FEATURED: THE 2017 GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

One World – No Hunger – an achievable objective under pressure

For years, the number of people starving in the world has been in decline. But such apparent progress has been tarnished by catastrophic conditions and growing numbers of people without food in crisis regions. As a presentation of the 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report on 12 October in Berlin revealed, hunger is distributed throughout the world unevenly.

Hunger has declined worldwide by 27% since the year 2000. This is positive news, yet despite several years of progress, over 800 million people around the world still suffer from hunger. More than one in four children are too short for their age and over nine per cent of children are classified as emaciated.

The declared objective of ‘A world without hunger by 2030’ is to leave no one behind. But the poorest 40% of the global population are particularly difficult to reach. Hunger often affects people or groups in society that are already worse off or particularly vulnerable at times of crisis. Hunger discriminates. It is closely interlinked with social and economic inequality – hunger and inequality are interdependent.

Hunger often has structural causes, which in the context of inequality are on a global level. There is a serious power imbalance in the food system, for example, which Naomi Hossain (Institute of Development Studies) graphically illustrates in the image of an hourglass in her essay for the 2017 Global Hunger Index report: at the top end of the hourglass is a full spectrum of food producers, of which small farmers make up a significant part; at the other end, a full spectrum of global consumers. Between these two groups, the food produced must find a way through the narrow and exclusive system of food politics. At this point, power is concentrated in the hands of a few large corporations, who are ultimately in a position to exert considerable influence on the food sovereignty of consumers. Small farmers often have no say and are denied an opportunity to take part in the debate on food policy.

The findings of the 2017 Global Hunger Index report also reflect the fact that these various forms and levels of inequality have a massive impact on the food situation of individuals.

It is clear that hunger in the world is unevenly distributed. Hunger values were calculated for 119 countries and ranked on a scale of severity from ‘low’ to ‘extremely alarming’. 14 countries, including Cambodia, Kenya, Myanmar and Nepal, have been able to improve their ranking – and therefore their food situation – by at least 50%. Nevertheless, food security in many regions of the world is and will remain at risk. The highest GHI scores, and therefore those identifying the most serious hunger situations, are in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In 44 of the world’s countries the hunger situation is classed as ‘serious’ and in seven it is considered ‘alarming’. Only one country, the Central African Republic, is ranked again as ‘extremely alarming’. For 13 countries it was not possible to calculate GHI scores as there was insufficient data available. The situations in nine of these countries give cause for considerable concern. Data and information from international organisations imply that people in these countries may be suffering greatly from hunger and malnutrition – these include Somalia, Syria and South Sudan.

However, hunger is also unevenly distributed within countries. In addition to facing the challenges of violent conflict, many parts of the world are also severely affected by the impact of climate change, which results in hunger and malnutrition for disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups in particular. Analysis of data within countries consequently reveals clear differences. One such example is Nepal. Here, values for growth retardation, a sign of chronic malnutrition and one of the indicators used to calculate GHI rankings, range from 25% in one district to 64% in another.

If hunger is to be eradicated among all peoples of the world, we must also combat inequality in all its various forms and manifestations. This means national food systems must be democratised and participation in civil society guaranteed. National and international food strategies must continue to focus increasingly on small farmers. Standards in trade and the private sector must be safeguarded to protect citizens from the negative effects of international agreements and from land seizure, destruction of the environment, wage dumping and other similar activities perpetrated by the private sector.

To ensure that people everywhere are able to take advantage of their right to food, they must also be guaranteed opportunities for education and information, as well as participation in social safety nets. The new German Government shoulders a particular responsibility in this respect. In recent months it has announced several initiatives geared to improving the situations of those affected on the continent of Africa. For this objective to succeed will require very particular efforts and financial resources. This year’s GHI report highlights the fact that scores for seven countries – Chad, Liberia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Yemen and Zambia – are considered ‘alarming’. If the slogan of Agenda 2030 – ‘leaving no one behind’ – is to be taken seriously, the international community must bring these countries more sharply into focus.