Companies commit millions in pledge to solve global hunger
Melanie May | 23 September 2021 | News
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 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 requires companies to make a financial commitment in at least one of the 10 high-impact intervention areas identified in the Ceres2030 findings and in at least one of the priority countries or regions.
Advertisement
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), 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 (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.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.