Norway, a G20 guest country, joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty on Thursday (7). The country’s commitments include cross-sectoral cooperation to strengthen agricultural resilience and secure farmers’ incomes through negotiations with the government.
“We are committed to collaborating with the Global Alliance, financially supporting the mobilization of national and international resources to promote food security,” said the Minister of International Development of Norway, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, when presenting the Declaration of Commitment that reinforces support for the initiative.
Food security, animal welfare, and plant health are fundamental elements for a sustainable and resilient food system. For this reason, sustainable feeding is a priority—the ideal is for fish and livestock feed to come from sustainable sources, which would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“G20 leadership is essential to accelerate global efforts against poverty and hunger. The group has the necessary influence to mobilize more financial resources to eradicate these problems,” said Tvinnereim.
Norway also hopes that South Africa will maintain the G20’s focus on the fight against hunger and poverty when they assume the group’s presidency on December 1st of this year. “It is essential that the main focus be on Sub-Saharan African countries to strengthen their food self-sufficiency. These countries are expected to import food worth over 100 billion dollars by 2025, but they have the potential to produce much more of their own food,” said Tvinnereim.
Paraguay and Antigua and Barbuda also joined
Paraguay also announced its accession to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty on Thursday (7). Although the country is not a member of the G20, it has expressed its support for the Alliance and its desire to contribute to accelerating efforts to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.
For Minister Tadeo Rojas from the Ministry of Social Development of Paraguay, “it is an opportunity to strengthen ties with other governments that have a common goal.” The work will focus on the “Hambre Cero” School Feeding Program, assistance to family farming, and promotion of access to improved water, among other projects.
The Alliance also gained membership in Antigua and Barbuda, a country comprising three islands in the Caribbean Sea. As a founding member, Antigua and Barbuda will have access to resources and programs tailored to reducing poverty and hunger through innovative, evidence-based approaches. In addition, there is the opportunity to exchange technical knowledge and experience with others.
“Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in this Alliance will allow us to strengthen vital programs, from school meals to care for the elderly, reaching even more vulnerable citizens. We are honored to be part of a global collaborative effort that aligns perfectly with our country’s commitment to sustainable development and poverty reduction,” said Ambassador Ronald Sanders.
Germany was the first G20 country to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which also has the support of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the latter being the first multilateral financial institution to take part, as well as other banks.
Participation of international organizations
Still, this week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) became a founding member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and is expected to support the development of health-related policies. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, stressed that “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, at all ages, are actions intrinsically linked to the commitment to end poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”
Barbosa pointed out that, in the Americas, costs continue to represent a crucial barrier to access to health services, and they “lead families to poverty.” As a member of the Alliance, PAHO will support other members in developing policies related to primary health care, eliminating diseases, and ensuring equitable access to services to fight non-communicable diseases, among other health issues.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is another international body that joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The Program was invited to participate in the G20 Task Force that created the founding documents of the Global Alliance. The UN agency also worked closely with Brasil’s G20 presidency and other international organizations to establish the policy set at the heart of the Global Alliance.
“WFP is proud to be a founding member of the Global Alliance, and we applaud Brasil’s G20 presidency for giving global prominence to the issues of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, which are deeply connected. We will work closely with partner governments to design and implement programs that fight hunger and strengthen long-term food security, with a strong focus on school meals, nutrition, social protection, and resilience,” said Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the WFP.
“Only through partnerships and cooperation can we eradicate hunger and poverty on the planet. We are honored to have the World Food Programme, Brasil’s longtime partner, in the Global Alliance. As a founding member, the WFP will play a vital role in the success of this initiative and advancing collective efforts toward SDGs 1 and 2,” said Wellington Dias, the Brazilian Minister of Social Development and Assistance, Family, and Fight Against Hunger.
Digital center
The Program is collaborating with Brasil’s G20 presidency in a Digital Center so that the Global Alliance can efficiently respond to governments’ requests for support in implementing policies and programs to reduce hunger and poverty.
“The WFP is pleased to offer our technological expertise to enhance the transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of the Global Alliance and help stakeholders connect government requests for support to relevant knowledge and financial partners,” said Stanlake Samkange, Director of Multilateral Partnerships of the World Food Programme.
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