BECAUSE

Hunger affected 733 million people worldwide in 2023 – an increase of 152 million since 2019. This reflects the prevalence of undernourishment, a form of multidimensional vulnerability that arises from the intersection of multiple deprivations. It is rooted in structural causes and is mainly driven by factors such as conflicts, weather extremes, and economic shocks.

2.33 billion people – around one-third of the global population – are moderately or severely food insecure, and do not have regular access to adequate food. Additionally, 295 million people face acute food insecurity, which threatens lives, livelihoods, or both – at least 60% of these individuals live in conflict-affected areas.
Food insecurity, which is understood as the lack of stable, sufficient, safe, and nutritious food across six pillars (agency, access, availability, utilization, stability, and sustainability), is a central cause of hunger. It is also directly linked to other critical factors such as health, livelihoods, and water security – including access to safe drinking water, adequate hygiene systems, and sanitation.
Adequate nutrition is essential for the physical and mental development of all individuals and is a fundamental human right. It is a key factor in ensuring that children thrive and reach their full potential, with lifelong benefits.
These include improved cognitive function, academic performance, educational outcomes, future productivity, and economic potential.
Moreover, for millions of people, achieving adequate nutrition is key to breaking the cycle of poverty, given the deep interconnections between food security, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Environmental challenges like water scarcity and ecosystem degradation disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, compounding poverty and environmental decline while exacerbating hunger and malnutrition. These dynamics highlight the centrality of water – not only in food production, but also in climate resilience and social stability. As such, guaranteeing safe, equitable, and sustainable access to water is not only a matter of basic human need but a cornerstone of long-term development and territorial cohesion.
The cycles of hunger and poverty remain unbroken due to chronic underfunding, inadequate food systems, and systemic inequalities. Therefore, food security, nutrition, and water must be recognized as top development priorities and placed at the heart of the new global financial architecture.
Without ending hunger and malnutrition, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is not possible.