Three United Nations agencies tasked with ending hunger and boosting rural development have committed to strengthening their collaboration to help countries achieve Sustainable Development Goal number 2 – Zero Hunger.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) have now signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim to strengthen collaboration and coordination at global, regional and country levels in order to provide enhanced support to Member Countries.
The Sustainable Development Goals reflect a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The Sustainable Development Goals will shape national development plans over the next 15 years. From ending poverty and hunger to responding to climate change and sustaining our natural resources, food and agriculture lies at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals were agreed by all 193 UN Member Countries in 2015, and set a deadline of 2030 to achieve 17 goals covering social, economic and environmental issues.
According to the three UN Agencies, global hunger is on the rise again, affecting over 815 million people – 11 percent of the world’s population, while multiple forms of malnutrition are threatening the health of millions worldwide. The MoU sets out areas for comprehensive and integrated assistance including working together on national planning processes with governments, as well as developing joint outcomes, programmes and assessments.