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Solutions to Hidden Hunger and Nutrition Based Poverty Traps

Hidden hunger
Hunger is a prevalent issue throughout many developing countries. Numerous studies have shown that hunger can have detrimental impacts, including low health and high child mortality. One consequence of hidden hunger that is less explored is the decrease in productivity that results from a nutritional deficit. Whilst this effect may initially pale in comparison to other much worse consequences, the downsides to lower productivity are critical and can lead to a much larger, intergenerational cycle of poverty than previously assumed.

Studies have demonstrated that reduced calorie intake can lead to significant decreases in productivity, which can create an inescapable cycle. A randomized control trial conducted by economist Heather Schofield revealed that an additional 700 calories each day could lead to a 10% increase in income, due to the increased physical and cognitive productivity gained. So, how can lower productivity create a cycle of poverty?

Nutrition-Based Poverty Traps

A poverty trap is a non-linear relationship between one’s current and future income. There is a strong correlation between malnutrition and poverty, but it is heavily questioned whether this leads to the formation of a nutritional poverty trap.

Much research has been completed surrounding the potential existence of a nutrition-based poverty trap, and some deny its existence whilst others support the theory. Studies completed by economists Duflo and Banerji demonstrate the evident existence of poverty traps such as these, stating there may even be a clear link between income and future income of undernourished parents and children respectively, all because of a nutrient-deficient diet. This is because lower-earning parents tend to consume less nutrient-heavy food, which can lead to stunted development for a child, beginning as early as in utero, thus creating a brutal cycle. This micronutrient-deficient lifestyle can also be referred to as ‘hidden hunger.’

Hidden Hunger

Hidden hunger is when one’s diet is severely restricted, resulting in nutrient-poor food intake. Micronutrient deficiencies include those such as iron and zinc deficiency, which can result in poor body development and health.

Hidden hunger is reinforced in countries where there is heavy reliance on low-cost, low-nutrient foods, such as rice and wheat. This type of hunger is not so much to do with a lack of calories, but more a lack of nutrients, hence it is considered ‘hidden’ due to lack of an obvious problem. Crops such as these, whilst providing energy and sustenance, have a low amount of nutrients. Micronutrient intake for low-income groups is much lower than what would normally be required for a healthy diet, due to challenges of affordability and shocks to global food systems. The long-lasting effects of hidden hunger can be detrimental. There is a high cost to malnutrition; it is estimated that around 149 million children under the age of 5 are stunted, which is roughly 22%.

The Solutions to Hidden Hunger

There are no direct means of tackling hidden hunger; it is a complex issue that requires a multidimensional response in order to ensure that all those in poverty are able to access a nutrient-heavy, balanced diet. Past solutions range from cash and in-kind transfers to innovations designed to increase nutrient and mineral consumption.

While cash transfers can be successful in poverty alleviation, consumers do not always choose to purchase the most optimal foods for nutrient maximization. In-kind transfers would likely be more beneficial in a scenario such as this, due to certain innovations that can facilitate a nutrient and mineral-rich diet.

Innovative solutions to hidden hunger range from food engineering to create additional nutrients, to devices that aim to increase biofortification. Strengthening staple foods is a successful means of food fortification. A few examples of innovations and solutions that achieve this are as follows:

  • Lucky Iron Fish: A Lucky Iron Fish is a reusable and simple method of infusing food with additional iron. By adding an Iron Fish into boiling water for just 10 minutes, a food dish could gain an additional 6-8 mg of iron.
  • Iodized Salt and Oil: Adding iodine to food staples is another way of preventing nutrient deficiency. Iodine is essential for preventing stunted growth in infants and young children.
  • Fortified Fish Sauce: This creation has previously been used on childbearing women in Vietnam, and is another successful method of controlling iron deficiency. This idea includes the fortification of any staple food or condiment with iron but has been specifically trialed with fish sauce, a regularly consumed condiment for many. The results include higher levels of hemoglobin and decreases in the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency, thus enabling successful development for infants in utero.
  • Plumpy’ Nut and Other Acute Malnutrition Products: Nutriset is a company producing ‘Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods’ (RUTFs), which are food packages specifically engineered for children and adults suffering from severe malnutrition. Their products are compact and simple, containing around 500 calories in a single sachet. Other creations of theirs include ‘moderate’ and ‘acute’ malnutrition treatments, as well as preventative products to help maintain a healthy diet.

Tackling hidden hunger is the key to breaking the poverty cycle created by malnutrition. Innovations such as these, as well as successful foreign policies to tackle hunger, will ultimately lead to a successful eradication of undernutrition, alleviating many from absolute poverty.

– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr

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Economists Call for Action as Global Poverty and Extreme Wealth Rise

Call for Action
A group of leading economists has emphasized that neglecting to address the growing disparity between the wealthy and impoverished worldwide will reinforce poverty. Here is information about the letter they wrote that is acting as a call to action.

A Letter Demands Action

More than 200 senior economists have issued a call for action on rampant global inequality. In a letter directed to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and the World Bank president, Ajay Banga, the signatories from 67 countries urged these two bodies to take more substantial measures to reverse the most significant increase in global inequality since World War II Those supporting the appeal for action include New Zealand’s former prime minister Helen Clark, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and economists Jayati Ghosh, Thomas Piketty and Joseph Stiglitz.

The letter emphasizes that extreme poverty and extreme wealth have simultaneously surged for the first time in 25 years. Currently, the richest 10% of the global population takes 52% of global income, while the poorest half of the population earns merely 8.5% of it. The letter insists on improving the measurement of inequality and setting more ambitious targets to narrow income and wealth gaps.

With sharply rising food prices, billions of people face struggles against poverty and hunger. At the same time, the number of billionaires has doubled in the last decade.

Global Setbacks

The economists’ call for action arose on the same day Russia withdrew from a critical UN-brokered deal, which permitted the export of grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea. The collapse of this agreement poses a severe threat of increasing food prices worldwide, plunging millions more into hunger.

In 2015, almost all governments in the world adopted the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include the goal of reducing inequality by 2030, known as “SDG 10.” However, five years later, the World Bank reported that the COVID-19 pandemic drove the largest annual rise in global inequality in three decades. SDG 10, based on the World Bank’s Shared Prosperity goal, does not adequately measure or monitor key aspects of inequality. Household surveys provide evidence that one in five countries with a positive trend in Shared Prosperity also experienced an increase in inequality according to other measures like the Palma Ratio. These countries include Chile, Mongolia and Vietnam. ​​ 

Looking Forward

The World Bank is currently reviewing its Shared Prosperity goal. The World Bank has the opportunity to actively strengthen this goal of assessing inequalities across the whole spectrum of income and wealth distribution.

Significant advances in inequality data, including more accurate estimates of top incomes, have facilitated a new generation of policy-making based on a clear distributional analysis of the impact of policy changes. Pushing these advancements further can allow every government to conduct high-level inequality analysis. 

The World Bank and the UN are in a special position to urgently offer a rallying call for reducing inequality in today’s divided world. The World Bank and the UN SDGs can make better metrics for wealth, income and wage shares of national income with a focus on the global level.

The economists’ call for action has the potential to motivate the World Bank, the UN and governments worldwide to work toward reducing global poverty by addressing the vast economic inequality between the wealthy and the poor. 

– Marisa Del Vecchio
Photo: Flickr

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Food Insecurity and Mental Health Around the Globe

Food Insecurity and Mental Health
In 2023, 9.2% of the world’s population faced chronic hunger, mostly in the developing world. Tragically, nearly one in five people in Africa are undernourished, compared to less than 3% in North America and Europe. 

Many may be familiar with the physical cost of hunger. However, they might not know the crippling psychological harms that food insecurity imposes. The interplay between food insecurity and mental health is one more reason why addressing global hunger has never been more urgent. 

The State of Food Insecurity and Mental Health 

Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to nutritious food, often due to economic constraints. It raises the risk of chronic hunger, preventing people from leading active and healthy lives. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the world has witnessed inflation and scarcity, plunging 122 million more people into hunger in 2023 compared to 2019. 

Worrying about securing food, or living in perpetual fear of hunger, subjects low-income people to constant stress with serious potential consequences for their mental well-being. A Canadian study found that those grappling with food insecurity are three times more likely to report adverse mental health outcomes. Similarly, research in the U.S. estimated that food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic had three times the negative impact on mental health that pandemic job loss did.

The Hidden Cost of Living with Hunger 

Food insecurity itself inflicts psychological harm. However, some coping strategies can also breed anxiety or shame, particularly if social stigma marks them. This is another way food insecurity and mental health are tragically connected. 

Here are several common strategies for coping with food insecurity: 

  • Buying cheaper foods 
  • Borrowing money for food, or borrowing food 
  • Limiting food intake, especially parents limiting their food intake to ensure their children have enough to eat 
  • Begging for food 
  • Using government assistance or charitable programs, such as food banks 

In South Africa, where more than 20% of households experience food insecurity, researchers estimate that as many as one in five households have resorted to begging for food. This has an association with a higher risk of psychological harm compared to other coping strategies because of the uncertainty, danger and stigma that surrounds begging. 

The Path to Progress  

Improving food assistance mechanisms like government food banks or charitable programs may not provide a comprehensive solution when taking food insecurity and mental health into account. Especially when individuals risk being seen receiving food aid, seeking help often triggers embarrassment or stress. That means going to a local food bank is not enough to truly free people from the harms of hunger. 

Meaningful and sensitive improvements to tackle food insecurity could prove effective in combating mental health crises around the world. One promising initiative is Feed the Future, a program that the U.S. government funds and manages. In its 20 countries of operation, Feed the Future employs a three-part strategy including developing agriculture, building community resilience and working towards whole-population nourishment. Notably, this initiative builds systems for long-term food security, rather than short-term relief. 

From 2011-2021, Feed the Future secured $4.8 billion in funding for global food security and generated nearly four times that amount in global agricultural sales. The program estimates that 23.4 million more people are above the poverty line due to its work around the world.

The connection between food insecurity and mental health provides just another reason why combating global hunger is of the utmost importance. With compassionate, awareness-driven food aid, it is possible to alleviate hunger and benefit the physical and mental health of millions around the world.

– Faye Crawford
Photo: Flickr

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Everything You Need to Know About Hunger in North Korea

Hunger in North KoreaAt first glance, the web of circumstances causing hunger in North Korea today seems impossible to untangle. The tangle has only grown in size and solidity since North Korea collectivized its agriculture in the 1950s. The country accomplished this transition without encountering the deadly food shortages suffered by other communist dictatorships, but it involved yoking nearly its entire food supply to tactics that, both literally and figuratively, eroded the ground under its feet.

The North Korean regime cleared away vegetation from mountains and hillsides to create more farmland, deforesting much of the countryside and leaving it more vulnerable to floods, erosion and drought. It made vital parts of its food infrastructure (chemical fertilizer factories, tractors, irrigation pumps and trucks for distributing grain) dependent on the importation of cheap, subsidized fuel from the Soviet Union. In 1957 it outlawed the trade of grain and devoted itself to outsized military spending and its founding communist ideology of self-sufficiency (Juche).

These elements came to a fatal head five decades later at a time when the country was possibly producing less than 60% of its food needs. Soviet petroleum subsidies ceased in 1989 and left the North Korean agricultural infrastructure without enough fuel to operate. Monsoons came in late June 1995 and flooded the now largely unobstructed countryside, drowned a quarter of North Korea’s rice paddies and covered some parts of the country in twenty-three inches of rain. Famine killed between 600,000 and two million North Koreans between 1995 and 1999 — 3-5% of the total population.

Attempts at Reform and Modern Hunger

Internal efforts to reform from 1996 to 2016 strained toward self-sufficiency without achieving it. Kim Jong Il’s 1996 reforms underestimated the country’s dependence on chemical fertilizer and the hegemony’s unwillingness to actively support reform. In 2012, Kim Jong Un instituted the Field Responsibility System (FRS), allowing farmers to keep any grain they produced in excess of their quota. His five-year plan, released in 2016, targeted an annual grain and fertilizer output of 8 million and 2.3 million tons respectively.

This growth required a 30% increase in grain output from 2014, but figures from the Food and Agricultural Organization suggest the target of 8 million tons was not reached. Farmers from the North who had come to South Korea were unaware that FRS reforms had even occurred, and despite efforts to increase domestic fertilizer production, over 250,000 tons had to be imported until 2018. In the meantime, the regime urged farmers to rely more on organic fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer production peaked in 1979 at 2.91 million tons. The output of cereals also peaked at just over 65 million tons in 1979. In the 44 years since, North Korea has never produced more.

Hunger in North Korea continues unabated. Citing Chinese customs data, a CNN report from March 3, 2023, shows the country exporting roughly 56 million kilograms of wheat and flour, along with 53,280 kilograms of cereals to North Korea in 2022. Seoul’s Rural Development Agency estimates that from 2021 to 2022 crop yields dropped by 4%. A clandestine source quoted in the South Korean paper Daily NK on Nov. 21, 2022, opens an urgent window on the subjective experience of hunger in North Korea today. “People with nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep are roaming around trains stations, markets and the streets, but neither the city party committee nor the people’s committee are taking measures to deal with it.”

Reasons for Hope

Despite all this, Peter Ward, writing for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs in January 2023, begins to outline reasons for hope. North Koreans are resilient and resourceful. Surveys of refugees suggest they are getting much of their food by cultivating the sloping land in regions normally considered inhospitable to crops. This resourcefulness, combined with allowing farmers greater freedom to choose what they plant and tillage rights to their land might generate an increased productivity that could not only spur similar productivity in related industries (chemical fertilizer production) but give rural households a greater ability to purchase imported goods.

Furthermore, the World Food Program’s 2021 brief shows a substantial number of North Koreans directly benefiting from its efforts. From January to March of 2021, it distributed 891.5 metric tons of fortified food (food with added vitamins and nutrients) and 4,970 metric tons of raw food commodities to 566,886 people. This accounts for less than 3% of the country’s total population, but it is an impressive figure considering it was achieved in the teeth of a countrywide COVID-19 response that locked down North Korea’s borders with deadly force, closed many public and child institutions and eventually left no U.N. international staff in the country since March 2021.

Internal movements towards reform, continued international assistance and trade as the COVID-19 pandemic abates, and the resilience of the nation’s people are the hands inside and out that must continue to untangle hunger in North Korea, a problem that only seems unsolvable when the initial despair it inspires is not pushed through.

– John Merino
Photo: Flickr

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Food Insecurity in East Timor

Food Insecurity in East TimorEast Timor, a small nation located in Southeast Asia, is grappling with a silent crisis that continues to haunt its people – hunger. Despite some remarkable progress since gaining independence, food insecurity in East Timor remains a pressing issue for many Timorese, threatening the well-being of its population and hindering the nation’s development.

Current State of Food Insecurity in East Timor

East Timor’s history is marred by conflict and political instability, which has had profound implications for its food systems. According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022, East Timor ranks 110th out of 121 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger. The GHI measures hunger on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe hunger. East Timor’s score of 30.6 places it in the category of “serious” hunger levels.

The challenges faced by East Timor in achieving food security are multifaceted. One crucial factor is the limited access to arable land. The country’s mountainous terrain and limited fertile areas make agricultural cultivation challenging. According to the U.N. Human Rights Office, only about 11% of East Timor’s total land area is suitable for agriculture, severely constraining the potential for increased food production.

Furthermore, extreme weather events pose a significant threat to food security in East Timor. The country is prone to cyclones such as El Niño, floods and droughts, which can lead to the destruction of crops and livestock, undermining farmers’ livelihoods and exacerbating hunger. Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the 2021 Cyclone Seroja in East Timor alone caused an economic loss of approximately 20 to 50% of the country’s GDP with total recovery costs of $422 million (25% of non-oil GDP).

Actions Addressing the Challenges

To address these challenges, the East Timorese government, with support from international organizations and NGOs, has implemented several initiatives. For instance, The World Bank’s Timor-Leste Agriculture Rehabilitation Project, launched in 2001, aims to improve the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers by providing training, access to agricultural inputs and market linkages for the country post-independence.

Additionally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been supporting the establishment of agricultural cooperatives in East Timor. These cooperatives enable small farmers to pool their resources, access credit and receive training in modern farming techniques, thus enhancing their productivity and income.

Infrastructure development is also crucial for improving food security. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting East Timor in developing rural road networks and irrigation systems, totaling their investment of up to $210.83 million in irrigation and agricultural infrastructure. These investments are vital for facilitating the transportation of goods from rural areas to markets, reducing post-harvest losses and improving farmers’ access to inputs and services.

– Kent Anderson
Photo: Unsplash

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Everything You Need to Know About Hunger in Chad

Hunger in ChadThe landlocked nation of Chad, located in Central Africa, has continuously experienced challenges in addressing its ongoing poverty crisis. While many recent efforts by international programs have brought clean water and a steady supply of food to millions, hunger in Chad still affects many men, women and children there.

Conditions Causing Hunger in Chad

According to the World Food Program USA, 42% of Chad’s population is currently living below the poverty line. Additionally, the number of people that have been forcibly displaced in Chad has exceeded one million.

Chad also hosts more refugees than any other West or Central African nation, with more than 600,000 currently living in Chad. The influx of refugees across Chad’s border increased significantly after recent conflicts began in neighboring Sudan.

Extreme climate conditions have also caused more difficult growing seasons for agriculture throughout Chad, worsening the food crisis. A recent report by AP News stated that the Lake Chad Basin has become increasingly vulnerable to floods and droughts, which directly impacts food security.

Malnutrition in Chad

Hundreds of thousands of children were treated for severe acute malnutrition in Chad in 2021. Nearly 300,000 children under the age of five were treated that year, with UNICEF reporting that this number is increasing annually.

45.4% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 currently suffer from anemia in Chad. According to the Global Nutrition Report, Chad is “off course” in addressing several malnutrition-related health issues, including childhood overweight, sodium intake and obesity.

Efforts to Improve Hunger in Chad

The Global Hunger Index (GHI), which attributes a hunger score for various countries based on their levels of undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality, has given Chad a score of 37.2. This places Chad in the “alarming” category and ranked 117th out of 121 countries that are reviewed by the GHI. However, Chad has seen a decline in its GHI score in the years since 2000, when their score was listed at 50.7.

Action Against Hunger, a global organization that works to end hunger around the world, began working in Chad in 1981. Last year, with a team of 264 employees, Action Against Hunger helped over 1.2 million people suffering from hunger in Chad. The organization’s efforts included increased access to water, hygiene and food security programs.

The World Food Program (WFP) USA also aims to assist millions of people in Chad this year. To address the rising number of refugees in the nation, WFP USA plans to provide food to 100,000 refugees and host communities. Additionally, the organization will work with communities to improve assets such as warehouses for crops and will expand nutrition assistance to an additional 16 regions considered high-risk in Chad.

Overall, there are still many challenges to addressing hunger in Chad. However, the resilience of those living in the nation and the commitment of numerous international organizations to provide funding and support toward improving conditions in Chad present hope for a better future for millions.

– Tristan Weisenbach
Photo: Flickr

Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

Poverty Reduction in NigeriaThe West African country Nigeria has the fastest-growing population in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the Nigerian population is outpacing poverty reduction as the population grows and the economy declines. Essentially, the demand for jobs is much higher than the availability.

Therefore, the World Bank has projected that the number of Nigerians living below the national poverty line will increase by 13 million people by 2025.

Income Inequality in Nigeria

There are several reasons for the high poverty rates in Nigeria, one of which is income inequality. The average income in rural versus urban Nigeria is incredibly unbalanced. In the past, agriculture was a key export in Nigeria. However, this industry is no longer financially flourishing, leaving those in the rural farmlands susceptible to low income.

Nigeria struggles with various factors that contribute to food insecurity. The most dominant is poverty, along with climate-related challenges that amplify the effects and hardships of poverty, such as drought and flooding. As a result, millions of Nigerians in rural marginalized areas experience extreme malnutrition and chronic hunger.

Currently, 80% of exports from Nigeria are oil, which only represents 1% of national jobs. This contributes to the shocking statistic that four out of 10 Nigerians live in poverty.

The Nigerian government is working to implement reforms that can promote poverty reduction and aid civilians to have a better quality of life. One such reform is the elimination of fuel subsidies.

The Aftermath of Eradicating Fuel Subsidies

Despite the thriving fuel industry, subsidies on petroleum have caused problems in Nigeria for decades.

Nigeria first implemented its fuel subsidies policy in 1977. The Nigerian government enacted these restrictions to provide a cushion from the 1973 oil crisis. However, what was initially intended for six months has remained for twenty-four years. As a result, the policy did not ease the burden of fuel prices but rather bankrupted the government. Fuel subsidies are 15% of the federal budget, more than education and health combined.

In 2012, the Nigerian government announced its plan to eradicate fuel subsidies, causing an uproar and protests over the new policy. In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu told the nation that “the fuel subsidy is gone.” Fearing the inevitable spike in gasoline costs, hundreds of people fled to petrol stations with jerry cans to prepare for the future.

The transition period appears to have poorly affected the public. For example, the petroleum market price increased by 200%. However, the perpetuation of subsidies appeared to be unattainable. Its elimination could pave the way for other initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty. This includes a budget increase for public services, health, transport and education.

Although widely unpopular among citizens, terminating the subsidies could promote a unified exchange rate, reduce corruption and allocate a larger budget for investing in long-term sustainable reformations.

External Support in the Fight to End Poverty in Nigeria

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Food Clique support communities in Nigeria that are most affected by poverty. Food Clique promotes poverty reduction for affected people through donations that fund nutritious food and free school meals. Alongside fighting hunger, these programs also encourage attendance and productivity, promote physical strength and build disease resistance.

Food Clique provides sustainable solutions to food insecurity, alleviating poverty in Nigeria. It also bridges the gap of poverty by helping communities gain access to nutritious meals and promoting long-term solutions. This work is critical because Food Clique aims to build a more food-secure nation and thus reduce the effects of poverty.

The British Red Cross estimates that as of 2022, 19.5 million people in Nigeria do not have enough to eat. However, with the tireless efforts of Food Clique and other nonprofit organizations, there is hope for progress.

Looking Ahead

In summary, poverty reduction in Nigeria has been a slow and complex process, and only now have major reforms beginning to take effect within the government. The removal of fuel subsidies and subsequent inflation impacted the poorest Nigerians the most. In the long run, however, these reforms could create new jobs and allow the government to fund other sectors, such as education and health, to reduce the impact of poverty in Nigeria.

– April Plenderleith
Photo: Pixabay

Everything you need to know about Hunger in Venezuela

Nicknamed “the Maduro diet” after Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, hunger in Venezuela is one of the symptoms of their current humanitarian crisis. Once a thriving and one of the most promising economies in Latin America, and home to the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela’s current economy is among the worst in the world.

Approximately nine in 10 people live in poverty in the country. This accounts for about a third of Latin America’s poor people. The food security crisis and widespread poverty are the results 0f a decade-long struggle with poor governance.

The State of Hunger in Venezuela

Hunger in Venezuela has been an issue of note in recent years because, in contrast to many other countries, their crisis is a result of food scarcity and years of hyperinflation which has made the most basic needs unaffordable.

Millions have fled the country and about a third of the remaining Venezuelans face food insecurity. In fact, child stunting and overall malnutrition have increased consistently since 2014, and three out of four households are forced to adopt strategies to cope with food shortages. Typically, these strategies involve reducing the size and variety of meals.  

Hyperinflation and its Causes

It all started with a land full of oil. Corruption, a struggling petrostate and an angry electorate served as the ideal scenario for socialist-populist Hugo Chavez, to be elected president in 1998. While he was well received at first, his administration began to centralize power and nationalize industries such as telecommunications, power and agriculture.

This made the economy and many government programs more dependent on the already nationalized oil industry, which would crash once again in the 2010s. Additionally, the centralization of power pulled Venezuela further from democracy into a dictatorship, which would continue after Chavez’s death through Nicolas Maduro’s presidency.

During the first years of his presidency, Maduro attempted to deal with the inherited economic struggles by printing money, which only exacerbated rising inflation. After price controls, exchange rate fixing and tax increases failed to alleviate rising prices, he printed more money again, causing exports to become more expensive, food scarcer and inflation to become hyperinflation. 

These years were the beginning of the “Maduro diet” and rising food insecurity. As hyperinflation skyrocketed between 2014 and 2018, prices of basic goods and exports rose with it, making food scarce and unaffordable.

Political Instability and Its Effects

Venezuela had a problem with violence well before 2014, but with a crippled economy and a hungry population, instability increased along with hyperinflation. The government aimed to take the lead and be the provider of everything Venezuelans needed. However, the poor economy received another blow when the U.S. imposed sanctions on the oil industry, limiting the government’s food aid.

The poor international relations also affected foreign aid, when in 2019, Maduro refused about $60 million worth of humanitarian aid to address health and food insecurity, since Venezuelans aren’t “beggars.” However, 2019 also saw economic improvements after Maduro used more sustainable economic practices, such as limiting spending and relaxing foreign exchange rates.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, however, Venezuela along with many other developing countries experienced another economic shock with the COVID-19 pandemic, which inevitably impacted hunger in Venezuela. Companies closed, remittances decreased and people lost their jobs. Unfortunately, this had effects on their ability to afford food once again.

Venezuela began to cooperate with international aid efforts again in 2021. Charities sprung back up, and Maduro signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide help for 1.5 million children in Venezuela’s poorest regions.

As for the economy, the end of 2022 raised hyperinflation concerns despite a period of a more sustainable economic position due to an increase in demand for dollars, government spending and a weakening of the Bolivar due to the impacts of the pandemic.

Impact of International Efforts

According to a report from Human Rights Watch, the United Nations (U.N.) has initiated a comprehensive plan worth $762.5 million aimed at aiding 4.5 million Venezuelans who are considered the most vulnerable. The plan includes a dedicated allocation of $87.9 million to tackle the health and socio-economic repercussions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the WFP has implemented initiatives aimed at supporting schools in providing rations and improving their infrastructure, hygiene and food services.

Looking Ahead

While Venezuela has experienced difficult times characterized by hyperinflation and rising food insecurity, cooperation with international organizations has helped the country make some progress in recent times. There is still room for much work, especially after the pandemic’s effects, but with better fiscal practices and ongoing foreign aid interventions, there is hope for a hunger-free future.

– Gustavo Gutierrez Nidasio

Photo: Pixabay

5 Ways to Combat Hunger in Trinidad and Tobago

Hunger in Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago, known for its beaches and festive atmosphere, faces a pressing issue that demands attention: hunger. Although hunger has long been a concern, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought it to the forefront of national consciousness.

According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), 20% of the population in Trinidad and Tobago experiences moderate to severe food insecurity. Around 270,000 people are at risk of hunger or missing meals and 9.3% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, impacting their long-term physical and mental development.

5 Ways to Combat Hunger in Trinidad and Tobago

  1. Education: Education plays a vital role in addressing hunger. The Ministry of Education has implemented programs like the School Nutrition Programme, providing breakfast and lunch to underserved students. In 2013, this effort helped 236,983 students, accounting for 66.7% of the overall student body. Unfortunately, the pandemic disrupted this effort, leaving many children without access to meals.
  2. Technology: Technology can also play a role in addressing hunger in Trinidad and Tobago. Mobile apps connect donors with local food banks and soup kitchens, helping to bridge the gap between those who have food to give and those in need. FarmVue, created by TCF and IICA, is a new digital platform that helps farmers document and store records of their planting, harvesting and financial activities. This app is entirely free, making it widely accessible.
  3. Nutrition: Proper nutrition is crucial in the fight against hunger. While Trinidad and Tobago is known for its cuisine, many families do not have access to healthy, affordable food. The School Nutrition Program aims to resolve this by providing five weekly meals for school children, reaching more than 25,524 children from 2020 to 2021. The initiative now operates in 583 public schools and provides over 1,009 jobs. The Nutrition and Metabolism Division of the Ministry of Health also offers services to combat malnourishment, including Advice, lectures, demonstrations and cooking food at health centers across Trinidad and Tobago. Sadly, Trinidad and Tobago is ‘off course’ to meet their maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN) targets, with anemia still affecting 17.7% of women aged 15-49.
  4. Health Care: Access to health care is also essential in addressing hunger. Malnutrition can lead to a weakened immune system and other health problems, making it difficult for individuals to work and provide for their families. The country operates a two-tier system offering public and private health care. This means all citizens can access state-provided primary health care, including treatments and medicines that tackle chronic nutrition-related diseases. The future of health care seems promising, as the government plans to increase its health spending from $549.90 per person in 2019 to $789.10 by 2050. Increases in spending have always resulted in an improved effective coverage index, as evident in the rise from 37.5 in 1990 to 55.5 in 2019. However, more work still needs to be done as high fasting plasma glucose, high blood pressure and dietary risks account for 70% of risk factors driving deaths and disability.
  5. Community Outreach: Community outreach programs can be crucial in addressing hunger in Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society (TTRCS), founded in 1939, provides food aid, education and other support services to those in need. TTRCS launched a food security initiative with RBC raising $700,000 to assist at-risk families with food support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation helped over 1,000 people across the country through supermarket gift cards. Additionally, TTRCS implemented the Garden to Kitchen Project to support families vulnerable to food security by developing community gardens. TTRCS has disrupted 37 individual garden start kits and established 30 community garden groups equipped with kits and vouchers.

Looking Ahead

Hunger remains a critical issue in Trinidad and Tobago, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed strategies include education programs like the School Nutrition Programme and technology such as FarmVue, connecting donors with those in need. Community outreach programs by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society provide food aid and support. Ultimately, such efforts aim to alleviate hunger and build a healthier, more resilient society.
– Daniel Workman
Photo: Flickr

Hunger Crisis in Nigeria

Hunger Crisis in NigeriaNigeria, a multiethnic country with more than 200 million people, has one of the largest youth populations globally. However, severe malnutrition and starvation are prevalent due to hunger and famine. Food insecurity in Nigeria increases the risk of malnutrition, stunted growth and developmental problems in children. Even more, poor nutrition and lack of access to primary health care have led to higher rates of infectious diseases.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that approximately 25 million Nigerians are experiencing a hunger epidemic. The ongoing conflict in northeastern Nigeria, alongside a population boom, has exceeded the capacity for food production and economic development. The northeast region of Nigeria relies on agriculture and subsistence farming. Nonetheless, they face difficulties in harvesting their crops due to several factors.

Climate Crisis

Severe climate conditions have negatively impacted Nigeria’s food supply chain. Nigeria experiences intense and erratic rainfall, which is a recurring problem. In 2022, flooding damaged approximately 676,000 acres of agricultural land, contributing to rising levels of hunger and malnutrition, per the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Food production and agriculture have declined due to flooding, landslides and soil erosion. With high food prices, the limited supply remains unaffordable for most individuals. Additionally, water pollution exacerbates the situation, posing a threat to the environment and the health of local populations.

Armed Conflict and Violence

In Nigeria’s northeast, security concerns have resulted in violence between farming communities and herders, causing significant disruptions to the local food supply. The conflict and drought have prevented many farmers from growing crops, making it challenging for Nigerians to make ends meet and further straining the economy.

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality is a contributing factor to food insecurity in Nigeria. Women lack access to necessary resources and services to provide food security for their families, increasing food insecurity. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reducing gender disparities would lead to higher economic growth, more efficient economic operations and a more stable economic environment.

Poverty

Poverty in Nigeria is primarily due to unemployment. The lack of job opportunities leaves many individuals without the means to support themselves and their families. Additionally, the deficient education system exacerbates the issue of the hunger epidemic threatening Nigerians.

Corruption at governmental levels has prevented investment in job creation and education initiatives, thereby worsening the poverty problem. This has resulted in stagnant economic growth and an increased income gap between the rich and the poor. The financial crisis has caused a decline in living standards for Nigerians.

Current Efforts and Solutions

Through its Nutrition & Health Programs, Action Against Hunger managed to reach 1.8 million people. Using its innovative program, “Porridge Moms,” homeless women and refugees learned how to prepare nutritious meals for their children, thereby preventing malnutrition. As part of the effort to prevent and treat malnutrition, approximately 822,000 pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under 5 years of age got access to water, sanitation and hygiene programs.

The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has been actively implementing an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to prepare the country for natural hazards and climate risks. Furthermore, the ESMP has improved the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental management and aimed to achieve greater ecological compliance.

As a result of the ESMP, agricultural lands previously degraded have been restored for agricultural purposes, leading to increased productivity and reduced hunger. Despite the negative impacts of climate change on farming land, vegetation and forests, the restoration process has led to the introduction of innovative employment methods.

Food vouchers and cash transfers are part of Save the Children’s support program to help families recover and settle. Several food system exchanges have been initiated by the Nigerian government in order to maintain weather information on a timely basis. Furthermore, the government aims to implement the Social Protection Law to identify and assist disaster victims.

What’s Next?

Initiatives that aid vulnerable populations improve market access and subsidize agriculture could accelerate progress in the fight against food insecurity in Nigeria. Additionally, promoting sustainable agricultural practices carry the potential to increase food production and reduce hunger.

– Simran Raghav
Photo: Flickr