# Companies commit millions in pledge to solve global hunger

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/23/companies-commit-millions-in-pledge-to-solve-global-hunger/
- Published: 2021-09-23T08:45:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**42 companies have pledged $345 million (around £253m) to contribute to ending 
global hunger by 2030 as part of new initiative the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge.**

Coming out of the [UN Food Systems Summit](https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit)
Action Tracks, the initiative recognises that governments cannot eradicate hunger
alone and need more private sector involvement, with investments aligned with the
highest-impact areas. So far, pledges have been made in 34 countries.

The [Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge](https://www.iisd.org/projects/zero-hunger-pledge-private-sector)
requires companies to make a financial commitment in at least one of the 10 high-
impact intervention areas identified in the [Ceres2030](https://ceres2030.org/evidence/)
findings and in at least one of the priority countries or regions.

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These high-impact intervention areas include: enabling participation in farmers’
organisations, creating vocational programs for rural youth, scaling up social protection
programmes, and supporting the adoption of climate-resilient crops.

Companies can pledge at any time and pledgers so far include a range of companies,
from large corporations to SMEs. Each has committed to upholding internationally
accepted principles including the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture
and Food Systems of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS-RAI), the Principles
of the UN Global Compact, and the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.

Commitments can come in the form of core business investments, subsidised contributions,
cash contributions, and in-kind contributions. They focus on three key areas:

 * Empowering the excluded – giving marginalized populations and small producers
   the resources to learn and benefit from successful agricultural interventions.
 * Investing in food producers – encouraging more sustainable on-farm practices 
   and interventions to improve environmental conditions.
 * Reducing losses and supporting SMEs – assisting small-scale producers and SMEs
   to increase their productivity and income.

The pledge is being supported by a network of partners, including the Global Alliance
for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Grow Africa, Grow Asia, the World Benchmarking Alliance,
the World Food Programme, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development(
[WBCSD](https://www.wbcsd.org/)), the International Institute for Sustainable Development(
IISD), and Cornell University. Pledgers will work coordinate with these organisations.

David Beasley, Executive Director of the [World Food Programme](https://www.wfp.org/)(
WFP) said:

> “Today, one in ten people go to bed hungry and millions are right on the brink
> of starvation. This is happening in a world that has enough food to feed everyone,
> everywhere. It’s time to end this suffering. But to succeed, WFP and the entire
> community need the creative drive, energy, and commitment of the private sector.
> Through the Zero Hunger Pledge initiative, businesses around the world can join
> us and truly make a difference – giving food, hope, and a better future to those
> who need them most.”

Peter Bakker, President and CEO, WBCSD added:

> “Increasing private sector investment towards small food producers in geographies
> with high burdens of hunger is essential to changing the lives of millions of 
> people and making nations food secure. The Pledge enables food companies to provide
> a strong, united front with governments to make hunger a thing of the past by 
> 2030.”