How gender justice can advance climate resilience and zero hunger
Global Hunger Index | Outubro 2024
Download here the complete report “Global Hunger Index 2024 Complete Report“
Download here the synopsis “Global Hunger Index 2024 Synopsis“
Within the past year, two significant anniversaries in the world’s efforts to advance human rights took place: the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 20th anniversary of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food. These landmark achievements enshrined and paved the way toward a universal right to adequate food. Yet, in 2024, adequate food remains out of reach for billions of people, with both the human right to food and international law blatantly disregarded by those in power.
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) monitors hunger levels worldwide and by region and country, highlighting areas where action to combat hunger is most urgently needed. As a tool for tracking long-term hunger trends, the 2024 GHI reveals that despite progress in some regions and countries, global hunger remains at a moderate level—unchanged from 2016. Achieving Zero Hunger by the target year of 2030 seems increasingly out of reach.
Currently, 733 million people—far more than a decade ago—lack access to sufficient calories, and 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Acute food insecurity and the risk of famine are rising, with starvation increasingly being used as a weapon of war. These alarming figures are driven by a state of permacrisis fueled by widespread conflicts, the growing impacts of climate change, economic challenges, debt crises, and persistent inequalities. Nevertheless, some countries have demonstrated that progress is possible. Notable reductions in GHI scores have been achieved in Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nepal, Somalia, and Togo, although hunger remains a significant challenge in these regions.
Beyond tracking trends and country rankings, this year’s GHI report explores the critical role of addressing gender inequality to achieve climate resilience and Zero Hunger. In a guest essay by Nitya Rao, Siera Vercillo, and Gertrude Dzifa Torvikey, the report emphasizes that gender inequality is one of the most pervasive barriers to sustainable development and the realization of the right to food. Discrimination based on gender restricts equitable access to, use of, and control over essential resources—such as land and credit—and undermines the ability to cope with climate shocks and stressors.
The good news is that gender justice—ensuring equity across all spheres of life—holds the potential for transformative change. When women gain access to and control over assets, and when decision-making between spouses is shared, household food security, child nutrition, and overall well-being improve. Inclusive and equitable decision-making in areas like sustainable land management, livelihood diversification, and education enhances the resilience of households and communities, promoting better food and nutrition security.
Community-driven programs highlight the impact of this approach. In South Sudan, a Welthungerhilfe (WHH) project shows that activities promoting climate adaptation—such as tree planting and agroforestry—have gained momentum when both women and men are equally involved in decision-making and resource ownership. Similarly, in Malawi, couples participating in Concern Worldwide’s Umodzi program—where they engage in discussions about gender norms, stereotypes, and challenges—have experienced improved joint decision-making, better household chore management, and reduced domestic violence.
Of course, transforming gender roles is not easy, and achieving a gender-just world that supports food security and climate resilience remains a long-term challenge. However, the gap between current gender inequities and full gender justice points to clear opportunities for progress. Now is the time to work collectively toward gender justice to build a climate-resilient world where everyone enjoys the right to adequate food, enabling them to lead healthy and productive lives.
This year, Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe (WHH) are excited to welcome a new academic partner: the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), one of Europe’s leading research institutions specializing in humanitarian crises. Going forward, the IFHV will calculate and develop the GHI. With a strong foundation in international humanitarian law and human rights law, along with interdisciplinary expertise in social sciences, geosciences, and public health, the IFHV will bring new insights to the Index. As civil society organizations, we remain committed to collaborating with partners and experts across various fields to report on hunger and advocate for food and nutrition security for all.
Download here the complete report “Global Hunger Index 2024 Complete Report“
Download here the synopsis “Global Hunger Index 2024 Synopsis“
Published by Global Hunger Index
https://www.globalhungerindex.org
