President of the Economic and Social Council: Message to participants of the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 2

H.E. Ambassador Paula Narváez,

President of the Economic and Social Council
Message to participants of the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 2

26-27 March 2024, FAO HQ, Rome

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank DESA and FAO for co-organizing this Expert Group Meeting here in FAO Headquarters. I would also like to convey my appreciation to all participants contributing to these discussions. Your engagement is a testament to our collective commitment to achieving Zero Hunger by 2030. Your discussions will be a critical element in the preparations for the review of SDG 2 at this year’s High-level Political Forum (HLPF).

As the 2023 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report (SOFI) tells us, there remain up to 783 million people worldwide chronically undernourished. About 2.4 billion people suffer from moderate or chronic food insecurity, with nearly 258 million people facing acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse. More than 3.1 billion people are unable to afford healthy diets, and an estimated 148.1 million children under five years are stunted.
The data makes it clear that the status quo will not do. Existing agrifood systems are pushing planetary limits and being affected by climate change, extreme weather, and the degradation of natural resources. Projections indicate that, at this pace, there will still be over 600 million chronically undernourished people in 2030.

As the deadline of 2030 fast approaches, we must take immediate action to ensure that the commitments of the 2030 Agenda are realized and the accelerated actions identified in the political declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit are prioritized. These include actions to: end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition; realize the right to adequate food; promote sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems; and provide safe, nutritious and healthy diets. Member States also committed to keep trade channels and markets open for the movement of food, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs and outputs, while recognizing the importance of shorter supply chains at the local levels. In this context, they also committed to supporting developing countries to address extreme food price volatility.

It is possible to achieve Zero Hunger, but we must overcome the bottlenecks to progress. ECOSOC endeavors to advance transformative policy guidance to this end, through inclusive and participatory dialogue. Building on the diversity of perspectives and expertise at this EGM, I urge you to bring innovative solutions to the table, with practical next steps. Tailored solutions will be essential to ensure the durability and sustainability of these solutions, while ensuring that policies are targeted at those countries and peoples most vulnerable to food insecurity, mal and undernutrition and volatile agrifood systems.

I look forward to the outcomes of this important EGM, and to your contributions to a dynamic HLPF in July. I wish you successful deliberations to achieve our common goal of making a world with Zero Hunger a reality.