HLPF SDG2: Hunger on the rise again; need to empower rural populations, say FAO/IFAD/WFP

After years of decline, hunger is increasing again, the United Nations food and agriculture agencies FAO, IFAD and WFP warned in a joint statement delivered by Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General for Climate and Natural Resources, during the Thematic Review of SDG 2 at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on 11 July 2017 in New York.

“Climate change, conflict, lack of appropriate policies and insufficient investment, are threatening food security in many countries across the globe,” said Helena Semedo. She also said that some 20 million people are at risk of famine, and many millions more are experiencing severe food insecurity and called for decisive action in the short and medium term.

In the joint intervention, the FAO Deputy Director-General pointed out the need for integrated approaches to end hunger and malnutrition and called for a transformation to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, in particular, SDG2. “A transformation of the rural economy is necessary, putting small scale producers at the centre of all interventions as critical agents of change,” said Helena Semedo.

The Thematic Review on SDG2 discussed ways to ensure food security, improve nutrition, and promote food systems and agricultural practices that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive. Recognizing that the scale and complexity of the food security crises caused by conflict and natural disasters have increased dramatically in recent years and represent a significant threat to sustainable development, the session sought to assess progress, identify challenges at the national and international levels, and produce integrated policy solutions.

Semedo noted that sustainable agriculture and food systems in all its dimensions are crucial in addressing these challenges, as they are central to economic growth, poverty alleviation and resilience to shock, disasters and support adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Speakers at the thematic session also highlighted issues such as the need to ensure access to natural resources and guarantee tenure rights, strengthen institutional frameworks, implement measures tackling climate change, and improve gender equality, echoing many of the main messages resulting from the Expert Group Meeting on Progress in Achieving SDG2.