sudan since its independence in 1956, when it was already embroiled in the first Sudanese civil war.

Sudan’s History

Before independence, Sudan was part of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium. Although both the U.K. and Egypt administered the region, the U.K. held more authority. In 1954, both countries signed a treaty which would grant sovereignty to the new Republic of Sudan in 1956. Despite this, war gripped the country when the first Sudanese civil war began in 1955 as a result of cultural divides and political and economic inequality in the region.

Britain governed the Sudanese north and south as different entities. The north comprised wealthier, more educated Arab and Muslim populations, whereas the south comprised poorer Christian or pagan peoples who were less politically conscious. Due to its wealth, the north leveraged more political power from both colonial and post-colonial administrations, thereby driving further inequality between the regions. Discontent between the North and South grew after the 1947 Juba conference, where both the North and South would be subsumed into one government, further dissipating southern autonomy. In addition, northern Islamization and Arabization of the south heightened even further animosity between the two. The aftermath of the war and continuation of North/South inequalities would lay the groundwork for the second Sudanese civil war in 1983, and would also lead to the succession of South Sudan in 2011.

The Dictatorship of Omar Al-Bashir

In 1989, during the second Sudanese civil war, Brigadier General Omar Al-Bashir ousted the democratically elected government in a military coup and became head of state. Accusations of electoral fraud and corruption marred his dictatorship of the country, which incited numerous protests. Furthermore, his governance focused heavily on strict Sharia law interpretations, with many rights taken away through morality policing and persecution of religious minorities and Sunni apostates.

In 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted him for five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes. Then, in 2010, the ICC added three additional counts of Genocide to his indictment. These charges related to the treatment of ethnic minorities, including the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit, during the Darfur war.

 In 2019, a military coup that the SAF and RSF jointly carried out overthrew him. The aftermath left a power vacuum, impacting the rule of law in Sudan and the fragility of the government.

A New Government

On March 4, 2025, the RSF and allied groups signed a transitional constitution for a parallel government in regions under their military control. The new government aims to gain diplomatic legitimacy from opposing forces and establish more access to advanced weaponry.

In a UN Security Council meeting, U.S. Representative John Kelley stated, “Attempts by the RSF and aligned actors to establish a government in RSF-controlled territory in Sudan are unhelpful for the cause of peace and security in Sudan, and risk a de facto partition of the country.”

The 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan

In December 2024, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) developed the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. It aimed to provide humanitarian assistance to 21 million people and reduce mortality in areas with a risk of further deterioration of rule of law in Sudan.

Recently as part of the response plan, between May 4th and 8th, the World Food Programme distributed food to more than 335,000 people in Tawila in response to worsening conditions. This program has raised $600 million, however, this falls woefully short of the much-needed total requirement of $4.1 billion.

Because of global funding shortfalls, the Emergency Relief Coordinator asked humanitarian teams to ensure that the most life-saving assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations.

It has shortened its target to 17.3 million people, for which $2.4 billion is needed to provide. This amounts to $0.38 per person per day over one year.

On March 10th, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, commented on the funding shortfalls in a press release. She stated that “The abrupt funding cuts and suspensions will end life-saving humanitarian assistance for millions of women, children and other vulnerable groups across the country. Without urgent funding, famine is likely to spread in the coming months. This is a time when every lifeline must flow to save lives. I call on all our major donors to reconsider their decisions to reduce funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance in Sudan. I also urge other governments, donors, foundations, charities, faith-based networks, the private sector and individuals to urgently step up to help fill the gaps left by these devastating reductions.”

–  Samuel Devine

Samuel is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About Hunger in Fiji

Hunger in FijiFiji is an island nation in the South Pacific, consisting of more than 300 islands and a population of approximately 930,000 people. While it is known internationally for its tourism and bottled water exports, the country faces measurable levels of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Here is what to know about hunger in Fiji.

Hunger in Fiji

According to The Global Hunger Index, in 2024, Fiji received a score of 10.2, indicating moderate levels of hunger. However, according to official statistics, approximately 11% of rural households live below the “food poverty” level (less than 25.68 FJD per week).

Fiji faces a double burden of nutritional problems, including malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and overweight and obesity. For example, according to UNICEF, 8% of children under 5 years of age live in “severe child food poverty,” receiving only 0–2 food groups per day.

Additionally, a third of children aged 5–19 are overweight and 70–75% of adult deaths are related to noncommunicable diseases and obesity.

Despite being a major exporter of bottled water, 12% of the population does not have reliable access to clean drinking water. The country’s best-known export, Fiji Water, is consumed globally, but water infrastructure within the country remains uneven, especially in informal settlements and outer islands.

The Cause of Malnutrition and Eating Disorders

Besides the lack of food distribution in Fiji due to the geographical location, political instability and corruption are some of the major causes of poverty in Fiji. Some of the challenges that Fiji is facing that exacerbate poverty are limited rural investment and weak food program implementation as well.

Climate events like cyclones and floods frequently damage crops and disrupt food supply, affecting thousands of households each year. At the same time, Fijians are experiencing a shift in diets: processed items that are high in sugar, salt and fat are replacing traditional, healthy foods. This has led to both undernutrition and high obesity rates. Around 8% of children under five experience severe food poverty, while a third of school-aged children are overweight.

Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened food insecurity through job losses and rising prices, especially in tourism and informal sectors. Together, these issues create a cycle that keeps many Fijians, especially in rural areas, in a state of food and nutrition insecurity.

Solutions

Fiji faces a significant challenge in addressing hunger, but solutions are possible. For example, in 2019, Save the Children’s Knowledge and Action in Nutrition and Agriculture (KANA) programme provided education about the hunger situation in Fiji to the youngest generation all the way up to seniors. The program provided training, tools and seeds to farmers and schools on Ra and Koro islands. To date, the program has supported 1,171 students in nutrition education, trained 357 adults and established 33 school gardens.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture launched Fiji’s Home Gardening Programme in March 2020 to provide seeds to farmers. By January 2022, the ministry distributed more than 1 million seed packs (four to six crop varieties) to 203,792 households. Ongoing efforts aim to assist more than 77,000 households and 500 women farmers through related programs.

Looking Ahead

Expanding initiatives like home gardening can enable families to grow their own food and cut costs. To ensure long-term food security, Fiji may also need to invest in climate-resilient farming to mitigate the impact of cyclones and floods on food production. By taking decisive steps, Fiji can build a more sustainable and secure food system for its people.

– Nika Khomenko

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

Photo: Unsplash

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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