HUNGER: Many Causes, Many Solutions

Webinar:
Friday, 3 March 2023

This WEBINAR provided an overview of Hunger – globally and locally, and highlighted initiatives by the UN and others to address the causes and find solutions. Check out the RECORDING

“I’m hungry!”

This is the cry of nearly 1 billion people in the world every day.  Three billion cannot afford to eat a healthy diet and it is estimated that 700 children under the age of five die each day. The crisis of famine—the most severe kind of hunger — is looming in several African countries.

Hunger is more than an empty stomach and being thirsty.  Chronic hunger lasting more than a year leads to stunted growth and brain damage in children.

According to the World Food Program, hunger is predictable, preventable, and treatable.  Enough food is produced in the world to feed everyone.  So, why is hunger a problem?

Inequality, conflict, climate change and pandemics like COVID-19 are the main culprits. Since the pandemic began, progress in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger has been stalled and even reversed in many developing nations.  Poverty and the lack of access to good food leads to malnutrition.  Seventy five percent of malnourished people live in conflict zones.  Desertification and rising waters because of climate change make food production difficult.

The United Nations, affiliated NGOs and many charities are working tirelessly to combat this problem.  The Committee on Teaching About the United Nations  (CTAUN) presented a Webinar, “Hunger:  Many Causes, Many Solutions” on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 1:00 pm (NYT) to address the causes, the progress being made toward a solution, and ideas on how you can help. 

Panelists representing World Food Program, UNICEF, as well as from international and local organizations, showcased the many ways hunger can be addressed.

Panelists included: Ramu Damodaran (Moderator), Alisha Antonetti, Teens for Food Justice; Harmonie Bucher, UNICEF; Selly Muzammil, World Food Program; Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Mary’s Meals: Kirk Prichard Concern Worldwide.

Information and Links to organizations featured in the webinar:
World Food Programme UNICEF Nutrition Mary’s Meals Teens for Food Justice Concern Worldwide

Some Resources for Teachers:

Teach about empathy and the hunger issue in the classroom, grades 1-3. Teacher & Parent Materials. https://www.scholastic.com/hungrytohelp/index.html Five handy resources & lesson plans in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/2013/10/world-food-day-resources/ Toolkit –  Lesson Plans, resources, school & community activities https://cg-281711fb-71ea-422c-b02c-ef79f539e9d2.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/11/FTF-Teacher-Toolkit.pdf   Grades 6 -12Teacher Lesson plans & resources to teach kids about Hunger & Food Insecurity.  Grades 1-8 https://educators4sc.org/topic-guides/teaching-about-hunger-and-poverty/ UNWFP World Hunger: Lesson Plans for the Classroom. Grades 1-12   https://www.wfpusa.org/articles/students-hunger-lesson-plans/ Hunger 101 Curriculum Guidelines – across the curriculum, to empower students, youth groups, & civic organizations https://gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/HUNGER-101_GVFB.pdf  SDG Resources & activities for Educators – Zero Hunger. Early childhood, primary & secondary education  https://en.unesco.org/themes/education/sdgs/material/02 Teaching about hunger through literature and across the curriculum- resources & classroom activities https://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/communications/wfp250506.pdf   Teaching Hunger Across The Curriculum Through Molly’s Eyes. Resources /hunger and health Challenge – lesson plans HS/ages 13-18 https://assets.ctfassets.net/7qonaq6zrtkb/3wgGLyo9c8GOzk73Aa5SZi/d650d29fa399980af0240eda31a824ab/HC_Lesson_Plans_FNL_highschool.pdfHunger https://hungerandhealth.feedingamerica.org/resources/   Hunger Teacher packet provides links and materials for all grades http://www.shfb.org/docs/advocacy/Hunger101.pdf 5 powerful ways to teach about hunger in Middle School. Classroom ideas, free printables, great teacher ideas https://www.weareteachers.com/teach-hunger-middle-school/ Hunger and Malnutrition Toolkit Grade level: K – 12 https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/hunger-and-malnutrition-toolkit Free overview materials for the Hunger Challenge.  Teaching guide – middle- HS https://www.studentsrebuild.org/challenges/hunger/resources Hunger in the US  lessons, materials grades 6 – 12: https://www.learningforjustice.org/classroom-resources/lessons/challenging-hunger-in-the-united-states Internet Resource Center https://k12irc.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgOefBhDgARIsAMhqXA7rRlceKhYqiII32QduNxDfOBi-zGkA2uzQ79SVbAf_DkALZaVCTiQaAgYvEALw_wcBGrades K- 12

SOME ORGANIZATIONS RELIEVING HUNGER

UN

UN World Food Programme -The world’s largest humanitarian agency addressing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and food security. Since 1962, their focus has been on acute hunger in emergency situations, 2/3 of which are in conflict- affected countries – 95% of the people in Afghanistan, and in East Africa, where 9 million new recipients since the beginning of 2022 are facing famine  – a total of some 22 million across Ethiopia, N. Kenya and particularly Somalia, due to 5 seasons of drought. In 2020, WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize, for their efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war.   wfp.org

UNICEF – the United Nations Children’s Fund, whose mandate is advocating for children through programs on health (1.9 billion doses of vaccines in 102 countries in 2021), education in emergencies (7.4 million children in 2021), water & sanitation, fighting malnutrition and stunting  (244 million children under 5). In conflict, their commitment to neutrality allows them to set up humanitarian corridors to save and protect children, and they call out violations by governments and non-state actors alike

FAO – the UN’s Food & Agricultural Organization – founded in 1945 with the Latin motto “Fiat Panis” (“Let there be bread”), based in Rome and now comprising 195 countries. They focus on making agriculture more productive & sustainable with inclusive & efficient food systems, (transportation, delivery and storage) and sustainable agricultural methods such as permaculture, agroforestry, organic farming, aquaponics etc.* (See glossary) They are a neutral forum for countries to negotiate agreements and guidelines ensuring the safety & quality of food, facilitating trade, maintaining plant & animal health and improving forestry and fishing practices. They also work to enhance living conditions in rural areas and global economic development. 

UN Climate Action Network – Coming out of COP 27, the UN established a Loss and Damage Fund, which, if properly funded, will bolster communities on the frontline of the climate crisis (those who contributed least & are most impacted).

World Bank – food security update – Between Sept. & Dec. 2022, inflation levels were over 5% in Africa, N. America, Latin America, S. & Central Asia, and Europe. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, food trade restrictions soared -19 countries  put up 23 export bans, & 8 more are limiting exports, with the aim of increasing domestic supply and lowering prices. In May 2022, the Bank announced that it is making $30 billion available, over 15 months, including 12 billion in new projects. $8.1 billion have already been committed, mostly in Africa, but also in Tajikistan, Jordan & Bolivia.

International NGOs

CARE – “ A child dies every 10 seconds from malnutrition and preventable disease.”  Since 1945, CARE has worked on long-term solutions to combat starvation, fight the spread of disease, and eliminate hunger, with a strong focus on women and girls, who are most likely to invest back into their families and communities. To this end, they conceived the idea of micro-financing -small loans to women, 99% of which are repaid in full.

Concern Worldwide -partners with CARE in village savings & loans to promote gender equality, and sees hunger, malnutrition and stunting as major causes of poverty. They are pioneers in cash transfers, which are less expensive and easier to send than food, clothing etc. In 2020 they distributed $41 million to approximately 1.75 million people in 18 out of the 24 countries in which they work. 76% was for humanitarian aid, 24% for development projects. This represented 23% of their total spending on 70 country programs, 3 million of which was allotted to COVID relief. Their very informative website lists and explains causes and solutions to both poverty and hunger. 

The Hunger  Project– deals with the 828 million people who live with chronic hunger, which, unlike famine that receives emergency aid, is silent and often invisible. They enable communities to create, stock & manage their own food banks, providing storage for excess harvest to insure food security during off-seasons, develop income-generating activities, promote sustainable farming, and ensure access to micro-financing.

Mary’s Meals – a partnership movement begun in Scotland in 2003, that sets up community-run school feeding programs in 20 countries. Their commitment to a low-cost, volunteer-led approach insures that 93 per cent of all donations go directly to the mission, and wherever possible, food is produced onsite, thereby supporting the local economy. Founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow’s latest book, The Shed That Fed 2 Million Children, is a model of humanity, honesty, humility and authenticity – a life-changing read.

Mercy Ships – In countries where medical assistance is difficult or impossible to access, Mercy Ships, completely set up for surgeries, comes to them. “Many of the conditions we see on board our ships, including orthopedic cases and eye problems, can be linked to malnutrition”. They have created the Food For Life Program to help families and communities learn the importance of food health, and teach practical skills of food production, packaging, and organic farming. 

World Central Kitchens – Serves meals freshly made by their Chef Corps Relief Team in disasters caused by hurricanes and the like, and works to empower local farmers.

US Organizations

Bread For the World Institute–A collective voice pressing US decision makers to end  hunger at home and abroad. They advocate on 3 fronts: 1) full funding for the UN World Food Program’s emergency food aid; 2) An increase in funding for global nutrition programs, focusing on women & children in the critical first 1000 days from pregnancy to age 2; 3) passage of the Global Malnutrition Treatment & Prevention Act in the Senate, which would make ending child malnutrition a permanent priority for the US. They also work on making hunger a voting priority through their Vote to End Hunger campaign, and offer sample letters, videos and other resources for writing to Congress

Center for Science in the Public Interest – publishes a Nutrition Action Newsletter, and advocates for nutrition health & food safety

City Harvest – an organization founded in 1982, that uses volunteers to rescue food from restaurants, farms, grocers and manufacturers for 1.5 million struggling New Yorkers, a 36% increase over pre-pandemic figures, due to a rise in medical bills, rents, utilities & insurance. They offer tips for families on reducing food waste, a key contributor to climate change. When food goes to a landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2. Rescuing 132,000,000 lbs. of food last year was the rough equivalent of taking 10,000 cars off the road for a year, preventing 42 billion kilograms of CO2 entering the atmosphere, or planting 2000 trees. They also list the locations of mobile markets in all 5 boroughs.

Feeding America – the 4th largest charity in the US, deals with food rescue to supply the food banks, food pantries, & soup kitchens around the country, and gives classes on nutrition, growing fresh food, and purchasing healthy food on a limited budget.

Food And Water Watch – publishes a Consumer’s Guide to USDA Food Labeling.

Heifer International – Provides animals – goats, chickens, cows and bees which produce nutritious milk, eggs, cheese & honey, to families in need worldwide, for their own consumption and for sale. heifer.org

Oxfam America  – As of 1970, the US joined Oxfam International (Oxford Committee for Famine Relief) a global movement fighting inequality to end poverty & injustice, founded in 1942 to assist WWII victims in Europe. One unique initiative is their Fast for a World Harvest, in which, beginning in 1974, on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, thousands fast for a day or a meal, donating their food money to Oxfam – to date, over $10 million to fight poverty and raise critical awareness about world hunger. They also supply a toolkit for hosting a ‘hunger banquet’ a discussion of world famine issues, while drawing lots for a full-fledged meal, a simple meal , or a very limited one. oxfamamerica.org

Share Our Strength – with their ‘No Kid Hungry’ motto, has a “Cooking Matters” program in the US, where nutrition educators and chefs equip low income families to shop smarter, read food labels, make healthier choices and cook delicious, affordable meals.

Teens for Food Justice – A Youth-led movement to end food insecurity through high-capacity school-based hydroponic farming. Student-grown produce is served in school cafeterias, local food pantries, and student-run markets, increasing access to fresh, healthy food access for low-income communities.

Academic Resources

The Global Social Impact Fellowship Program at Lehigh University allows students to collaborate on inter-disciplinary sustainable development projects addressing complex challenges facing low & middle income countries. During the summer fellows do in-country fieldwork: examples related to hunger: Sierra Leone-The Mushroom Initiative; The Philippines – Converting Food Waste into Biodegradable Packaging Products; Kazakhstan – Combating Food Insecurity in Migrant Worker Populations.