Global Food Security Strategy Implementation Report

This sixth annual review of the U.S. Government’s commitments, achievements, and lessons learned in reducing global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition comes at a time when the world faces a food security crisis of historic proportions. The combined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, rising energy, food and fertilizer costs, and protracted conflict, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, are leading to rising levels of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition across the world. According to the UN World Food Programme, as many as 783 million people are going to bed hungry each night. And the number facing a level of hunger so intense that their lives and livelihoods are at stake jumped from 193 million in 2021 to 258 million in 2022.

The past year and a half challenged the world in an unprecedented way. The COVID-19 pandemic swelled the ranks of the poor, pushing 163 million more people into extreme poverty and hunger. In fact, this represents the first global rise in extreme poverty in nearly 30 years. At the same time, the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in food systems, particularly gender inequalities.1 In addition to the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic, we are also battling flaring and protracted incidences of conflict, accelerating impacts of climate change, and increasing inequality and gender-based violence. These challenges threaten development progress made over the past decades. But even in the face of these unprecedented issues, I remain hopeful.

This year, we as a global community mark ten years of progress under the Feed the Future initiative. This is a time for celebration and reflection on the initiative’s success, and a time to redouble our efforts as the U.S. Government responds to the unfolding pandemic of COVID-19 and its devastating impact on global poverty and food security. It reminds us of another crisis. In 2009, following the 2007–2008 global food price crisis, world leaders gathered to take action. As part of a $20 billion pledge by G-8 countries and partners, the U.S. Government committed $3.5 billion over three years to establish a global hunger and food-security initiative addressing not just the symptoms but the root causes of hunger and poverty worldwide. Feed the Future sought to reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition sustainably through comprehensive, country-owned strategies that deliver sustained results. Partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other donors were, and continue to be, a key element of this approach.

Feed the Future continues to reduce poverty and stunting in the areas in which we work and has helped millions of women realize greater economic potential. Amid this progress, we also face increasing challenges. Hunger has risen, primarily because of conflict, climate variability, and economic downturns. Against this global backdrop, our focused determination to work with other governments, civil society, and the private sector to address the root causes of hunger and poverty in our partner countries so they can advance on the Journey to Self-Reliance also benefits us at home in the United States. Feed the Future’s work opens new markets for U.S. businesses, improves the policy environment for responsible private investment and trade, and creates demand for U.S. innovations and expertise. Smart, effective investments and policies will create a more peaceful and stable world that is resilient to shocks, stresses, and recurrent humanitarian crises, which in the long run should end the need for sustained foreign assistance.