Aid agency pledges $3.4bn to tackle rising child hunger and malnutrition
World Vision has today announced it will commit $3.4bn as part of its new global campaign called ‘ENOUGH’ that aims to end child hunger and malnutrition.
The international aid agency said it will invest the funds over three years into work that will reduce hunger and improve the nutritional status of 125 million children in 67 countries where they are suffering most.
After more than 40 years of declining global rates of child deaths, there is now a disturbing spike in children dying from hunger and malnutrition. The war in Ukraine and the climate crisis are to blame, but so is a $US7 billion short in global funding to ensure children are properly fed and nourished.
The organisation said today that its commitment comprises $1.2 billion in donations from private sources and in micro-finance loans given out by VisionFund to hungry families, plus $2.2 billion from institutional donors like governments and UN agencies who are investing in the organisation’s work.
The ENOUGH campaign is World Vision’s latest contribution to sounding the alarm about the hunger global emergency. At a launch event in New York alongside the UNGA meetings, World Vision’s leaders and child spokespeople will encourage governments, donors, UN agencies, civil society organisations, faith actors and others to collectively use our strength and resources to end child hunger and malnutrition once and for all.
World Vision International President, Andrew Morley said international funding targets for nutrition and food security in humanitarian response plans in 2023 had raised less than a quarter of the funds needed.
“This is a global emergency, devastating children’s lives in both humanitarian and developmental contexts. Yet we are simply moving too slowly to save millions on the brink of starvation and life altering malnutrition..
“Whilst it is estimated that 148 million children are affected by stunting and 45 million suffer wasting, shockingly we don’t actually know how many children are going hungry at national and global levels.”
Mr Morley said millions of children were facing extreme hunger and crippling malnutrition because of an unequal food system disrupted by conflicts and by the climate crisis.
“Preventing the deaths or stunting of the world’s most vulnerable children goes beyond emergency food delivery; this is a systemic failure, and it needs systemic solutions—every aspect of the food production and delivery chain needs addressing,” he said.
The ENOUGH campaign will also include a drive to improve data collection systems at national and global levels so children can be reached with support and have their voices heard in shaping key policies and outcomes.
Mr Morley said no single initiative alone can end hunger and malnutrition, as hunger exists in a world that produces more than enough food for everyone, and poor nutrition is much more than the availability and quality of food.
“Success will mean properly nourished children thanks to the immediate provision of lifesaving food and nutrition needs; families becoming more resilient to crises in the future; and permanent changes in policy and practices that promote and provide healthy food,” he said.
“There is a growing gap between the need and the commitments and pledges we are seeing to address food emergencies. We cannot tire in our efforts to address growing food needs.”
World Vision believes there needs to be, not just greater investment, but a better, more effective means of global investment to drive towards the achievement of global nutrition goals. Nutrition is not only central to a child’s survival now but to ensuring that that child can thrive and contribute to their families, communities, and countries into the future.
World Vision has worked to prevent hunger and malnutrition among children for decades in countries on five continents. As a faith-based organisation it believes God has provided enough for every child to be properly nourished, to survive and to thrive—no matter where they live.
ENDS
For more information or an interview with Andrew Morley contact Chris Weeks at Christopher_Weeks@wvi.org or +44 (0)7917 377081 in the UK, or Susannah Cernojevich at Susannah_Cernojevich@wvi.org or +1 202 276 2322 in the US ET.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Attend the UN launch of the ENOUGH campaign at On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET at The Westin New York Grand Central Hotel in person [register here] or virtually [watch here]. Learn more at www.wvi.org/UNGA
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter @WorldVision.