Towards a Hunger-Free Future: UN Resident Coordinators put Food Security First

Adopted by the global community in 2015, SDG 2 envisions a world free from hunger, in which everyone has access to a healthy diet and affordable, nutritious food.

But we are not there yet. Last year, as many as 783 million people in the world faced hunger, and more than 2.4 billion people lacked access to sufficient nourishment for normal development.

Over the past few years, climate change, rising global conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted just how vulnerable our food systems are to crisis. To reach the goal of ending world hunger by 2030, and accelerate progress towards the rest of the SDGs, we need to transition towards food systems which are more sustainable, resilient, and fit for their primary purpose of delivering food security to all.

On the ground, Resident Coordinators and their UN teams are working with national governments to make this transition possible. Here’s a snapshot of their efforts:

Philippines: Boosting nutrition through partnerships

In the Philippines- a middle-income country which has experienced a period of sustained economic growth over the past decade, malnutrition and food insecurity has been a persistent issue. Last year, 27 per cent of children suffered from stunted growth and development as a result of poor nutrition; which is one of the highest rates in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Recognizing the ripple effects of healthy diets and nutrition on education, employment and eradication of poverty, the Resident Coordinator’s team in the Philippines have rallied UN, World Bank and local government partners together in a whole of society approach to boost nutrition levels across the country.

Watch the video below to learn how this coalition of partners is working together to make nutritious, affordable food accessible to all.

Leading a food-centered recovery in Lebanon

The back-to-back crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut Port explosion and the inflationary pressures from the war in Ukraine has left Lebanon facing an unparalleled socio-economic crisis. Described by the World Bank as one of the most severe since the mid 19th century, this economic downturn has resulted in unemployment spiking, wages stagnating and food prices rising sharply across the entire country.

Between October 2019 and April 2022, the national currency lost more than 90 percent of its value. As prices continue to rise, food insecurity has become a concern for almost the entire population. According to UN Resident Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, food security and sustainable food systems is an area which connects all the SDGs together and is a key part of Lebanon’s long-term economic recovery.

From supporting governmental, parliamentarian and other national partners engage in the SDG Summit and the Food Systems Stocktaking Moment, to promoting sustainable livelihoods on the ground, the Resident Coordinator is mobilizing the entire UN country team towards Lebanon’s food-centered recovery.

Sustainable pineapple production in Suriname

In the small island developing state of Suriname on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America, pineapples have been cultivated by indigenous communities for centuries.

Despite these deep historical roots, pineapple production across the island is limited and like other forms of agriculture, vulnerable to the effects of flooding and drought. The expansion of Suriname’s pineapple sector holds immense potential to diversify the country’s agricultural sector, improve productivity of small-scale farmers and boost food security in an increasingly climate-vulnerable region.

The Pineapple Innovation Hub, which is being set up by the Resident Coordinator in Suriname alongside FAO, UNIDO, ILO and UNFPA, aims to unlock financing to transform the country’s pineapple cultivation into a more sustainable and competitive value chain. With these investments, at least US$10 million a year in revenue is expected from increased fruit and pineapple products by 2026, including 1,000 new jobs for rural communities. Learn more about how the Hub is attracting sustainable investments to boost pineapple production across the island.

The Pineapple Innovation Hub in Suriname is being funded by the Joint SDG Fund, and through a partnership with the Islamic Development Bank. The Multisectoral Nutrition Project in the Philippines is a joint undertaking of the Department of Health, the UN and the World Bank.

Originally published at United Nations Development Coordination Office.

Note:

The Joint SDG Fund's joint programmes are under the prestige leadership of the Resident Coordinator Office and implementing United Nations Agencies. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Learn more.