A new Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was introduced at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil to tackle poverty and hunger worldwide.
- Implementation: Supports the Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition 2023, adopted at the G20 New Delhi Summit.
- India’s Role: India’s Prime Minister shared success stories during a session on social inclusion and combating hunger and poverty.
Key Features of the Global Alliance
- About the Alliance:
- A voluntary coalition of governments, international organizations, NGOs, and stakeholders.
- Focuses on SDGs like Zero Hunger (SDG 2), No Poverty (SDG 1), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
- Operates on three pillars: knowledge, finance, and action at the country level.
- Objectives:
- Political Commitment: Sustained efforts by G20 and alliance members for global action against hunger and poverty.
- Resource Mobilization: Pooling domestic and international funds for country-led initiatives.
- Guiding Framework:
- Structured governance with a reference basket approach, allowing countries flexibility in policy implementation.
- Programs and Policies:
- Includes food assistance, school feeding programs, maternal nutrition, smallholder farming support, and financial access for vulnerable groups.
- Promotes sustainable farming and indigenous food systems (e.g., millet, quinoa).
- Inclusive Collaboration:
- Open to all UN member states, development partners, and knowledge institutions.
- Partners include FAO, UNICEF, WFP, and World Bank.
- Focus on Vulnerable Populations:
- Special emphasis on women, children, refugees, and indigenous peoples.
- Prioritizes agriculture and land-use financing to support smallholder farmers.
Financing Mechanism
- Innovative Financing:
- Emphasizes blended finance (mixing concessional and non-concessional funds) and concessional co-financing.
- Official Development Assistance (ODA):
- Developed nations must meet ODA commitments to assist countries facing extreme hunger and poverty.
- Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs):
- Strengthens institutions like the International Development Association (IDA) for resource mobilization.
- Special Drawing Rights (SDRs):
- Advocates voluntary rechanneling of SDRs for countries in need.
Need for the Alliance
- Rising Poverty and Hunger:
- 712 million people lived in extreme poverty (2022); 733 million faced hunger (2023).
- Gender Inequity:
- Higher food insecurity among women (26.7%) compared to men (25.4%).
- Financing Gaps:
- Increasing resource deficits for achieving SDGs like No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2).
- Economic Costs:
- Hunger and malnutrition hinder productivity, deepen inequalities, and harm economies, especially in developing nations.
- Crisis Prevention:
- Focuses on mitigating acute food insecurity and building resilience against humanitarian crises.
India’s Achievements in Hunger and Poverty Alleviation
- Poverty Reduction:
- 250 million people lifted out of poverty (2014–2024).
- Food Security:
- 800 million people receive free food grains under government schemes.
- Health and Insurance:
- 550 million beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY health insurance.
- Free health insurance for 60 million senior citizens.
- Farmer Support:
- PMFBY: $20 billion benefits to 40 million farmers.
- PM-KISAN: $40 billion distributed to 110 million farmers.
- Developed 2000+ climate-resilient crop varieties.
- Nutrition Programs:
- Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for maternal and child nutrition.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme targets schoolchildren’s nutritional needs.
- Global Contributions:
- India extended humanitarian aid to Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty aims to unify global efforts in eradicating poverty and hunger while addressing underlying issues like inequality and resource gaps. India’s substantial progress in food security and poverty alleviation serves as a model for collective international action.
