Sustainable Development Goals on the agenda of the United Nations summit in New York

Some 160 heads of state and government intend to adopt Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when they meet for their summit beginning on Friday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. They will also be addressing the issue of food in this context.

Around the world, more than 800 million people are suffering from starvation and two billion are malnourished. Although the overall number of those facing starvation worldwide has decreased in recent decades, in sub-Saharan Africa more people than ever before are going hungry. Insufficient nutrition in developing countries does not only have a negative impact on individuals, it also reduces the development opportunities of entire societies. If children do not receive enough vitamins and minerals in their first two years of life, their overall development and mental capacity will be damaged, impairing their ability to learn and work. In the global Sustainable Development Goals, the UN and the governments of its 193 member states have pledged to ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

Hunger has many causes, such as poverty, conflicts and natural disasters – conditions that limit the availability of and access to good quality food. But poor hygiene and a lack of medical care and drinking water can also lead to malnourishment. In addition, people need to be aware of the importance of a balanced diet and giving babies and small children age-appropriate food. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH therefore carries out a broad range of activities to tackle hunger and malnourishment.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ is working in 11 countries in Africa and Asia to help people improve their food and nutrition situation. The programme coordinates with the governments of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Togo, Yemen and Zambia and cooperates with other projects on enhancing nutrition. ‘The focus is on women of child-bearing age, in particular on pregnant or breastfeeding women, and on small children,’ says GIZ expert Michael Lossner, who manages the programme. ‘We want to improve their food situation and also increase their resilience, particularly to food crises.’
A more diverse, balanced and sufficient diet has a positive impact on mental and physical development and strengthens the body’s resistance to illness. A total of around 850,000 women and 900,000 small children are being reached directly. The aim is to give them access to a varied range of food so they have healthier diets and enough to eat.

In regions affected by recurring crises, such as droughts, people can take more effective precautions in future, for example stockpiling supplies or increasing crop yields.