Home - Zero Hunger

Global hunger is on the rise again, affecting over 690 million people – around one out of every nine people in the world. At the same time, multiple forms of malnutrition are threatening the health of millions worldwide.

Collaboration among the United Nations Rome-based agencies (RBAs), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) is a core priority at local, regional and global levels. Achieving a Zero Hunger world (Sustainable Development Goal 2) is at the heart of their mandates.

The three agencies are working closely together on a long-term sustainable development agenda that transforms people’s lives and improves their food security today and in the future.

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives by addressing reasons for hunger and poverty.
IFAD is the only international financial institution dedicated exclusively to investing in rural areas to eradicate poverty and hunger. Our loans and grants enable developing countries to increase food production, create jobs and protect resources.
Responding to emergencies and saving lives and livelihoods – either through direct assistance or by strengthening country capacities – remains at the heart of WFP’s operations, especially as humanitarian needs become increasingly complex and protracted.

Leadership

Qu Dongyu

FAO Director-General

Gilbert F. Houngbo

IFAD President

David Beasley

WFP Executive Director

Working together for a #ZeroHunger world

FAO, IFAD and WFP collaborate in many ways to further the global community’s goal of creating a #ZeroHunger world. Each agency has a unique mandate related to technical expertise, international financial assistance and food aid. By working together, they give Member Countries the benefit of their complementaries and combined strengths. The three agencies coordinate their activities at international, national, and regional/local levels, contributing to the broader effort of UN system-wide coherence and coordination.

News

Empowering women and girls is crucial to ensure sustainable food security in the aftermath of COVID-19, say UN food agency heads ahead of International Women’s Day

Mar 6, 2021

Hunger and famine will persist and there will be unequal recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic unless more women in rural and urban areas hold leadership positions with increased decision-making power, say the heads of the three United Nations’ food agencies ahead of their joint International Women’s Day event on 8 March.

IFAD joins with partners to build resilience and boost development in the Sahel

Dec 10, 2020

IFAD is joining with FAO and WFP - as well as the G5 Sahel and the Green Climate Fund to revitalize economic activities and food systems in the Group of Five Sahel countries and in the Republic of Senegal.

New UN report reveals the inequality in the geographical distribution of malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean

Dec 2, 2020

A new United Nations report shows the territorial inequality of malnutrition in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Documents

Panorama of Food and Nutritional Security in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020

Dec 2, 2020

This report by FAO, IFAD, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF and WFP examines the impact of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Committee on World Food Security Chair’s Statement on COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 26, 2020

As the COVID-19 infection has spread to pandemic proportions over the last few weeks, I feel – in my role as Chair CFS – that we have both a moral and political obligation to initiate a proactive dialogue among our stakeholders on the implications and potential impacts of this pandemic on global food security and nutrition.