Archive for category: Hunger

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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

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Hunger in Taiwan

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

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

Hunger, Food Sufficiency and Dependence on Imports

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

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

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

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

Planning for Import Disruption

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

Tackling Hunger in Taiwan and Beyond

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

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

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

A Multifaceted Approach

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

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr

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Bolsa Família: Poverty Alleviation in Brazil

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

Hunger Reduction

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

Improved Health and Education

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

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

Women Empowerment

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

Eliminating Child Labor

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

What’s Next?

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

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

– Melody Aminian

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

Photo: Flickr

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Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Slovakia

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

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Slovakia

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

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

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr