Since 2014, the number of hungry people in the world has been on the rise, famine risks do exist in some countries, and malnutrition rates are still high. A group of advocates believe that the EU has been the world leader in nutrition in the budget for the past seven years, and it needs to take up its responsibilities again.
*The complete list of author names is at the bottom of the comments.
Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2) of zero hunger by 2030, and the impact of the pandemic has reversed years of development gains. In 2020, 12% of the world’s population will be severely food insecure.
Three billion people do not have access to a healthy diet. Forty-one million people are on the brink of famine. These latest estimates are shocking and show that the EU needs to take urgent action. As civil society, we are concerned that the elimination of hunger and malnutrition will be listed as a priority on the EU’s political agenda.
Although there is still a huge funding gap in eliminating hunger and malnutrition, the EU’s financial commitment to nutrition ended in December last year. Conflict, climate change, economic recession, gender inequality, loss of biodiversity, unfair food systems, and lack of access to basic social services have worsened the situation.
Now, COVID-19 threatens the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable people, leading to increased malnutrition and food insecurity.
During the UN Food System Summit, the EU did not announce any new fiscal commitments for 2021-2027. The separation of the EU will have a catastrophic impact on the fight against various forms of malnutrition.
Malnutrition is a devastating obstacle to children’s cognitive and physical development, preventing them from reaching their full potential. This also led to huge economic losses.
Therefore, nutrition is not only a human rights issue, but also an economic and political issue. If the EU is serious about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and realizing its priorities in health, education, human development, climate change and economic growth, it needs to invest more in nutrition.
At the last UN General Assembly, US President Joe Biden announced an ambitious $10 billion pledge to eradicate hunger. The international community expects the EU to play a similar leadership role, exceeding its previous commitment of 3.5 billion euros for 2014-2020.
The farm-to-table strategy in 2020 will not be sufficient to achieve SDG2. The EU must prioritize strengthening health and social protection systems, access to water and sanitation facilities for all, just and equitable transformation of the food system, and commit new financial resources to create a world free of hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
The EU has the opportunity to announce new commitments at the upcoming 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit organized by the Japanese government.
This important global event will be held within a month, during which governments, donors, civil society, charities and the private sector will come together to support the fight against malnutrition.
As we enter the final decade of the 2030 Agenda, this summit is essential to accelerate progress. The EU must set an example, be represented at the highest level, and make new financial commitments to achieve zero hunger.
Author list:
Jean-François Riffaud-French Anti-Hunger Action, Chief Executive Officer; Antonia Potter Prentice-Director of Alliance2015; Céline Mias-CARE International EU Representative and Office Director; Dominic MacSorley-Chief Executive Officer of Concern Worldwide; Elise Rodriguez-Global Health Advocate, France and the European Union Head of Advocacy; Melchior Lengsfeld-Executive Director of Helvetas Swiss Cooperation; Simon Paneck– Chief Executive Officer of People in Need; Anita Bay Bundegaard-Director and Representative of Save the Children EU; Sophie Aujean-WaterAid EU representative; Mathias Mogge-Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Welthungerhilfe; Jeroen Uytterschaut-Executive Director and EU Representative of World Vision EU Representative Office.
