Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC)

The United Nations Secretary-General gives priority to the elimination of hunger.



This requires comprehensive efforts to ensure that every man, woman and child enjoy their Right to Adequate Food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are sustainable and resilient. Eliminating hunger involves investments in agriculture, rural development, decent work, social protection and equality of opportunity. It will make a major contribution to peace and stability and to the reduction of poverty. It will contribute to better nutrition for all – especially women from the beginning of pregnancy and children under the age of two. Hunger can be eliminated in our lifetimes.



We are already seeing progress taken in that direction. Since the Zero Hunger Challenge was launched in June 2012, governments, NGOs, private sector companies, religious leaders, and citizens around the world have taken up the call. Underlining the fact that strong political leadership and the right policies can produce dramatic reductions in levels of hunger and malnutrition, 38 countries have already halved either number or percentage of their population who is hungry before the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. Achieving MDG1 is the first step towards zero hunger.



Programmes in line with the Zero Hunger Challenge are taking shape or being discussed in around 25 countries

around the world. Regional multi-stakeholder programmes, including the Hunger‐Free Initiative for West Africa, La

Iniciativa América Latina y Caribe sin Hambre, and the Zero Hunger Challenge for Asia & the Pacific, bring global actors

together to create operational programming.



From monetary commitments from governments, civil society and the private sector, including over US $25 billion at the “Nutrition for Growth” event in London, to political commitments by parliamentarians, the African Union, London and Mexico City, the world is coming together for the eradication of hunger. The moment for leaders from government, business, and civil society to come together is now. Together we can build the world the future we want – a future with Zero Hunger.



The challenge of Zero Hunger means:

 Zero stunted children less than 2 years

 100% access to adequate food all year round

 All food systems are sustainable

 100% increase in smallholder productivity and income

 Zero loss or waste of food